This book pleasantly surprised me! I really did enjoy this and I’m ready to read book 2. The world building was great along with new takes on the Seelie, Unseelie, other mythical creatures and the story of creation. Aisling’s naivety at first irritated me but as I read more, I realized that it added to the complexity of her character. A woman split between the world she was raised in and the world she is discovering. While it might have felt repetitive, I think we needed to be reminded of this throughout the book to continuously understand and feel her internal struggles. Though this is classified as a romance, I love how detailed and meticulously the animosity between Lir and Aisling was created. I know they’re meant to be together but I comprehend and feel every reason why they won’t work. I loved how every character served a purpose and furthered the story along - even if you hated or love them. Yhere’s a lot of world building but to me that’s a plus and shows how well intentionally thought out this was. It’s 4.5⭐️ for me.

Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley for the ARC!

I struggled a lot with the start of this book, a lot of repetition of duties and memories which did make some sections drag. That being said the plot itself is amazing, I love the intertwining of characters and lore into the present.

I wish this had more tension and romance but understand why the story was written the way it was.

Overall really enjoyed it!

4 ⭐

I am so happy I got to read this book! I absolutely love arranged marriage tropes and the slow burn was killing me! The world building and the wording that the author uses is absolutely beautiful! I would highly recommend and I can't wait to see how Aisling's story progresses in the second book!

Absolutely amazing!! I can’t wait to buy a copy of this one! And the cover is absolutely gorgeous!! This one reminds me a lot of other big fantasy romances!

This book was alright. Very repetitive with advice from characters and the number of times they say “mortal queen” (333 times out — which is almost once per page). That took me out of the book more often than not.

“The fae king owed her nothing. Wedding or no wedding, Bg blood, they were born to loathe one another”

“A name given freely and another revived in return is not to enslave but to bind. The Sidhe call this ensorcellment. I am as much linked to you as you are to me”

“By the Forge, I vow to you the first cut of my heart, the first taste of my blood, and the last words from my lips”

This book was absolutely amazing!!! I’m speechless !!! It is exactly what I was looking for and then some!!! Enemies to lovers. Arranged marriage. Wild untamed brooding, powerful, dark haired morally grey MMC. Wild, uncertain but badass FMC. Action, magic, power and Irish lore that made me melt. And a slow burn that still makes me doubt about its ending !!! In this war between fae and mortals, the story of Aisling and Lir completely entrapped me. I was enchanted. I couldn’t stop reading !!! I finished this book in one sitting because there was always something more to read, more secrets to reveal and more questions to be asked. When I got to some big revelations Bg the end of the book and I turned that last page … boy, I needed book two like yesterday !!! It was THAT good!! It’s incredible the power a fantasy book can wield on me. Especially one where the balance between Seelie, Unseelie and mortals is depending on a young woman trying to find herself and survive in a world where someone wants to use her as weapon and she has been fed only lies. I loved getting through Ash journey. I loved falling for Lir. I loved their moments regardless of their intimacy. But that last thing he said to her … I NEED MORE !!! I can’t wait for the sequel !!

“We often despise our own vices reflected in others”

“Make sure you yourself are wilder, more feral. More powerful until it is you who eats, you who wields, you who calls upon the weapon you challenged, instead of it you”

“Very well, then I’ll hunt you down”

If you're here for the vibes, the imagery is immaculate. I could picture myself in every scene and the plot twists were surprising. I'd highly recommend it if you're one that is just along for the ride: this is your book!

I appreciated the culture clash aspect; how this book took on the view that there are going to be two different cultures and highlighting their differences in customs and language. I just wish that Aisling had been more open minded in learning about the fae, there wasn't a point where she didn't cling to the lies of her father or try to overcome the language barrier; there was a complete reliance on translators. It could have showed more maturity if she'd done this.

I took one star off because of the repeated (30+ times) use of the word "savage." It has an extremely negative historical connotation towards Native Americans, and this word was not being used in a positive way. But, I don't know that this feedback will be well received because this derogatory term is in the title of book 2. I took off another star because, while I wanted to like the FMC, she didn't have the critical thinking skills that I usually like to see in a leading character. If she wasn't told something point blank, she wouldn't deduce it. And even if she was, she had to still turn to what she knew to be the lies of her upbringing. I'm kind of hoping that there could be more character growth in this aspect in book 2, but again, if the title remains what it is, I'm content with just having read the first novel.

The idea behind the story was interesting, but the execution just didn’t hit the mark for me. That said, the lyrical writing style really grabbed my attention. I also appreciated the world-building with its variety of creatures and the focus on politics, which added a nice touch. But honestly, I felt let down by the lack of emotional connection between the main characters, especially since this was supposed to be a romance fantasy. Moreover, hearing the phrase “the mortal queen” over and over again gets pretty exhausting. That said, I’m still curious about where the story’s headed. I’d love to see the romance between the leads get more attention and depth next time around. I’ll probably pick up the next book later.

<i>The Mortal Queen</i> is the beginning of an epic fantasy that ignites the senses for deep lore, epic battles, vast world building, and a deep slow burn between destined lovers.

