"In my mind, I whispered words of apology for pushing the power away for so long. I didn't know. I didn't know what you were. I said it to myself, with my heart wrenching. I said it to myself, with a sob in my breast."

This quote comes toward the end of the book and hit me so hard I had to stop to take a picture of the page before reading on so that I would remember it. This is book one of a series, and this quote felt like the beginning of the story of this new Morgan LeFay, the start of the tale she will tell for herself. Early in the book I noted themes of agency, both its loss and reclamation; and of family. Here I recognized the third major theme of this book: self. Self-empowerment, self-respect, self-care, self-love. It's something that Morgan struggles with throughout the book (and, I expect, throughout the rest of the series), and something that I and probably many other readers can relate to.

I have to admit that Arthurian lore is not my forte, but from what I know I consider this Morgan to be Morgan LeFay much the way Elphaba is the Wicked Witch of the West. And I love her just as much as I loved Elphaba the first time I saw the musical of Wicked.

This series is a romantasy, but don't let the romance half trick you into thinking the fantasy isn't just as important. The plot plays out like a heroic fantasy with a hefty and delicious layer of both adventure and sexual tension--tension that is not resolved by the end. I have full confidence that when our hero and heroine finally act on their feelings, it will be worth the wait. For now, I scream at them from the other side of the page to quit being idiots and kiss already.

The plot itself gets bonus points for faking me out. It's hard to do that in a story like this one. I read a lot, and I dive into stories a lot. I went back and forth on Vesper for ages but I eventually fell for his disguise as completely as Morgan did, trusting him despite everything. I even put aside the questions of how and why they were attacked. In the end when he showed his true colors I could only blame myself for falling for his lies, and could only cheer for Morgan as she destroyed him as completely as Draven destroyed Whitehorn. (And I do mean *destroyed.* That is not a euphemism. He is deader than dead.)

That might be the thing that I cheered most in this book--the deaths that come to those who deserve them most. I was gleeful when I recounted Florian's death, thrilled to tell the details of how Whitehorn died. Romance comes with a happy ending for those who deserve it, but I loved seeing what horrible things happened to people who deserved an *un*happy ending. Briar Boleyn does an excellent job building up villains to be worth cheering when they fall.

All in all, I am very happy to have read this book, and very much look forward to the next installment.

Final rating: 4.5 stars.

Wow, this stories concept really drew me in! Fake and Camelot worlds coming together? Such a cool concept! The pacing and storyline of the book was great! Characters clearly have arcs you are invested in, and the ending! Cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book started off with multiple references to the Classic tale of King Arthur and Merlin. However, it is very different from what you might expect. Arthur is not the perfect king, and Morgan is not the villan as in such other classic tales..

This book was incredible! I liked Draven right off the bat. I know he is the strong and silent type, and honestly thought that him and Morgan would end up with each other.. Ultimately their relationship (hateship?) is a rollercoaster ride filled with the ups and downs that you can never be sure whose side he is actually on. He is however, very knowledgeable in multiple things that you would not expect from a simple farmers son training to be a knight. As ruthless as he might seem, he does what is right and looks after Morgan as best as he can. Even if their quest is built on lies.

Morgan is a complex character. She is the oldest sibling, yet does not want the throne.. She has fight in her and trains well, but yet doesn't stand up for herself often enough.. and this potion/tea that she drinks every other day, just because her mother did, was questionable right from the beginning. So I am glad to have read the outcome of that, and hopefully the other books have more details into her Fae history.

The ending contained so much and had me reacting with so many other feelings.. sadness for Lancelet, terror for Morgan, and then confusion for Draven.. This could go so many different ways now.. I can't wait to see what is in store!

While this book was filled with incredible world building in a time with royalty and fae combined, there are still so many un answered questions.. why do the humans hate the fae so much, even the half fae? how does Draven know so much, cause the answers we have been given so far don't explain it all.. and how powerful is Morgan really?

Bring on book 2 !!

Morgan is the firstborn child of the king of Pendrath. Her mother was fae...either full-blooded or part, she isn't quite sure. Her mother used to take medication to suppress any fae traits, and Morgan has taken the same medication all her life. Morgan is traumatized by her childhood--specifically the death of her mother. Her father went on to have two more marriages, and she has a half-brother from each marriage. Because her father came to hate the fae blood in both her mother and herself, he changed the line of succession from Morgan to her brother Arthur. Morgan loves her brothers, but Arthur has steadily followed in their father's footsteps, which has led him further and further away from her.

