Thank you to NetGalley, Second Sky and Ashley Metzler for an ARC copy of The Mortal Queen.

The Mortal Queen is the kind of book that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go. From the moment Aisling is forced into marriage with the ruthless fae king, the tension is high, the stakes are intense, and the world is absolutely mesmerizing.

The dynamic between Aisling and Lir is everything I love in an enemies-to-lovers romance—fiery, intense, and filled with slow-burning chemistry that keeps you hooked. Lir is the perfect mix of dangerous and intriguing, and Aisling’s journey is incredibly satisfying to watch unfold. The world-building is lush and immersive, packed with mythical creatures, dark enchantments, and plenty of twists that keep the story moving at a fast pace.

But what truly sets this book apart is the writing—it’s so good that I completely forgot about the real world while reading. Every scene pulls you deeper into the magic, making it impossible to put down. I already need the next book in the trilogy, and I can’t wait to read even more from Ashley Metzler.

If you love fantasy romance with strong characters, sizzling tension, and a gripping storyline, The Mortal Queen is a must-read and I know this series is going to be an all-time favourite!

Intense. Enticing. Ethereal.

The world building is fantastic. It truly engrossed me into the story and transported me in a way that kept me engaged in its entirety. The writing is excellent and descriptive and the characters are so likable.

The pacing is on the slower side but builds to a climax that pays off well. I’m such a stickler for the pacing of the book and from the start I knew this was going to be a slow burn, but it’s written in a way that is not boring. I will say however, the dialogue got lost and the actions and small details overshadowed it. I found myself needing to revert back to certain parts in order to remind myself on what was said.

However, with that being said. I enjoyed the romantasy elements and I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of steam and spice. It’s been increasingly difficult to find a romantasy without spice, so reading this book was a nice and unexpected experience.

I would like to extend my gratitude to NetGalley, Second Sky and Ashley Metzler for the Advance Reader Copy of The Mortal Queen in exchange for my honest review.

The Mortal Queen written by Ashley Metzler and narrated by Samantha Norbury was a true slow burn. I will call it an enemies to less than enemies tale. I would have been so angry if there had not been ONE KISS in this book. I dual read and listened to The Mortal Queen. Samantha Norbury brought Aisling to life with the terminology and languages. I have immediately downloaded book 2 where I hope the less than enemies get a little spicy.

Wow, wow, wow, I am so glad go read this as the ARC, what a book, I love a fantasy and I knew just from the title, I'd love this one, give me the next books now!!

I LOVED this book. The writing style and the story line sucked me right in. The characters, including the supporting characters. The story is fast paced so kept me on the edge of my seat and dying to know what came next. Will recommend to a friend and can’t wait to see what the author writes next

Great read, can’t wait for next one to see what happens, I see now it’s a three parter. Aisling is caught between her family and her husband. How is she to choose

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for allowing me to review

Fairytale feel with fae magic - I think I am just tired of fae books, this one just didn't hit the way I wanted too

Complex fantasy with the feel of a fairy tale - Sidhe, Unseelie, and humans battling land and nurtured fallacies and lies. A naive and spoiled princess finds out all she has known is not the truth, and the unknown evil may be the good after all. Battles and intrigue and secrets enmeshed in a new and colorful world. Great for any age.

"But those were the most dangerous sort of creatures, the lovely ones..."

Aisling is devoted to her clan, willing to give her life in order for it to be safe and thrive. But when her father, the Mortal High King, the Firehand, offers her in marriage to the fae King to form a peace treaty between their races, her world will be shaken to its very core and her loyalty to her family, her people, will be tested beyond her comprehension. Distinguishing truth from lies becomes more difficult with every exposure Aisling has to the world beyond her father's walls, and the more time she spends with Lir, the fae King, the more something mysterious and dark stirs from deep within her bones. When war breaks down the door between present and past, where do her loyalties lie and who will she save: the fae King she was forced to wed, the family she has known her entire life, or the darkness that threatens to overcome her?

Full of beautiful fae world-building, dark tension, deep-rooted lore, and twists at every turn, The Mortal Queen surprised me immensely more than I anticipated. The first 1/4-1/3 of the book is focused on world/history building to help you understand how swiftly the story takes off - but in a good way. I've never encountered a story with lore so deep that is so well thought out so quickly that you can actually follow. Every time I thought I knew where this was going, there would be a new element, keeping it fresh even though there was an undercurrent of predictability for the baseline here and there. And the slow-burn romance was a beautiful undercurrent amidst Aisling's journey of self-discovery and finding her own strength and voice.

