I do think that this novel was better than the first. There was more action and character development. I did however think that some of the characters were more surface level and there wasn’t much development for their grief or emotions. <spoiler>After an important character dies, Aisling is basically fine afterwards after making a huge decision. The next scene is then like a romance scene which is kind of weird to me. </spoiler>

I also would have appreciated it if the glossary and the pronunciation guide was in the beginning and also in the first novel! I realized I had been saying the main character’s name wrong the whole time :(

Overall I really loved the idea of this book and I think the romance slow burn was wayyyy better in this novel than the first. I just think some of the scenes didn’t transition very well or I didn’t understand the lack of emotion behind some of the character’s reactions.

Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Goodness gracious I’m glad this picked up where book 1 ended. Ashley Metzler writes lyrically and has a way of hitting all my favorite tropes just right. A slow burn, enemies to lovers, political intrigue— love triangle vibes I am SCREAMING!

I cannot wait for book 3.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for this arc.

The Savage Queen by Ashley Metzler published date 14th February 2025. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I won't lie, this book has a slower start than the first book. However, once Lir comes back into play. This book really takes off and I really enjoyed it.

The story picks up where we left off. Aisling is on her mission to Lofgren's Rise with her foul brothers and Dagfin.

The start is slow, however we then journey into another fae's realm and this is where the action starts. Lir enters the picture again with his motley crew and honestly the tension between him and Aisling is sizzling! You can feel that energy between them. The chemistry is so good. Dagfin however is a wet blanket. The Phuka has more charisma. 🤣 The love triangle is obviously a big part of the story but I honestly question the sanity of anyone rooting for him. 🤣🤣

I love that all our favourite side characters are back. The magic system gets even more interesting as Aisling continues on her journey of self-discovery. We see more of Lir's vulnerable side in this book.

I really enjoyed the plot especially as I feel like we get to know characters more as the story progresses. The world building yet again is so well done. I feel like I get so immersed in the realms Ashley has created.

The trials, and action were fast paced and entertaining.

There were a few bits I was confused about and I'm hoping more is explained in future books. I am looking forward to continuing on these characters journeys.

Thank you to NetGalley, Second Sky and the author for the arc. This is my own honest review of the book.

Her deadliest enemy, her one true love…

Aisling survived battles and betrayal after her marriage to the king of the fae. Now she is caught between two worlds, with magic flowing in her mortal veins—bound forever to Lir and his people.

She journeys to the frozen north, seeking the origin of her power. In a palace of ice and snow, Aisling falls under the spell of another fae king. Fionn is as cold and beautiful as the wilderness he rules—and he wants to make Aisling his queen.

But her bond with Lir can never be broken. Lir is wild and ruthless, and prophecies say their love will bring devastation. Still, Aisling’s dreams and desires always return to him.

When Lir storms into the ice king’s court to challenge for her hand, Aisling must choose where her heart and her loyalties lie. Loving Lir will turn the whole fae world against her and release unimaginable evil. But rejecting him will tear her apart…


Enemies to lovely’s and it’s the second book in the trilogy

ＮＥＴＧＡＬＬＥＹ
ＲＥＶＩＥＷ

3.5 stars

𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
- prophecies
- arranged marriage
- human princess x fae king
- woodland fae magic and creatures
- thirst for power and knowledge
- fated mates
- strong FMC
- bit of a love triangle
- slow burn
- humans vs nature

𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: I think only one scene towards the end of the book

𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬:
I was already in love with this world after the first book. my favourite parts were the immersive atmosphere, rich lore, unique magic system as well as all the woodland creatures and nature references (and of course a certain fae king lol).

This second book continued with everything I loved in the first. But I must say that at times it felt a bit overwhelming.
Maybe it’s just me, but the high-action scenes with multiple characters could sometimes be hard to follow, and I sometimes struggled to picture what was happening.
I also found that the chapters didn’t always pick up right where the last left off, which was a little disorienting and I kinda had to pick up on what we missed as i was reading.
Just a bit more structure in these areas would have definitely made the reading experience a bit smoother.

I also had a bit of a love-hate relationship with the main characters’ struggles. I 100% understood the tension and mistrust, but there were moments where I just wanted them to sit down and talk. That bring said once things finally progressed, I really enjoyed seeing how it all played out.

One thing I wish had been explored more was the emotional impact of loss. Some characters died or were severely wounded, but aside from one instance (I won’t name the character because of spoilers), it wasn’t really revisited. A bit more reflection from Aisling and showing how it impacted her going forward would have made these moments feel more relatable.

Despite these minor points, I still really enjoyed this sequel and can’t wait for the third book!! The plot was plotting, the hints being dropped and I’m excited to see how everything unfolds in the end.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.

Thank you to Ashley Metzler, Second Sky Publishing and NetGalley for kindly providing this arc!

After reading the Mortal Queen, I was so intrigued as to where this story was going and I was not disappointed. While I feel like the first book focused heavily on the worldbuilding, I feel like this one focused heavily on the plot and I am here for it. We had enemies to lovers, we had high stakes trials, we had touch her and die and the sloweeeeest burn ever but with a conclusion that was well worth the wait!

