Queen of Roses is a King Arthur retelling with a Fae twist.

Tropes:
- slow-burn romance
- enemies to lovers
- morally grey MMC
- found family
- “Who did this to you?”
- Touch her and die

This story follows Morgan Pendragon, a part-fae princess that has been cast aside by most of her family. Her brother, King Arthur, hates all those with fae blood. As the kingdom sits on the brink of war, he persuades his sister to travel to gain a weapon. However, she can only go with two of the Kings trusted, one of those being Draven, a man she does not particularly get along with.

Queen of Roses has a captivating plot with decent world building. This book introduces the characters but not much character development takes place. I’m hoping the FMC goes through much needed character development in the coming novels. The slow-burn romance begins well, but a wrench gets tossed in that had me screaming at the FMC. Overall, I couldn’t put this book down, claiming I would only read ‘one more chapter’ but in fact stayed up to read 5 or more.

I would recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of Arthurian stories, Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black, Stacia Stark, and Game of Thrones.

Thank you NetGalley and Starwater Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book, I’m so glad the next one is already out because I can’t wait to jump straight into it. There is fae, magic, magical creatures, slow burn enemies to lovers with “who did this to you” everything I was looking for. This book is perfect if you’re looking to ease yourself into fantasy as the world building is easy to follow. 4 star read and a great start to this journey, can’t wait to continue.

This series is off to a great start! I love the legends of Camelot and am thoroughly enjoying this new Fae twist on the tale. Excited for the next book!

Thank you NetGalley and the author for this ARC!

The series has so much potential! I enjoyed the storyline and the world building but I find it needs more depth and character development for this to have the wow factor I'm looking for. I will be reading book 2 and keeping my fingers crossed that it will just get better as we go!

Briar Boleyn’s “Queen of Roses” weaves together the Arthurian legend and the allure of fae mystique, resulting in a mesmerizing and suspenseful tale. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves high-power fantasy and is a fan of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout’s works.

Boleyn grabbed me from the start, taking me into a world where Camelot and the Fae collide. The author’s ability to create a detailed and immersive world is showcased through their meticulous approach, effortlessly transporting you to a realm overflowing with magic and suspense. The descriptions of the landscapes and courtly life are so vivid that you are transported to the core of the story.

At the center of this tale is Morgan Pendragon, a captivating protagonist with a unique blend of enchantment and royal lineage. As she embarks on a mission entrusted to her by King Arthur, you go on an extraordinary adventure filled with peril and unexpected twists. Accompanying Morgan is the enigmatic Kairos Draven, whose mysterious aura adds tension and depth to the story.

The romance side plot in ‘Queen of Roses’ is exceptional, offering a delightful slow burn that will leave you eagerly turning the pages. The dynamic between Morgan and Draven is brilliantly portrayed, with witty banter and moments of undeniable chemistry. As the plot develops, you are given a nuanced portrayal of their bond, laying the groundwork for an enchanting love story.

While there may be some predictable moments in the story, the overall enjoyment factor is immense. Boleyn’s ability to subvert expectations and breathe new life into familiar tropes is commendable. As the first book in the Morgan Pendragon series, ‘Queen of Roses’ sets the stage for an epic saga filled with betrayal, heartbreak, and dark revelations.

In conclusion, ‘Queen of Roses’ is a captivating and imaginative retelling of the Arthurian legend that will appeal to fans of fantasy and romance alike—romantasy at its best. With its richly drawn characters, immersive world-building, and irresistible romance, this book is sure to leave you eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

2.5 stars

Despite its promising premise, 'The Queen of Roses’ fell short in execution for me. While the protagonist faces numerous trials, each one resolves with unsettling ease, leaving little room for tension or character development. The slow-moving plot further hampers engagement. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy!

Wow, this book was amazing! This was an easy fast paced fantacy that hocked me from the start. There was no tedious world building chapters to get through, just captivating story. Don't let the length of the trigger least fool you this is a light fun read that doesn't dwell on the things listed just brushes past enough to make it interesting.

This book here….I was not prepared but in the best way possible!

This amazing story had everything I didn’t know I needed; enemies to lovers, forced proximity, “who did this to you?” - not to mention superior world building and character development.

The FMC was extremely relatable and finally began coming into her own during her journey. The story was not only inspiring but kept me on the edge of my seat.

The history that we learn in this book provides a great stepping stone into book 2 and I absolutely cannot wait to dive in!

If you are looking for a new series with magic, fae, romance, adventure and a little spice- this is definitely one for you!

This review has also been posted on Amazon and Goodreads.

To begin, thank you for allowing me to read this. This was a great start to the series and it’s definitely making me consider buying the rest! | loved the modern edge that Briar Boleyn gave this story as well as the fae twist that was included, the blend of the two was excellent executed.
One thing I will say is that it took me a sgile to get into with all the world-building that was going on. Morgan was interesting but I do wish that she would have been a little more defined in a sense. She was all for fighting and learning how to fight - but then at the same time she was so timid and mild when it came to listening to every word that her brother said. There were plenty of times where she could have stood up for herself and she didn't, but then other things she did in secret.

