The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler is an epic fantasy with both depth and lore. It is not focused on romance but on our FMC’s journey of self discovery. Ashely’s writing style would fall more in line with JRR Tolkien vs ACOTAR.

It is a story for fans of YA fantasy who enjoy Celtic-inspired fantasy storylines without a focus on romance or spice.

You will find:
-No spice
-No language
-Celtic Lore
-Lesser familiar Unseelie Fae creatures
-Self-Discovery
-Prophecy
-Significant world-building and details
-Written in 3rd person

The book follows Aisling as she is torn between what she’s been taught about life and the brutal Fae people and what she begins to see firsthand in her new husband, Lir, and those around him. For the first half of the book, Aisling was wilfully ignorant which made her come across as a spoiled human and was frustrating to read. Thankfully, she began to come around in the second half of the book. Lir, though present throughout the story, often appears distant, frequently delegating Aisling's care to others or engaging in unfulfilling conversations. Hopefully, the second book will delve deeper into his character.

I would love a guide linking each king or queen to their domain and describing the various types of magic and Unseelie creatures. I struggled to keep track of the numerous characters, their respective regions, and the pronunciation of their Celtic names.

Thanks to NetGalley, Second Sky, and Ashley Metzler for providing me with an advanced copy!

Overall, I really liked this book. I felt like the world-building in particular was exquisitely done, and it kept me going throughout some points when the plot got slow. While this is listed as a romantasy, I felt that The Mortal Queen deserved to be listed as YA. I fully expected to be reading a romance novel set in a fantasy world, but the romance was severely lacking and did not deliver., especially since the cover describes The Mortal Queen as "an absolutely addictive fae romance." As an avid romance reader, this book missed the mark on that. However, it made up for it in other ways that I enjoyed.

My favorite part of The Mortal Queen was how it pushed the boundaries between challenging narratives and assumptions. Aisling came into her marriage with Lir believing he was a savage king who did unspeakable things to humans for joy. Yet Aisling learns her life is smoke and mirrors. The Mortal Queen's themes were well done and deserve recognition.

If I had gone into The Mortal Queen not expecting to find a romance book, but just a fantasy book, I would have enjoyed it all the more. I believe Metzler set up the premise for the next two books, and that this first book is a great launching point for a captivating trilogy.

Would I recommend this to a friend? Only if they like YA fantasy, strictly with no romance or spice. This would be a perfect book for someone who enjoys YA fantasy books that does not contain spice or closed-door romance.

Will I be reading the next book? The jury is still out. I think I would if I knew Lir and Aisling’s relationship really progressed throughout the book, then I would be hooked and happy to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky Books for providing me with the chance to read this ARC!

This slow-burn romance was an enjoyable story but struggled to hold my attention for the first half due to slow progression/flow, character development & consistency.

Ashley sets us up with a beautiful world of magic and deception; where mortals and the Fae are at odds, and the people on both sides have differing beliefs on the land’s history. In a desperate move to broker peace between the kingdoms, Aisling’s father and King of the mortal lands, offers his only daughter’s hand in marriage to the Fae King, Lir. A precarious decision that could end in disaster for both Fae and Mortal alike, should the union not go well. When hidden prophesies are revealed, they wreak even more havoc.

Things I liked: The world building and descriptions of the landscape and characters were beautifully written. I loved the addition of lesser-familiar Unseelie Fae creatures in the world, and that the reader is given a full, sensory-immersed feel of coming face to face with these creatures. I also loved the endearing hints of kinship and genuine fondness between Aisling and her brothers, which hopefully we’ll see more of in the next book. I appreciated that Lir was well respected, treated all those in his care with a level of respect, and that his intentions came from a place of being responsible for so many. I DID love the turning point in the story where Aisling begins to think for herself and grows (for the better) as a person. I loved the ending that, while a cliffhanger, gave me hope for good things to come.

