I dnf’ed this book for at least the time being. I received this as an audible arc from NetGalley which I appreciate. The story telling in third person was not working for me. When the narrator says the name of the Fae (tribe) I would kinda cringe. I felt like I heard it every other sentence. I was hopeful after reading the higher reviews that I would fall in love with it like they did. I hope to actually read the book and see if I feel differently. I will update this post if/when that happens.

Check out this review on Fable
https://fable.co/review/f5bc24f4-031d-44aa-babd-0fe3dc82b056/share

Shoutout and many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ARC of this book!

This book surprised me. I went into this thinking that this would follow the format of all of the other romantasy series I have read lately. However, The Mortal Queen held its own in a genre that is quickly becoming crowded. If you wanted to compare this book to previous works, I would say it is a mixture of The Cruel Prince, Throne of Glass, and Game of Thrones.

The Mortal Queen succeeded in creating a dynamic between the main characters that was not quite "enemies" to lovers, but more "I don't trust you" to people who like each other a little bit but are fighting against it. It was not the instant love trope that has been overplayed in recent romantasy series.

The writing was beautifully done, and the world building was amazing. The narrator for the audiobook keeps you interested and engaged with the story while keeping perfect pace. The characters were not as fully explored as I wish they had been, but I feel that we will learn more about them in the second book. I also wished that Aisling was referred to less as "The Mortal Queen" and more as herself.

I am so excited to read the second book to see what happens next!

Book Review: The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler

The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler is a captivating high fantasy that immerses readers into a rich, complex world, brimming with intricate lore and history. The world-building is particularly impressive, with Metzler crafting a setting that feels both expansive and deeply rooted in its own mythologies. The plot follows Aisling, a fierce and determined heroine, as she navigates the complicated truths about her lineage. As Aisling uncovers conflicting versions of her people’s history, she is forced to question everything she has been taught by her family and tutors, wondering whether they have misled her or if the very people she now calls her own are the ones weaving false tales. This internal conflict drives the plot, with Aisling struggling to find her identity and her place in her new life, while being pulled toward her ancestral home in unexpected ways.

The romance, while present, takes a backseat in this story. Instead of being the central focus, it’s a slow-burn dynamic that takes its time to evolve. The chemistry between Aisling and Lir is palpable, but both characters must overcome their own personal barriers and mutual distrust before they can truly connect. The slow unraveling of their relationship feels authentic, as both characters must come to terms with their own emotional struggles. While Lir is an intriguing character, it would have been nice to see more of him throughout the story, as his presence could have added another layer to the narrative.

The audiobook narration is smooth and engaging, with the narrator capturing Aisling’s emotions and internal turmoil beautifully. The pacing and tone of the narration make it easy to lose oneself in the story, helping to deepen the emotional stakes of Aisling’s journey.

A special thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of the audiobook for review. The Mortal Queen is an enthralling high fantasy read that will keep you hooked from beginning to end, with its intricate world-building, complex characters, and subtle romance.

3.5
Oh man, this was the slooooowest of slow burns. Be forewarned that this book has zero spice, for those Romantasy readers who require that. I'm still totally on board for the Romance story in this, though. I typically prefer a slightly faster burn, but the character building between the main couple was good and I'm interested to see how it develops in books 2 & 3 (stalking the author's IG for art of the characters is giving me hope).

I've always been a Fantasy fan, and this hit a lot of the things I love about the genre like Fae, creatures, magic, action, etc. The world building in this book reminded me a lot of ACOTAR, with dashes of LOTR in the best ways. (The Fae even have their own language!) I am also a big fan of more modern fantasy fare that are both written by women and feature badass lady characters. Aisling is a character I was able to get behind through most of the book, though I'm questioning a lot of her decisions and aliances towards the end.

Throughout most of the book, I was ready to give this book a full 4 stars, but the last few chapters felt rushed compared to the rest of the book so I knocked off half a star. It almost seemed like there was originally more there, but maybe an editor came in and said, "wrap it up and make it under 500 pgs". I know this book was originally indie published, so I'd be interested to see what the differences between the two editions are, particularly the last 3-4 chapters.

Despite my few issues though, I'm really excited to continue with the series and hope I can get the audiobook of book 2 soon. The narration in this one was excellent, btw. 5/5 for Samantha Norbury's top notch voicework and Gaelic pronunciation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio/Second Sky Books for the ARC audiobook of this title in exchange for my honest review.

This book is a true slow burn. I absolutely loved the story line and the plot.

Pros: interesting story, loved the characters, enjoyed the narrator.

Cons: I couldn’t keep up with trying to remember who is who with the names / language, which made some parts a little more confusing.