Stepping into this book isn't for someone looking for a light romantasy. <i>The Mortal Queen</i> is crafted around mythical folklore, old fantastical creatures, and new versions of a fantasy world with characters that are plucked from old legends and set alongside ones that are also brand new. I was enchanted just as much as Aisling was by the fae.

Set in a time where mortals know about the fae realm, but it's still more as a means of bedtime tales than actual fae creatures running around with mortals. Princess Aisling, a mortal herself, is married off to the high king of the Sidhe, whose name is Lir. Lir turns her normal world on its head and everything that she believed is suddenly questioned. Is Lir the enemy or was she fed misinformation? Whom should Aisling believe, her husband, or her upbringing? Aisling was told so many lies that she doesn't know who to believe and she also discovers new abilities the longer she stays within the fae realm.

Told strictly from Aisling's third POV this entire book is shadowed in a lot of mystery because we only ever get Aisling's side, but also because the nativity she grew up with, it keeps the book in a heightened state with all the other characters, especially her husband.

This is only book one and it’s a big book that can drag at parts, but it's a big world to cover, so it's forgiven. The Sidhe and Unseele have a deep mythological folklore so there is a lot more story to come and time to bring forth more steam from Lir and Aisling. I can't wait.

Thank you Second Sky & NetGalley for the ARC - all opinions are my own.

The synopsis to “The Mortal queen” sounding very promising, human and fae relations, forced marriage etc.

This one just wasn’t for me I’m afraid. The slow burn was too slow burn, if there was so romantic tension, angst or longing blended in to the slow burn I definitely could have gotten invested, however there was just not enough romantic aspects in the plot to class this book as a fantasy romance (imo), perhaps the romance is building up for the second book - respectfully I am just not invested enough to continue reading the series to find out.

Thank you to the publisher and author for giving me a shot!

Publish date - ❤️ Valentine’s Day ❤️ February 14th

I want to thank the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being able to read an ARC of this book!

The story itself is incredible, the authors prose and writing is amazing. She's very good at being able to make you feel like you're right there in the world she's created and her writing style isn't lacking or too wordy (there are a couple spelling errors at the beginning of the book though). However well all of this going on and I loved it. There's barely any actual conversations, or true events or movements until halfway. A big portion of this book is internal monologue and constant internal reminders of what others have told the main character. If half of that was cut out this would flow so much better. Aisling is also well having read all of this is incredibly mean to the male main character lir for what reason? Hes the fae king? That's literally the only reason I can think of. She's treated like garbage by her family, and treated lowly by others and literally sits there and takes it but should Lir treat her like a person she's gotta slash at him with a knife.... As well she's keeps calling the fae by the name she's grew up hearing all the time rather than the name even her family actually knows them by and everyone knows them by. She's quick to call the others (unseelie) by their fae names as she finds them but not who she's married into. And the constant back and forth between mortal queen, fae king, Ashling and Lir is kind of annoying (literally in the same sentence).

Other than these things the actual story itself is really great and I love the Celtic references.

Thank you so very much again for allowing me to read this book I really appreciate it, and despite all I said I am extremely looking forward to book two!

I really wanted to love this. I love Fae romance and this one had such promise and I was very excited to read it. BUT the book was advertised as a romance but there wasn’t really any romance. I felt like the writing was also a bit immature, was just very choppy and like maybe English wasn’t the authors first language. I DNF’d it.

This was a fun book to read with some favorite tropes (arranged marriage, Slow Burn, Forced Prox). The world and the plot were fantastic, and the slow burn was very slow, but I feel like when the author takes the time on it, it's worth it in the end. I like that this book was more focused on the story, the world, and the character development than the romance. I'm really looking forward to the next book!

Unfortunately, the writing style of this book feels too juvenile for me. The main female character, Aisling, was not my favourite. Overall, this book read like fan fiction, and although I usually enjoy that type of Romantasy, I cannot get past the unconnected nature of the writing. As a result, I got approximately 45% through the book and have decided not to continue, therefore I am not giving it a star rating.

The world building is something that happens throughout the entire story as new information presents itself. I wouldn’t call this action packed or even a romantasy for me it’s very much a fantasy genre. There are a lot of secrets throughout this book, some from Lir (our Fae King) regarding our “Mortal Queen” Aisling and her destiny.

Aisling was extremely sheltered and brainwashed by those around her, she is unable to see past her own “hatred” for the first part of the book. There are times when she irks me to no end but she does grow and soften towards her new kingdom as well as the fae folk. She is still young and learning as she was thrown into this marriage with limited knowledge.

Lir’s background is a mystery for most of the book but we do find hints about him. He is extremely secretive. However, we do get a huge reveal about 80% into the book. I have an idea but still it caught me a bit off guard nonetheless. He is loyal to his people as well to Aisling, allowing her time to adjust but still pushes her to open up and attempt to relax.

The story itself is interesting, the idea that Aisling isn’t what she appears to be is a nice twist. I am curious what will become of her and lir, as well as the war.

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.