While I really enjoyed the overall story and plot, I wrestled with the missing pieces that were left unwritten. Pacing & character development for our main characters were incredibly slow. For more than half the book, Aisling is willfully ignorant to all that she witnesses. This is made worse as she has a penchant to make her situation uglier by arguing points from the indoctrination of her people (primarily her own family) causing her to fail to accept that there are three sides to every story. Theirs, Yours, and the truth lay somewhere down the middle. This made Aisling come across to the Fae (and the reader) as a spoiled, self-centered human who refused to give credence to the historical accounts and lived experiences of the Sidhe.

Meanwhile, King Lir, for all his power and perfection in beauty, seemed to be an unwilling participant throughout the story. He mostly avoided Aisling. The time he did share with her, he treated her like she was a pet project, assigning his staff and knights to practically babysit her more than to try to get to know her himself. This is all made even more damaging to his character, when we learn there are reasons that might explain better why he was avoidant. I kept waiting throughout the story for a true connection between Lir and Aisling, but every opportunity of a kindling fire between them fell flat and cold. For the last few chapters of the book, the chemistry between Lir and Aisling still felt superficial, so I was left confused why he bothered at all?

Other things that could be improved:
There is an excessive use of repetitive phrases and quotes. It was okay for the first ¼ of the book when Aisling is still being introduced to her new surroundings and the Fae people. However, even as we’re nearing the end of the book, the exact same quotes (which are lies and half-truths at best) are used again and again, making them just annoying to read and making me want to beat logic and reasoning into Aisling’s simple-minded head.
Aisling’s indecisiveness was difficult to endure. While it made sense that Aisling was taught to believe that the Fae were evil incarnate – and I realize that it was a complete shock to her that now her newfound duty is to become a Queen of the Fae - it still felt odd that she willingly (and blindly) accepts that responsibility, only to then act petty & belligerent after the vows are made.
The Author uses way too many thesaurus-borrowed words. For example, I lost count on how many different words were used to describe Lir’s green eyes.
We need a little more heat between Aisling and Lir - not spice - just... perhaps some steamy sexual tension and definitely evidence of emotional connection rather than feral attraction. Instead they are so awkward around one another, that it doesn't come across as the "fated mates" that they are. A conversation that she wouldn't be touched until she made it clear that was what she wanted? A gentle embrace when she was afraid or angry? I dunno? But something was lacking and I was endlessly craving something more between them that made the claim of soul mates to be undeniable.

Overall, I DO truly look forward to reading the second book and hope that there will be more fleshed out characters and improved editing before it’s published. I crave a Happily Ever After for Aisling and King Lir.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Metzler, and Second Sky Publishing for this ARC!

The Mortal Queen kicks right off into the action where we meet Aisling (the mortal queen herself) who is married off by her father, ruler of mortal lands, to form an alliance with the fae people who are their longtime sworn enemies. Aisling finds herself bound to King Lir the fae king (also known as the Aos Sí/Sidhe). Lir gradually introduces Aisling to his kingdom and his people and it calls into question everything Aisling thought she knew about the mysterious magic people she’s grown up fearing…

I really enjoyed this one! I’m a big lover of fantasy romance so when I saw this up for review on NetGalley I absolutely had to give it a go and was pleasantly surprised. Described as an epic fae enemies to lovers romance, I definitely found the romance taking a back seat and this book focused heavily on world building the fantasy lands and the politics involved with each kingdom and their people. That being said though, I loved the tension building between Lir and Aisling and although Lir is still a big mystery, I can’t wait for the next 2 instalments to see how their relationship evolves!

The fantasy element was really whimsical and descriptive and like nothing I’ve ever read before. I thought the fact there was no real build up to the marriage and that we were just slung straight into the action was an interesting move and for me it paid off as I was hooked from the start!