The world is loosely based on Camelot, King Arthur, and that mythology. Briar Boleyn changes almost everything, so that's why I say loosely based. Arthur is evil (or at least seems to be), Lancelet is a girl, Galahad is going into service to the temple, and Merlin is a girl and is said to be mostly powerless despite being the head priestess over their religion. Lancelet and Galahad are both gay. The LGBTQ pieces were mentioned repeatedly but not dwelled on continually, and I didn't feel like the author was trying to preach, even if she was trying to present this version of the world as she would like it to be when it comes to this topic.

I felt terrible for Morgan. She has witnessed so much--at the hands of her father, Florian, and even Arthur himself. Yet she was generally pretty naive. She ignored so many red flags from Arthur. I guess we do sometimes get blinded by those we love. And, of course, the entire Vesper storyline was so obvious to me. I suppose her naivete is necessary for the storyline, but if you ever want to shake a heroine into common sense, you'd probably want to do so with Morgan.

Draven is assigned to take Morgan on a mission for her brother to retrieve Excalibur. Morgan doesn't trust Draven, but he's never done anything to make her mistrust him...other than perhaps being a little bit of a jerk when they first met. Obviously, the reader can see he is keeping secrets. Morgan knows he's likely keeping secrets, too, but she doesn't push him to reveal those secrets either.

The only highlights I made were of things I thought might come back in the future. So I have no quotes to share with you today.

Queen of Roses was a solid first book in a new series for me. I was hooked early on. I wanted to keep reading when I needed to stop for real life, which is always a good sign that things are going well. I like Morgan and want to see her succeed, even though I want to shake her a few times to have her wake up from her naivete. I didn't mention earlier that I don't like when book descriptions compare a book to others I've loved because it can feel like expectations build up too much. Time will tell whether this series stands up to the likes of Sarah J Maas or Jennifer L Armentrout. For now, Queen of Roses gets 4 Stars. Have you read Queen of Roses? What did you think? Let me know!

Queen of Roses is very loosely based on the Arthurian Legend, with a connection to the fae world. The story starts with Morgan being half-fae, and while she is the first born her father skips her and makes his son, Arthur the heir. As king, Arthur turned out to be a brutal king, When Arthur sends Morgan off on a quest to find Excalibur, things get interesting.

Kairos Draven is my favorite character in this story. He smoothly works into the story, becoming a major focus and much more likeable that the other characters. I found Morgan mildly annoying, but not always. While having certain ties with King Arthur’s court, I didn’t really feel it helped the story. The story stood on its own. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you NetGalley and Starwater Press for an advanced ready copy Queen of Roses. These are my honest opinions.

Book review - Queen of Roses

For anyone who knows me I love a good Fae series and to add in the world of Camelot and Author was freaking EVERYTHING! I think Ive only read 3 really good fae series and two of them were by Sarah J Maas. In my opinion this series is in the league of those series. I never read any book series about the Camelot world but I’ve watched several movies and tv series. This book series is very different from the stories I’m used to. I’m enjoying the variation from what I’m used. I need to find the original story which I’m sure is very different and darker than the movies and shows I’m watched.

I love the fact that Author has a very different personality that’s usually shown on TV. Even the character Lancelot is different maybe not the personality but in other ways. You’ll understand when you read the book. Anyway, is Morgan supposed to be Morgana or will they be introduced later. There is also more to that entire bloodline, it’s just absolutely crazy. My favorite characters are Morgan and Draven. Lancelot and Merlin are growing on me but I’m waiting to see what happens next. There are too many plot twists and bombs being dropped for me to truly settle on who I like and don’t like.

I can’t wait to see the woman Morgan develops into and how the other characters will develop around her. I just know things are going to get wilder and crazier considering the ending of the book. Morgan has a long way to go on her journey and it’s going to be interesting to see who her allies and enemies will actually be.

I can’t wait to read the next book which I will be getting in the next few days. This book is a 5 out of 5. I couldn’t find anything to criticize about this book. I hope the rest of the series only continues to take me on an exciting and wild journey.