I can’t wait for book 3 to see what happens to these characters next!

What an amazing read! I’ve fallen in love with these characters and the adventures they embark on.

The pacing of this book is perfect , I couldn’t put it down!

If you like Fae kings, slow slow burns, enemies to lovers, mythical creatures, DRAGONS (!!!) and jealous men 😜 then I strongly suggest you give this series a read.

Now I must patiently wait for book 3 😭

3⭐️3🌶️

Fantasy Romance
Multi POV
Dual timeline
Celtic/irish Mythology
Unique Magic System
Sentient Magic
Fae
Magical Beasts
Love triangle


The recap at the beginning was a great touch! While I read books 1 and 2 together, I think it’s especially helpful for readers who aren’t binge-reading the series. I do wish the glossary and pronunciation guide had been placed at the front of the book, though.

The worldbuilding in this series is exceptional. I’m really excited about the overall arc of the series and how the characters’ decisions impact the lore and mythology of this world.

There were moments where the writing felt disjointed, and I found myself having to reread paragraphs two or three times to fully understand where the characters were or what was happening. In some cases, I had to just suspend my disbelief and accept the disconnect to keep moving forward. These moments needed more editing—this happened at least four times throughout.

Another thing I noticed was the loss of the detailed descriptions of the mythological beasts that were present in the first book. The creatures introduced in this one felt much more ambiguous, and I was disappointed that the vivid descriptions we saw earlier weren’t carried through.

I did feel the characters underwent some drastic changes. Their personalities shifted to the point where they didn’t seem like the same characters from book 1, which threw me off. As a reader, I struggle when I no longer connect with the main character, and unfortunately, this shift made it harder for me to stay engaged. But, I am enjoying the side characters!


Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky Books for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Mortal Queen- 4⭐️1.5🌶️
The Savage Queen- 3⭐️3🌶️

I want to say a very sincere thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for an ARC of this book 💌 my opinion is my own.

Oh my goodness, I don't know where to start. I'm so happy I got to read this quickly after I finished the first one because that cliffhanger was killer. Once again the scene setting in this book is great, and I truly felt like I was with the character. There was SO much more character development in this book compared to the first one, and I'm so here for it.

I will say, Dagfin isn't my favorite, but I understand her pull to him (even tho I didn't like it lol) Aisling and Lir's relationship development is unique in its own way, but also it had my HOOKED. I didn't know exactly what would happen, and I will say there were like two 'twists' that literally made my jaw drop. I'm so in love with this story, and I've grown attached to so many of the characters.

Once again, the writing is in my opinion very well done. It doesn't feel "immature" if that makes sense. I can sense that the author is well spoken, or at least is able to write like it. I never felt bored, or felt like things were being dragged on. The lows and highs of this book were all entertaining and had me rushing to the next page nonstop.

I truly recommend these books, and I'm sooooo excited for the next one. Ive never pre-ordered anything in my life, but this is the kind of book that I think I might do it. Absolute gem of a book, especially for those who like to escape to a fantastic world within pages and words 🤍

A true enemies to lovers, I am OBSESSED, already need the next one. Also I think i’m in love with Lir😭

I’m soooo freaking happy that this picked in the vicinity of where book one ended. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m rooting for Lir and Ash and the iron family can all go walk the plank as far as I’m concerned 👻 It’s comforting to know the characters and dive back in, and things gets moving pretty quickly, but relationships weave & hover while I’m over here eager for more, simultaneously reveling in the vows, fates, and prophecies So, I devoured this, feeling like woodland … chanting more, more, more ✨🖤🌲

Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky Books for the eARC of this book. Where to start. The Mortal Queens cliffhanger had me in a chokehold and I was so glad I could immediately roll into this ARC. The formal, beautiful, and eloquent writing of Ashley Metzler is so amazing. The character development of Ashling in this book was amazing but what truly made me love this book was Lir’s character development. This Epic Fantasy trilogy has everything you could want. A love triangle (that isn’t annoying), a power struggle between fated mates and so much honesty (even whilst keeping their secrets) from each of these characters.
I cannot wait to read book 3. I MUST know how the triology concludes. Such a great read.

ARC read- releases February 14, 2025

Desperate for the truth of what she is, Aisling goes on a journey for the curse-breaker. She cannot escape the thread that is tied between her and the fae king but she is faced with the love she was destined for before the treaty. Aisling is torn between two worlds, fae and human- forced to choose. Will it be damnation or surrender?

Holy hell I loved this! I need the third book immediately. This is one of the best enemies-to-lovers slow burns I have ever read. And Ashley Metzler’s writing is absolutely amazing- she paints such a perfect picture of the world she has created and I can’t help but want more.