However, even with the language barrier, I still loved this book and I’m really looking forward to the savage queen!

In The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler, Aisling, a human girl, is promised to Lir, a fae king, in order to garner peace for both of their people. Aisling has been told all of her life that the fae are a cruel, terrifying race, but she quickly learns that things are not always as they seem. The fae people have enemies of their own - ancient beasts and monsters that are far more savage than the fae. As Aisling fights alongside her new husband, she learns more about the world she has been thrown into and discovers a strength and power that she never knew she possessed.

Metzler did a wonderful job of building the world of the fae, and I really enjoyed hearing about the different Unseelie. However, there were a couple of things that I did not love. I did not enjoy the constant use of the terms "mortal queen" and "fae king," and the repeated callbacks to the advice Aisling had received from her family prior to her wedding. I found it incredibly distracting from the story, and at times it really annoyed me. I also went into it expecting it to be a romantasy book, but there is very, very minimal romance in this book. I look forward to seeing more of the story and hopefully more of Aisling & Lir's relationship develop in the next two books. The narrator, Samantha Norbury, was excellent. I thought she did a great job of voicing the different characters and creatures, and she switched between languages effortlessly. I am thankful that I listened to the audiobook version of this novel because I would have struggled with a lot of the Fae/Unseelie language. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook!

Spice: No Spice
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Samantha Norbury

I recently had the pleasure of reading an advance reader copy (ARC) of The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler, and I would recommend it! It’s a slow burn enemy to lovers troupe book with fae, humans, and war. The narrator for the audiobook was amazing! Her dictation and ability to go in between languages was too notch- I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to get into the next book in the series!

Thank you NetGalley, for this wonderful ARC opportunity!

I really enjoyed this fae book! I've read lots of books about fae, but this one had new elements, new lore, and it was GOOD! I liked the main character, Aisling, and her character development as the book progressed. I would have liked to know more about Lir, the fae king but hopefully the next book will provide all the information. This book leaves us with a cliffhanger and I'm very curious to know what happens next!
Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for the ARC audiobook!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler swept me into a captivating world of magic, political intrigue, and unforgettable romance. Aisling’s journey from reluctant bride to fierce warrior alongside the enigmatic fae king, Lir, was absolutely enthralling. Their chemistry crackled with tension, making this enemies-to-lovers arc irresistible.

Metzler’s lush world-building was reminiscent of favorites like Sarah J. Maas and Holly Black, with deadly enchantments and mythical creatures at every turn. The story’s thrilling twists and deep emotional stakes kept me flipping pages late into the night. Fans of slow-burn romances with action-packed adventures and strong-willed heroines will adore this book.

I’m already eager for Book 2 — this series is destined to be a favorite among romantasy lovers!

This had an amazing premise to it that immediately sucked me up in the beginning.

The storyline captured my interest and I wanted to know more about this world. But I got way more than I asked for.

This book had a tendency to over describe the scenery, people, behaviors in the FMC internal monologue. It felt like I was constantly stuck in her head with no way out. It felt long, drawn out and eventually I started tuning out the narrator out. Then I started running into situations where there was something happening in the story that was actually interesting but no clue why because I wasn't listening.

The FMC is consistently referred to "The Mortal Queen" or "The Queen" to a point it was really considered redundant.

I felt no connection to the Fae King to the point, I really don't know his name. I just know he exist and that he is considered the love interest in this story. I didn't get much of a emotional connection with him. You do see moments where he seems like he cares of our FMC. But I wanted just a little more to be invested.

Because of the over description, there was a lot of characters being introduced with names and full on descriptions and backgrounds being introduced. With so many characters coming into the story, it was easy to get lost of who was who in the story and why they are important.

Like I said, the premise had promise and probably could have used a little editing down to make the story flow a little better. I only got through 42% when I decided the book wasn't for me and DNF'd it.

Thank you Net Galley, Bookouture Audio and Second Sky for providing me with an ARC/ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, from the very beginning I was sucked in to this magical and immersive world. The world building was great and it felt a bit different to other fae fantasy books due to its new take on the Seelie, Unseelie and other magical creatures.

Aisling was an interesting main character, she has grown up being told one thing about the fae and you really feel her world being thrown upside down when she starts to find out the truth. There were times when I found her annoying because of how she was treating Lir and the other fae but I can also see how this added to her character. She was a character who was torn between what she’s been told by her family and this new world she was living in and I think the reminders of that even if it was repetitive were necessary.