My only small criticism would be some of the details were confusing. The Mortal Queen draws heavily from
Celtic influences I believe so a lot of the names were confusing and hard to pronounce and keep track of and there wasn’t a pronunciation guide included so I was fighting for my life trying to work out what some things were called! I think there’s one in the next book though so that should make things a lot easier and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I really liked the idea of this book, including tropes such as arranged marriage, fae vs human and enemies to lovers. The world building is great and includes diverse creatures. However, as the story progresses, some elements fall short. There is no real connection or emotional depth between the two main characters. The fmc comes across as unrelatable and has no distinct personality which made it difficult to emotionally invest in her journey.

A major contradiction lies in the initial emphasis on the importance of an heir, which is set up as a significant plot point but ultimately plays no role in the couple's relationship or the broader narrative. The frequent use of the phrase “the mortal queen” becomes tiresome.

There was basically no romance in this book which is advertised as “an absolutely irresistible, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance”, meaning that for me personally the slow burn drags too long in this instance. As this is the first book in the series, I hope book two will delve deeper into the romantic relationship between the main characters and fully explore their connection.

Thank you netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Metzler, and the publishers for this ARC.

The Mortal Queen is an electrifying dive into a kingdom brimming with betrayal, forbidden magic, and a protagonist who refuses to be anyone’s pawn. From the very first chapter, I was hooked—if you love the intrigue of Throne of Glass or the dark, seductive pull of Serpent & Dove, you’re in for a treat.

The heroine is fierce yet beautifully flawed, navigating a treacherous world where every choice could tip the scales of power. Her growth felt so real, and I couldn’t help but cheer her on as she tackled each new challenge. And let’s not forget the romance—slow-burn perfection with just the right amount of tension. Every shared glance, every whispered exchange had me holding my breath.

The magic system is pure brilliance—unique, immersive, and seamlessly integrated into the plot. Add in some jaw-dropping political intrigue, and this story becomes a whirlwind of suspense and surprise. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, Metzler throws in a twist that will leave you reeling.

Not everything was flawless, though. Some of the side characters felt a little undercooked, and there were moments in the middle where the tension wavered just a bit. But honestly? These were minor bumps in an otherwise captivating read.

I’d rate this a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. That missing half-star is just me holding out for the sequel—I have so many questions that need answers, and I’m dying to see where Metzler takes this story next.

Am I excited for more? You bet! This world, these characters, and that deliciously tense romance—I’m ready to dive back in as soon as the next book drops.

If you’re into stories of fierce heroines, forbidden magic, and courtly drama with a side of slow-burn romance, you need to pick this up. Fans of YA and New Adult fantasy, royal intrigue, and epic betrayals will eat this up.

In short, The Mortal Queen delivers everything I crave in a fantasy read. It’s sharp, addictive, and leaves you begging for more. Don’t sleep on this one—you’ll regret it!

Book: The Mortal Queen
Series: The Aisling Trilogy, Book 1
Author: Ashley Metzler
Completed Series: No
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Format: eBook ARC Available Feb. 14, 2025

Storyline/Plot:
Okay, I see you, Ashley! I loved this plot! The tropes were fantastically done. I normally am not the biggest fan of arranged marriages, but the way this one ties with other tropes is phenomenal. Metzler has put her spin on humans vs. fae and I love it! I love the magical system, the brutality of the world, and how it makes me unsure of what is happening. I also love that “The Savage Queen” (book 2) comes out the same day!

The only thing I would change is to give me a catalog of the people in the book and what the fae are saying (I know you are doing it on purpose for the latter).
**Note: this is in 2nd person, which didn’t bother me, but just a heads up!

Favorite Characters:
Galad is a wonderful character. He is loyal to Lir and by extension to Aisling. I love that he doesn’t treat Aisling like the enemy and is more curious than anything else.

Spice:
There really is no spice. It's just high tension. I am aching for the spice though!

Triggers:
It’s on the violent side of fantasy, but not too bad. Daddy issues. I really can’t think of anything.