Such a great start to a series, it's a 3.75/5 Stars for me. It didn't quite make the 4 stars for me, as the ending seemed a bit rushed. All over I really recommend the book. The storyline is interesting and I loved the atmosphere of the book. I'm especially taken with the mysterious and brooding guardian, who is also the MMC of the series and I am very excited to learn more about him in book 2. I also look forward to see how the FMC deals with her newfound abilities and where the story will take us from here. Especially as there's so much more to learn about the world, it's magic and who the FMC really is. If you like the Legend of Arthur and Fae, as well as fantasy romance and mysteries, I recommend you pick this book up.

I loved loved loved this book. As someone who recently has gotten into fantasy I love how this book mixed high fantasy aspects with modern fantasy for new readers like me. I wish I weren't so busy with my life right now because what I would give to sit down and read all three books after this one right this very moment. Bolelyn's characters and world-building is amazing, and I loved this book with all my heart. I am rooting for the main character so much I can't wait to read the rest of this series. It has been so much fun to learn about this world and the people who are part of it.

*Thanks to Netgalley and Starwater Press for the ARC - All opinions are my own*

TLDR: Well worth the read and thoroughly enjoyable! Gets a bit slow in the middle and I wish the FMC wasn't as infantilised but can't wait to read book 2!

I had no idea I would love Queen of Roses as much as I did! Arthurian stories haven't been my favourite so far but QoR surprised me. It was a unique twist on the legends with a fae twist and love the world-building so far. Briar Boleyn did a really great job in detailing the world and really helped you visualise everything.

The plot does lose its pace a bit in the middle and things just get a bit too slow in my opinion but the first and last sections in the book are great.

The characters are brought to life so well and feel fully fleshed out but I have a big gripe with the way Morgan was portrayed.
I can understand with her upbringing and place in society why she is so meek but I really expected her to grow and break out of that shell a little more. You could see bits of who she could be in her fight with Draven and felt like a bit of growth from her was sorely needed and hope it will come in future books.

Also, at least from the first book, this is marketed as a “Dark” romance and there really isn’t anything dark about it, nor has the romance really amped up yet but I do believe it’s supposed to in the future.

It’s a good book and I feel like there’s a lot of promise for future instalments and I can't wait to read them!

Note: I feel like I say this in every review for a “dark” romance, but why does the FMC always have to be r*ped or sexually assaulted. I love a good dark romance but it’s just a constant theme in the genre at this point and I sorely wish it wasn’t.

I really loved this book. The writing was beautiful and the banter was so good! I would highly recommend this book!

I havent read a good slow burn romance in a long time. most of the time i find slow burns just drag but this book executed it so perfectly.

The enermies to lovers mixed with the mythical creatures and the magic and the world building was complete perfection.

i'm so excited to continue this series especially after that cliffhanger.... like excuse me you can't end a book like that!!

overall this is a great start to a new fantasy series

4.75 stars

Morgan Pendragon is the rightful heir to her kingdom, but her right is revoked and she spends her life living in her brother’s shadow - all because she has fae lineage & blood. Her future is promised by her father to the priestesses, in which she has little interest. So when her brother the king sends her on a quest for a legendary weapon, she embraces the opportunity to spend time away from his cruelty, despite having to travel with two guards she finds despicable. The reader joins Morgan on her travels where she encounters danger, lust, romance, mysterious creatures, and new information about her own identity.

I absolutely loved this - the writing style is captivating and beautiful, descriptive and emotional yet easy to read. The subject material was often violent but because I loved the writing so much I found it palatable. This was a really fun spin on & retelling of Arthurian life and Camelot! I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where that slow burn romance is going and also following that fantastic ending into the next book.

3.5 ⭐️
Queen of Roses started out a bit slow for me, but the end had me hooked and wanting more!

Morgan is passed over for the crown, which is giving to her younger half brother. She watches his rule and feels for the people of their kingdom, hoping to help in any way. However her brother sends her off on a mission and along the way she questions who she really is and everything she’s been taught and she starts to show her true fae self.

Omg enemies to lovers done and a slow burn romance is just my roman empire. This book is a Arthurian retelling with a Fae twist which just adds more magic. The story is filled with pain, magical creatures, tension, forced proximity, banter, betrayal, adventure and so many unexpected twists and turns. And I need the next book asap after that killing cliffhanger.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. I actually read this book before and already gave my feedback but it came with the set of 4 but I still give it two thumbs up

I absolutely loved this book! It's a retelling of Camelot and King Arthur, but a magical twist to it. In this tale, Arthur is evil, as malicious as it gets, and his sister, Morgan, is half fae. If you love fae magic, mythical creatures, and a great fantasy world, I'd definitely recommend this! The world-building is perfect, the story-telling is impeccable, and the suspense is out of this world!
The entire read is suspenseful, however, somehow Briar Boleyn found a way to take it up notch. The climax was a wonderful and suspenseful uphill climb, leading us to the jaw-dropping cliffhanger at the end. Such a great read! I can't wait to start the next book of this series, Court of Claws!