This was said to be a dark fantasy fae series and while I feel this is just the beginning, there wasn’t much darkness or steaminess in this one. However, I’m sure there’s lots of that to come later in the series, as this simply sets up the plot. By the end, I was hooked, and I definitely want to find out more.

I loved this book. The fantasy, the world building, the twists and turns. Morgan is amazing and I can't wait to see what the second book holds. Merlin is absolutely amazing and I love Lancelet.

I absolutely loved reading this novel and can’t wait to read more! The characters were so well developed, and the plot was well paced to where I felt completely engaged at every point in the book. The world building was amazing and it really made it come together. It was such a fun and excellent read if you’re looking for a great slow burn romance and something similar to ACOTAR, this should absolutely be your next read!! Thank you so much for this arc

While I thought this book had some good potential, I often found myself running into things that made it difficult to fully delve myself into the story. The pacing felt off, either to slow or too fast/time skips, the plot wasn’t very consistent throughout the story, twists were easily predicted, at times I was wondering what the point of the plot was, and the characters often fell flat. There was also a lack of world building, which often left me feeling confused. Despite all of these things, I do see the potential in the story and can see it progressing in a better manner as the series continues.

The fantasy and magic are what made this book awesome. I don't need anything else. The romance was perfect and balanced with the slow burn that made it fantastic.

4.5 ⭐️

This is my first book by this author, and I absolutely loved it. I immediately requested the second book, Court of Claws, on NetGalley.

For the first book in a fantasy series, this wasn't overly detailed. I can't tell you how grateful I am for that. The level of detail was just right, enough for me to visualise the world and not so much that I was bored. The description of characters and the explanation of politics was also the perfect amount.

The romance was there but not a lot. I have a feeling that as the series continues, the romance will blossom. The little bit of romance and steam we did get to see, though, was so good. The little twist with the love interest was unexpected for me. I did not see that coming at all. I was suspicious of him but didn't realise how great the betrayal was.

Overall, it was a fantastic start to the series. I can't wait to continue.

DNF at 20 percent

I know I am in the minority here but I really didn't like this book. Struggled through 20 percent before admitting defeat.

This read very much like a first draft to me, The sentence structure didn't flow and felt very clunky.

The writing style didn't work for me. I felt like I wasn't part of the story because there was far too much telling and not enough showing. I also didn't like the use of the passive voice as opposed to an active voice as this took me out of the story.

As already said, I know I'm in the minority here. Just not my cup of tea.

Thank you to Briar Boleyn and Netgalley for a copy of this book. It was such a fun ride! The world building was incredibly well done and I wish more fantasy authors would take notes! I was so enchanted by this book from the very first chapters. Initially, I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the Camelot references, but it worked really well. The battle scene (I won’t spoil any details) was so freaking terrifying and gave me the creeps but it was soooo cool! The ending was also super solid. I can’t wait to continue the series and see where this slow burn takes us!

High power fantasy. If you love Merlin, SJM and other Arthurian myths then this book is so for you. Queen of roses is the first book in this series Morgan Pendragon. It is a slow burn but totally worth the wait, and you get to read about other action.

This book is a mix of Camelot and Fae, the world is exciting! Boleyn did such a great job of describing her world, it was so easy for me to immerse myself. Kairos Draven was so loving and very respectful towards Morgan. He won my heart very early on in the book, he showed that even before he got to know Morgan, he would go to extra lengths to protect her!! At times it felt like Morgan didn’t appreciate him, and I kinda questioned many times if she even deserved him. BUT I am in love with him so…maybe only I deserve him? Kudos to Boleyn for writing the perfect man for this world!

I was hooked by the amount of action and twists at the end. The cliffhanger has me all pumped up for the next book! I can’t wait to continue with the series.

I do think Morgan could use a bit more depth. The romance might be lacking, I would have loved more.. but overall, this series is off to a good start with great world-building and a plot that keeps you engaged.

Arthurian Retelling but make it fae.

Honestly the best part about this for me was the "romance". I know people maybe had a hang-up on the twists and turns then an added "love-triangle" situation happening but finally not an instant smut/lust fantasy romance QQ. I've read so many instant love fantasy romances lately that I'm starting to think everyone is just jumping the trend for no reason. This is TRUE slow burn! If I could give Briar a gold medal I would.

Okay continuing.... to the characters. I pretty much liked all the main characters besides Morgan rofl. She was insufferable. How does someone wanting to help her kingdom not know anything about anything nor care to learn from every avenue possible? She was constantly just lacking.
However, what Morgan's character lacked in lovability we have Draven and he saves the book for me. Draven's character is *chefs kiss*. He is aloof, funny, mysterious (no seriously he actually is).

I'm just saying Briar nails so many key things right on the head.

As for the story, I started to kind of fall off the wagon towards the end. It would pick up and be interesting then slow down and pick back up. I found myself skipping over some minor conversations that lasted too long.

Overall I really enjoyed it. I liked the romance and the story so I'm very much invested in continuing the story to book 2.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this advanced copy. Queen of Roses follow the path of Morgan Pendragon as she struggles to understand her Fae mother's death and the effects it has on her life. "I was born to be a queen. But even queens could be set aside and forgotten. Or worse. Remembered but relegated to shadows." Good start to a series