*** I will also post to my instagram on monday when it will get more views

I think this book just wasn't for me. It got advertized as a fae romance, but there was hardly any romance to be found. I kept thinking, when are these two characters finally going to show some emotion other than hate or disdain towards each other? And then there is still her childhood sweetheart, who is not in the story at all untl the end, and the author wants me to believe that Aisling would choose that guy over the fae she just spend months with, and has conflicted feelings about??

Also, I think the style of writing was a little weird. Every time the author referred to Aisling, she used the words "the mortal queen" and rarely just "she". The same with the repetition of names, I don't need to know the names of the guards if they aren't going to become major characters. If they are just there to be a guard, you can just call them the guards.

I did like the underlying story, with her finding out about the world that was hidden from her. I'm intrigued to read the next part in the series, but I'm hesitating because I really didn't like the romance part.

A true epic fantasy. I fell easily into the world that Ashley Metzler has crafted. Her detailed descriptions of settings, character, and even clothing allowed me to easily picture the story in my mind beautifully. Too eagerly wishing I was able to be truly there.

I felt Aisling, FMC, was realistic in her growth. As it takes time to accept that what you have been taught your whole life may not be the truth. Her struggle to fight the hate that has been instilled in her as she experiences things herself for the first time. Not wanting to easily believe that her loved ones would betray her. Struggling between her torn emotions. She is impulsive but not stupid. Choosing to follow her instincts most times, that she had been taught were wrong.

The story is begins as a forced marriage between enemies. She struggles to easily trust your husband, Lir the MMC, who she has been conditioned to fear and hate, but quickly starts to learn he is not who she expected him to be.
Lir is intriguing to say the least. He has secrets, is powerful, breathtaking and truly morally grey. He loves his people, his home and will do anything to protect it. Yes I completely fell for him and his forest sage eyes!

This story is the true definition of slow burn. The focus is not on romance but Aisling’s self discovery. Yet, I reveled in it. Felt it was more realistic. The apprehension the characters felt is understandable. As you heard their thoughts and discover with them why things are happening. We do not know anything until the FMC learns it as well. Aisling and Lir get to know each other in small moments, that are more deep and go beyond surface level or physical attraction. There development progressing throughout as the rest of the story is happening. Pulling and pushing each other away. Denying there growing feelings and the thread that pulls them closer together.

I enjoyed every twist and turn this story takes. I did not expect the ending and it left me wanting more. ( yes its a cliffhanger )

This book is unlike any other and had me hooked from the very first page. I was caught in a world that was amazingly created and you will fall in love with the characters so perfectly written. I can say that I am desperately waiting to read book two as I am wanting to see what will happen next! I highly recommend this book and would give it more stars if I could! I was given an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*Thank you NetGalley, Second Sky and the Author for the ARC*

I am pretty conflicted on my rating, I won’t even lie, but I have settled for 3.5 ⭐️ after much deliberation.

This book brings a unique twist on the usual fantasy themes, with lore steeped in Celtic Mythology. This book is definitely more focused on the politics, with the romance being a sub-plot, if any. This book’s lyrical prose, immersive world-building and complex character development are its definite stand-out features. The book delves deep into the themes of duty, identity and the blurred lines between good and evil.

Something I actually thoroughly enjoyed was our FMC Aisling, even though at times she made me WANT TO TEAR MY OWN HAIR OUT. Throughout the book we are forced to endure and experience Aisling’s cognitive dissonance so intimately and REALISTICALLY. It was a breath of fresh air that the FMC was not instantly besotted with Lir, her Fae husband (our MMC) despite an upbringing of instilled fear of the immortals. It was a very realistic part of the book, where it takes time to change what you’ve been taught most of your life.

This story is the definition of a SLOWWWW BURN. The focus is really on Aisling’s self-discovery, and not the romance. We do not know anything until our FMC learns it as well. I really enjoyed Lir’s character but I also felt that we didn’t really get to know much about him. He has a dark past, steeped in mystery and secrets, so I would’ve loved his POV at certain parts of the story. Our FMC didn’t really interact that much with him or press him for personal information which would’ve helped their complex relationship flourish. I was missing that SPARK between them; I didn’t feel the yearning or the passion or any connection, slow-burn as it is.