Thank you NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op, and the extremely talented Briar Boleyn for this wonderful read!

Thank you to NetGalley for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Queen of Roses is the story of a princess who has been cast aside as the heir to the throne in favor of her younger brother Arthur.

I found this story to be an interesting take on the typical King Arthur tale told in they point of view of Morgan. We see her struggles, her desire to overcome her weaknesses and her strength trying to protect those she cares for.

As a debut novel, I think that this story was really well written. Each character has a distinct personality and is easy to follow. The world building and imagery of this version of Camelot (and beyond) were fantastic. While certain things were a bit predictable, this is the first book in a series so there is plenty of room for shock and awe. As it is, this book ends on a cliff-hanger that has definitely caught my interest and I will be continuing with the series.

This book is just *chefs kiss* amazing!

✨️Hate to Friendship
✨️Fae
✨️Magic
✨️Lost Kingdom
✨️Forced Proximity
✨️Instant Love

A doomed love, a dangerous mission, and a kingdom on the brink of war...
A cast-off princess…
A dangerous temptation…
A slumbering kingdom awoken by blood…

This book is an Arthurian retelling but with a twist. Merlin, A High Priestess, Lancelet, A female knight (you get the idea).
This book is based loosely off Arthurian mythology, with Fae and Mythological creatures.

I loved the world building in this book, it was easy to keep up with, the character development was slow, but the FMC starts to come into who she is suppose to be (I will assume there's more of this to come!) The FMC and MMC start to develop a friendship in the later half of this book, I can't wait to see where it goes! Exmoors! I want one!!

This is the first book in a dark fantasy romance series, so please check trigger warnings!

Thank you to NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for allowing me to read and review this series!

Could. Not. Put. This. Down.

In a word, brilliant!

Queen of Roses is the first in the Blood of a fae series and what a way to start! It is told from the perspective of Morgan, a Pendragon princess who should, by birthright, have inherited the throne when her father passed but was instead removed from the line of succession due to her blood. Fae blood.

Instead, her brother Arthur now sits on the throne. Once her beloved kin, he is now something else entirely. Shaped and trained by their father to be his spitting image, he’s as cruel and spiteful as his father was, if not more so.

He tasks Morgan with a perilous journey to retrieve the Sword of Excalibur - not caring if she returns in one piece or not. In fact, he has taken measures to ensure that she doesn’t return at all.

As Morgan says off on her quest, she’s flanked by two bodyguards of her brother’s choosing, both of whom she despises entirely. Or does she?

Brilliantly written, just enough spice to keep it interesting without becoming vulgar and so beautifully imaginative.

It has triggers, but helpfully, Briar Boleyn has included a trigger warning and list. I didn’t find I was bothered by any of the content, but some readers may be, so something to bear in mind.

Triggers or not, I absolutely, one million percent recommend this read.

I LOVED it and have already made a start on the next book of the series.

Thank you to the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.

A slow paced fantasy with a dark, brooding, moody MMC.

It does take a while for this book to get going - about 39% before the plot kicks in - which is to be somewhat expected with a 4 part Fantasy series. Once it got going, I was hooked. I am glad I stuck with this and will most likely continue the series at some point in the future. (it ends on a cliff-hanger!)

I did find the King Arthur element to be extremely confusing. A lot of the names are Camelot based but gender-swapped and there didn't seem to be a point to this. Excalibur is mentioned but that is about the only other similar element drawn for this story apart from the names.

Once I got my head around the plot, I found myself cheering at all the right moments. Morgan is irritatingly rightful at times - and is the weakest part of the story (in my opinion). The other characters make this worthwhile - especially Lancelet and Draven. I am confident in the authors ability to character develop Morgan further and am kind of glad she get's a grow-to-love her type ARC.

Tropes

-Enemies to frenemies?
- A quest
- Found Family/Strong Friendships
- Betrayal
- Fae / Half-Fae / Human
- Cute but dangerous pet companion!

Please check the TW for this book. They are suggested not explicit but I would recommend checking.

Thankyou to net galley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.