I will say, it took me a while to get over how often Aisling is referred to as "the Mortal Queen" in narration. It's EVERYWHERE over and over and over. True, the fact that she is mortal is crucial to so much of the plotline and the turn taken at the end, but it could absolutely have been used less.

With that said, it didn't take away from the intrigue of the story and relationships within one bit. The second book is already on my TBR (this is a trilogy!) and I'm very much looking forward to seeing where the story goes next! I'll leave you with another non-spoiler quote from the book, though I did remove names to make you want to read it all the more.

"One day, they'd meet again, and she anticipated the day near as much as the day she learned of herself and her newfound fate... For their futures were woven by the lady. Intricate tapestries whose tales were knit tightly together. Needlework already sewn into the fabric of the stars. So she'd dream of him till once more they met."

Give it a chance…

This book was very close to being DNF to me, however I’m glad I pushed through it. The pacing was extremely inconsistent, however it had enough suspense to keep me going when reading.

I have just started book 2, The Savage Queen, so let’s see where this goes.

An incredibly immersive fantasy novel with beautifully descriptive prose, this story shines with its rich world-building and even more vivid character development. Aislinn and Lir, from opposing races, are bound by fate and forced into marriage, setting the stage for a gripping journey of discovery—both of the truth and of Aislinn herself.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:

Magic-driven stories featuring Seelie, Unseelie, and mortals
Mortal enemies thrown into forced proximity with an extremely slow burn romance—you’ve been warned!
A heroine who grows from weak to strong
Classic fantasy tropes: an epic quest, a reluctant chosen one, mythical creatures, hidden truths, and the ultimate price of victory

I like how detailed you were about the hate between the mortals and the fae. Aisling didn't know what was going to happen to her but she knew she had to save her people. She was willing to do whatever it took. Little did she know that everything was not as she thought it was. She would have to learn what is the truth and find out who she can trust. 

I really need to see some character arts for this book! I was so shocked to read the amount of detail you put into each kind of character. The way you described the world looks so amazing. I was not expecting that ending at all. I was completely shocked and still trying to figure out how it got to that point. I definitely can't wait for the next book. I need more of Lir. Every time he came up I was always wanting more and on edge waiting to know what he would say or do. 

Can't wait to read the next book! Thank you so much @ashleymetzlerauthor and Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the ARC team!❤️

A magical read packed with familiar tropes we're seeing right now in the literary world - fae and humans, arranged marriage. The slow-burn romance leans more toward an alliance, with Aisling and Lir's bond evolving gradually. Aisling's biases made her tough to like at first, but her character arc was compelling. The pacing is steady, with rich world-building and immersive prose, though internal reflections sometimes overshadow dialogue. That cliffhanger? Hooked. And with Aisling's squad ready for action, plus hints of a love triangle, book 2 promises even more drama. Hoping for a deeper emotional payoff next time!

3 star because of similar themes to other books, it didn't give me the same high as others, but I am still going to continue with the series, as I certainly am hooked on where this story will go.

This is the trad debut of an indie release (to my knowledge, it’s a planned trilogy and both books that have already been indie published under a different name are being traditionally released today). Absolutely wonderful. It’s enemies to lovers and fated mates and a slooooow burn, with a mortal princess Aisling forced into an arranged marriage to the Sidhe (fae) king Lir to seal a peace treaty between the two long-warring races. I hate the word “unputdownable” in reviews, but I will say that it was indeed difficult to put this down whenever real life attempted to call.

Stunning world building. The Sidhe world Aisling enters is fantastical and magical and dark and wild and unforgiving in equal measure. The sort of world I’d love to go to but doubt I’d survive! Beautiful, lyrical/poetic writing, but not the kind that overwhelms the writing or interferes with the plot and the author’s ability to simply provide information as needed.

Aisling is a very compelling MC. Determined to be stoic and endure, but unable to resist giving into her more wild and feral urges the longer she stays in the Sidhe world. I also actually really enjoyed that she lacks any sort of natural talent for fighting, archery, etc. I love a good warrior FMC as much as the next Romantasy reader, but it made for a refreshing change to have a character who’s been trained, and just simply doesn’t take to it and has to find other means of survival and power.