One thing that I particularly got tired of seeing was the everpresent repetition of every single piece of advice Aisling received from the past or present from her family. I feel like it didn’t exactly have to be repeated so thoroughly throughout the book and it took away the beauty of the story for me. I know its presence is meant to remind Aisling of her roots and her beliefs but I found it was too repetitive.

THE ENDING THOUGH?? This is the reason why I had to drop the rating, as unpredictable as it was. I just feel like based on what the FMC has learned and the withholding of information as well as the treatment of her family towards her and the Sidhe, the decision she made is one I can’t understand and don’t personally agree with. I just felt like it was relatively rushed and the planning behind it just didn’t make sense to me as it wasn’t touched on at all during the book.

I received an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

I really enjoyed this fantasy novel. The author created a masterful new world with great characters.
The FMC was flawed and the MMC morally grey.
The only flaws I saw was that the author is a little wordy. She over describes places. I do wish there was more romance. I feel like the author could have added a little more since this is categorized as romantasy. They share a singular kiss which was great but I wanted more pining. The slow burn is great but this is slow slow slow burn. I do enjoy that this wasn’t insta lust or love though. This is a true enemies to lovers.
I highly anticipating the sequel. The last part “I’ll hunt you.” Ugh like yes sir.

Summary:
Aisling is sent to the Sidhe as a bride to stop a war that has been going on for years. They are both bitter enemies. As Aisling adapts to the new world she must fight off unseelie sidhe and potentially learn that all the knowledge she was told were lies. As she and the king get closer Aisling finds herself with a new power and it could destroy the whole fae world. Can she find a way to stop fate?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Mortal Queen by A. Metzler, published by Second Sky Publishing is the first book in the Aisling Trilogy. This new to me author is an extraordinary wordsmith. I read the blurb and was intrigued by this ya fantasy.
Aisling's adventure is a fast paced, complex story that had me in suspense from start til the very last page. The story continues in the next installment, The Savage Queen.
I recommend the book and the series, 5 stars.

I think this series does have such good potential!! The writing style is really nice, the world building is detailed and thorough, and the slow burn between Aisling and Lir is fantastic.

That being said, I think I would’ve liked to see more of Lir and their relationship develop on the page. The tension is definitely there, but they still don’t feel like they’re *meant* to be, which is potentially deliberate - but does take away a bit from the reading. It’s definitely a fantasy more heavy on the politics, and I’m not sure if this book has enough to justify it as ‘fantasy romance’ as it is right now. However, I still enjoyed it!

Also, it would be super helpful to have a pronunciation guide at the front, because I did get a bit confused and it pulled me from the story a touch.

Thank you Ashley & NetGalley!

Aaahh…This book guts me. It could have been so fantastic! The premise was incredibly interesting and fresh, but there were problems.

When I began the book I immediately knew it was going to be choppy, so I tried to buckle in. I found a lot of the phrasing to be extremely awkward, and the descriptions disjointed. Not sure how to describe the feel of this other than it’s as though it was translated to English from another language via a computer program. The prose is ambitious, but often just confusing and surface level. And, unfortunately, there are a plethora of contradictions, sometimes within the same paragraph. All of these things were hard to endure, and I almost DNF pretty early on.

The author kept using quotes to describe conversations the FMC had in the past. It became tedious. The same quotes were often repeated throughout the book which made them just filler. As a literary device they should have been used more sparingly to give them extra weight.

The characters are unique. I know, I know, it’s a fae king and a mortal queen (hence the title), but they are a bit different from the typical. I did have an issue with how often the MMC seemed to be gone during the first third of the book. How is there going to be relationship or character development if he’s not interacting with the FMC? Which, by the way, brings me to the romance. This is a sloooow burn. This book is clearly not an enemies to lovers romantasy as we know them. However, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

I’m giving my 2⭐️ grudgingly (the writing style alone would never garner more than a 1), and also a bit furiously (the premise was inspired and it should have been a 4 or 5). This book could be the next great fantasy series, but not in its current format.