Not much I can say without spoilers other than I was worried this book would fall victim to “second book syndrome” but it absolutely did not and I think it might have been better than the first. The plot kept me on my toes and I only saw a few of the twists coming lol. Also, the lack of side character depth in the first book is absolutely not the case in the second book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC- I received this eARC for free and all of my opinions are my own

Thank you NetGalley, and Second Sky for an e-arc of this book.

The Savage Queen by Ashley Metzler is the second book in an epic fantasy series following the major cliffhanger in book one. Ashley’s world building and immersive storytelling and descriptions continue in this book.

This book allowed for all of the characters to grow though I feel that our two main characters still do not trust each other. I did not love how Aisling continues to be frustrating with her stubbornness and selfishness. I did love the addition of new characters and more background which helped add depth to the story. I would have to say Dagfin, Gilrel, and Galad are my favorites.

Ashley does a great job at continuing her world building and describing each part. The end is a wild ride with all of the emotions. You get hit with suspense, plot twists, action and betrayal.

Hoping that book 3 has more character development…and Aisling becomes less stubborn and selfish…

Thank you Netgalley, Second Sky, Ashley Metzler for sending me this advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book picks back off where we left off after the cliffhanger on the first one. Aisling is so conflicted about where she belongs in this world, and doesn't seem to fit in anywhere. She lashes out in anger constantly, but I don't blame her with everyone on all sides hating the fact she exists. I miss the softness she used to have, and I hope there is some healing for her in the final book in the trilogy.

I still don't really care for Lir. I think that's because we mostly see things from Aisling's prospective, and we don't get a lot of time in his head. When we do, there really isn't much emotion beyond wanting to possess her, intense jelousy, and rage. I want to love him, but the wall he has put up is impossible to get through.

They love to hate each other, and even though I want to constantly smack both of them, the dynamic is great.

I adore Dagfin so much. He is such a great character, and cares about Aisling deeply as a person and not as a weapon. I wish more people loved her like that.

Just like in the first book, the descriptions are lush and detailed. The writing is absolutely beautiful. I love that all the characters have their own flaws, and those do cause problems for them. There were so many intense scenes that had me on the edge of my seat, unable to put the book down too.

I have been very excited about reading this book ever since i finished The Mortal Queen, and was so excited to read the second book in this story.
The sequel takes place shortly after the ending and cliffhanger of The Mortal Queen, and we jump straight into action. This book was alot more action-filled than the first one, and i was here for it. The plot is evolving, and i truly enjoyed the balance between romance and plot. However, because the book was very plot-driven, i feel like the characters and their relations fell a bit into the background. The relationships and characters definitely progressed, but i wish we could have gone even deeper!

The magic-system and the world-building in this book was great! Ashley has found the perfect balance between driving a plot forward, but at the same time evolving and explaining the world and magic-system at a natural pace. I also really appreciate the glossary in the book, as someone who is not familiar with Celtic Folklore and mythology, this really helped along the way.

The writing is elegant and formal, and as someone who is not that used to this type of writing, it took some time getting used to, and i did have to reread things a couple of times here and there to fully understand everything. However, this is probably a personal case, and I think the more you read high-fantasy books, the more you get used to the writing style

I absolutely love Aisling! She's a strong, determined and intelligent FMC who is straight-forward, honest, and knows what she wants. And the ending of the book was really good! I definitely did not see the plot-twists coming (or my tears), and the turn of events left me with a lot of questions about the plot and the future of the characters.

Overall rating: 3.5⭐️

Thank you so much to Second Sky, NetGalley and the author Ashley Metzler for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! <3

I have no words. Well I do but just wow!

A perfect sequel and honestly, I think I loved the second book more than I loved the first. Honestly, the world building has to be one of my favourite parts of this series, there's so much thought and detail gone into it.

I enjoyed the tension so much, I didn't notice I was missing any romance throughout the main story.

That ending was also so ppwerful, I honestly didn't see it coming which I love! It's so rare to not guess an ending correctly.

Overall, obsessed and now I can't wait for third book to drop!

I read this straight after reading the first one (because I enjoyed it so much!) and was not disappointed!
THE TENSION. I absolutely love a slow burn and enemies to lovers so this was PERFECT. It’s not very often that I read a true enemies to lovers romance but this was definitely one of them. You could feel the frustration and tension as the characters tried to wrestle with their complicated feelings.
I enjoyed the multiple POV - we finally got a Lir POV!! And I also enjoyed getting to know other characters in a bit more depth as I wasn’t as focused on world building after reading the first one (I was already aware of a lot of the things they referenced or new things were able to slot into the information I already knew).
It was a rollercoaster ride though - I feel like I felt all of the emotions. I can’t wait to read the last one!!

YUP YUP YUP. I need book three asap. I loved this so much. I cant decide which book I liked more, but i loved both. i am so thankful i was able to read them back to back!

A really enjoyable read. The world-building and character development were great, and I found the FMC's journey compelling. The pacing was steady, and while there were a few slower moments, they didn’t take away from the overall experience. I loved the blend of strength and vulnerability in Aisling and the plot had some great twists. It wasn’t perfect, but definitely a solid and engaging story!