Rating: 4.75/5
Spice: 0/5, but wouldn’t be surprised if this bumps up in subsequent books

Tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- Fae
- Celtic folklore inspired
- Arranged marriage
- Sloooooow burn
- Fated mates
- Prophecies
- One stag (one horse)
- Deadly magical creatures
- Forced proximity

Thank you to @secondskybooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

The story follows Aisling, a mortal princess forced into an arranged marriage with Lir, the terrifying king of the fae, to secure peace between their warring realms. Expecting cruelty, she instead finds herself drawn into a dangerous but alluring world of magic, deception, and prophecy. As she struggles to navigate court politics and her growing connection with Lir, Aisling must uncover hidden truths about herself and the kingdom she now belongs to. The tension between the mortal and fae worlds adds stakes and depth to the story, making every political maneuver and alliance feel crucial.

Aisling’s growth from sheltered princess to queen is engaging. Lir is a mysterious hard to read king. Their relationship is a slow burn, built on tension, trust, and mutual respect rather than love at first sight.

The narrator refers to Aisling as “The Mortal Queen” repeatedly and it became redundant and unnecessary. Their romance is sweet as their relationship blossoms from strangers to one of deep connection with mutual respect.

Super exiting start to a series. Really good worldbuilding and introduction with a fantastic climactic ending! There are some familiar tropes that I LOVE to see in this book - prophecies & curses, dated mates etc.,

Overall this was a super enjoyable read and I can't wait to read book 2!

I love a good fantasy/fae romance, and The Mortal Queen did not disappoint. The book introduces us to Aisling, a mortal princess promised by her father to the Fae King, Lir. Mortals and Fae have always been enemies, so Aisling experiences major culture shock as she becomes the mortal queen by Lir’s side. Aisling is learning to question what she’s always been told and to see things from a different perspective, but she is struggling to learn who to trust. This book is filled with world building and adventure and has been a great escape from reality. It ends on a major cliffhanger – I’m looking forward to the next book because I want to see how the story progresses. Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for the eARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for this eCopy to review

Delving into The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler was an enchanting journey. The story unfolds with Aisling, a young woman promised in marriage to the fae king, Lir, to secure peace for her people. Initially, Aisling is filled with dread and apprehension about marrying a fae king, expecting him to be a heartless beast. However, as their relationship develops, I found myself captivated by the slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance that ensues.

Aisling is a compelling character, with a blend of strength, vulnerability, and determination. Her journey of self-discovery and her evolving relationship with Lir kept me engrossed throughout the book. Metzler's world-building is vivid and immersive, painting a rich tapestry of fae lore, magic, and mythical beasts that added depth to the narrative.

If you enjoy fae romances with strong characters and an enchanting world, this book is definitely worth a read.

Previously having read the indie version of this book, I have to say the trad published is equally as amazing & captivating. I was lucky enough to receive an arc of this & it did not disappoint!
The story itself kicks off strongly from the first page. There were some grammar mistakes, & I think maybe too much description (almost trying to get to word count- esc), but that doesn’t take away from the actual plot of the story itself. Metzler does an amazing job at weaving fantasy into what almost feels like a history of the sidhe & i love that take. Almost like we are reading recovered documentation from when/ if sidhe really did walk amongst humans. She did an amazing job at researching how chaotic & almost unruly fae/ sidhe can be!
Aisling, herself, was never really annoying to me. Although i do wish we could’ve seen her go into depth about the mistreatment from her father. I did love her arc, starting off as more of a fake confidence & blossoming it, with the help of friends, along the way.
The reason it isn’t a 5 star is two reasons. 1. her relationship with Lir sort of fell flat. we didn’t get really any progression & they only kissed once. I get slow burn but it felt like they had a max of 40 words spoken between them & i wish it could’ve been more.
The second reason is simply for the fact that if I had to read the term “the mortal queen” one more time i would’ve thrown my phone across the room. At one point, it was spoken 3 times within 4 sentences & a whopping 346 times throughout the book. That’s way too much & every time i would hear/ read it, it would take me out of the story.
Overall AMAZING book. Amazing plot, finally a book where it’s plot heavy but has potential for the right amount of romance! amazing amazing!
Also can i just say whaaaat an ending. Even reading it the second time it pissed me off & made me want the next book asap all at once!
**Thanks to Ashley & Netgalley for the arc**

Rating-
4.5/5 stars

Genre-
Romantasy

Tropes-
Enemies to lovers
Fae x Mortal
Arranged marriage
Slow burn

Would I Recommend This?-
Most definitely! This is a very fun and entertaining book that I really enjoyed! The only thing that I didn’t love so much was that I did feel there was some untapped potential with some of the storyline and some things that went with it. Other than that little thing though, I totally loved it and read it at the absolute perfect time when I was really wanting to read a fae book, so I loved it even more!!