This book is a JOURNEY, a true fantasy novel. There's epic world-building, whispered secrets, and lots of interesting creatures.

I really liked the way Irish lore is wrapped into the story. I won't lie and say I didn't Google some pronunciations because I don't speak Gaelic. But I really loved seeing some of what I know spun in a new way.

Mind the cliff on this one. I want more, more, more. More from Lir. More from Aisling and whatever strangeness is lurking inside her. There was promise of an epic love, so maybe we will get more romantasy in the following books.

Ensorcelled from the very first chapter! ❤️

I devoured the fluid prose of this unique take on a fantasy world and am now obsessed with both this world and these characters. The world building was descriptive and well paced (no info dump) sprinkled with nodes to Celtic lore. The slow burn romance was incredibly slow, with no spice, and phenomenal tension making the development and change in the relationship from enemies to lovers feel earned. Each character was unique and held their own voice helping the reader to not get lost in the volume of characters.

I loved the self discovery journey that Aisling went on, struggling to separate what she has been told her whole life from what she was learning in this new world, and decide for herself what to believe. Lir is a compelling character. I can see him being painted as morally grey at times, however, most times he is simply unapologetic about what he is willing to do to protect his people and his kingdom and is unwilling to hide or color his actions to appear as something they are not the way others do.

This book is going on my favorites list and I cannot wait for the next book!
—
🌲Debut novel
🏔️Trilogy - 1st book
🌲Morally grey MMC
🏔️Slowburn romance
🌲Self-discovery journey
🏔️Forced proximity
🌲Enemies to lovers
🏔️Lies & betrayal
🌲Fantasy
🏔️Celtic lore
🌲Fae
🏔️Unseelie
🌲Anthropomorphism
🏔️Magic
🌲Prophecy
🏔️No spice
🌲Single POV
🏔️Republishing
—
Thank you Second Sky & NetGalley for this complimentary ARC - all thoughts are my own! 📚 (Is it too soon to request the sequel?!)
Publishers release date 2/14/2025

I was happily surprised by this book. I loved the premise but wasn’t sure if it would be as interesting as the description but I really enjoyed it. I liked this take on fae and other magical creatures like the many Unseelie. I also appreciated the world building, something that a lot of fantasy books lack, but this book had depth and lore. I also enjoyed all the side characters, they all had their own personalities and backgrounds which added to the story. What I didn’t love was how naive Aisling was. It was understandable at first but at certain points it was very frustrating. Also I wish there was more of a relationship between Aisling and Lir, just when they were starting to make a little progress the book ended. But overall this was a great start to the series and I can’t wait to read the next.

Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Mortal Queen is a stunning new fantasy that puts a unique spin on the plotline of arranged marriages between enemy kingdoms. Aisling is the heroine, and the mortal princess wed to the Sidhe king, Lir, as a peace treaty between their peoples. She has been told horrific tales of the Sidhe her entire life and must now decide for herself which truths to believe as her new life begins.

The world-building in this series is enchanting, and so descriptive that it feels like the reader is exploring the feywilds and Annwyn along with Aisling. The magic system and lore are unique, which was a breath of fresh air for someone who reads many fantasy books! I was also struck by the descriptions of all the creatures, from the Unseelie dangers faced to the more animal-like of the Sidhe. Each aspect of this book is so unique and written so beautifully!

Aisling experiences so much growth in this book, and I truly cannot wait to see where her story leads! She does not let being mortal hold her back and adapts to her new life by finding strength in herself. She and Lir balance each other well, and I look forward to seeing their relationship deepen.

I would 100% recommend this series to fantasy lovers and will be eagerly awaiting the next books!

Thank you to Netgalley and Second Sky books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is everything I hoped for and more! I have always been a fan of fae books and this one did not let me don’t. I am so in love with Lir and can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!