The romance aspect of this book isn’t very prevalent but I can see the crumbs that were laid out. The book focused more on the politics and world building but I did enjoy the tension between Lir and Aisling. I’m looking forward to where that relationship goes in the next book and the possibility of a love triangle with Dagfin.

As well as reading this book I was given the opportunity to listen to the audiobook. The narrator Samantha Norbury did a fantastic job at immersing me in this world. The way she depicted all the different characters and creatures was excellent and it really added depth to an already great story. If you have the option of listening to this story I’d highly recommend it.

This story is definitely a slow burn but I’m excited to read the next book in the series and to see where Aisling’s story will go.

2.5 stars

I received an ARC copy of the audiobook in return for an honest review.
I loved that each character had their own sort of accent whether weaker or stronger, that allowed me to be fully aware of who was talking even though one person was voicing it.
As far as the story goes it is definitely a slow burn but the main male character was flat, I was waiting for more depth to him that didn't arrive and the main female character became repetitive in the things she was saying to herself and ended up becoming predictable and irritating, I just wanted her to start listening.
the author is no doubt good at building apprehension and conflict, but ultimately, I was left with more questions than answers and I'm unsure I truly want to know

A young sheltered highborn mortal girl is married off in a political marriage to a fae king and defies everyone while finding her inner power. She has to learn to navigate a foreign culture in unfriendly lands and quickly realizes there is no going home.


"You're the only creature on the earth that's been given the opportunity to view this war from two pairs of eyes. Don't blind yourself to one to uphold the lies of the other."

Previously published as Aisling: Breath of the New Creature, this fantastic fantasy pulls you in from the start and never lets go. Wars between mortals and fae are brutal and never ending and have been raging all of Aisling's life. She thought she would be married off to her childhood friend who happened to also be the prince and one day she would be queen. While she does ascend to queen, it is not in her homelands. Her new husband Lir, the fae king, is the enemy, and she is only fulfilling her birthright by being born the only girl to her family. She is determined to send back every possible advantage to her family and true kingdom while hating her husband. In many ways he makes it easy for her but in just as many, he makes it impossible. Lir is protective, loyal and beloved by his people but also distant and full of secrets. He even offers her tips on how to kill him, further confusing her feelings towards him. As fae history is revealed to her by the people she was taught to think of as savages who would take every chance to hurt her or worse, she begins to wonder who she can trust, if anyone.

The author seems to know her mythology well, and it shows in her beautiful world building. I admire her attention to detail in everything from settings and weapons to races and fashions that all fit in perfectly in this rich world. Even when Aisling is recalling her childhood memories, I feel as though I am right there with her same as all the beautiful locations within the fae lands. The side characters are full of personality and well fleshed out adding depth and emotion to the story. One thing that did get a bit repetitive was calling Aisling the mortal queen so much throughout the book. The snail's pace of romance might be too slow for some. This is a great read for any fantasy fan, especially those who prefer some plot and action over lots of spice. There is a sequel being re-released alongside this one. I am definitely picking it up as I have high hopes it will be even better than the first.

🖤 Super Slow Burn
🖤 Enemies to ????
🖤 No spice
🖤 Morally grey MMC

I listened to the audiobook version, which is narrated by Samantha Norbury, and she was fantastic to listen to and probably helped me enjoy this story that much more. Her voices were excellent, and she overall really immersed me into this world. She painted emotions with her voice perfectly adding even more depth to the story. I will definitely be on the lookout for more narrations by her.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for this ALC, so I could give this honest review. All opinions are my own.

2.5 Stars
There are some promising parts of this story. I enjoyed the world building and the synopsis of this book but there is a large amount of this book that is just an inner monologue. I also find it so strange the amount of times they referred to each other as Mortal Queen and Fae King. I'm talking sometimes dozens of times per chapter. Some scenes held my interest more than others and multiple times I thought okay this is where the book picks up but then that feeling would quickly dissipate. I was unfortunately rather bored reading most of this nearly 500 page book. I specifically chose this book because it was advertised as a romantasy however there really doesn't seem to be much of a romance. Maybe it starts in a subsequent book however I'm not sure if I will continue with this series or not. Overall it just wasn't for me.

I am so conflicted on this book. On the one hand, I loved the idea behind the plot and the magic system. However, I was increasingly frustrated by the lack of depth from the characters themselves. While it was a slow burn, and I really do mean SLOOOOOWWWWW, I did not experience the chemistry between the two characters. There is no build up besides lingering glances, and I just wasn't invested in their relationship. I feel like a lot of the action just did not advance the plot, either. While the situations were somewhat interesting, why did they matter? Perhaps it is just to stretch out the series? To sum it up, I liked the idea of the book, but the execution could use some work.

This book feels like swimming with bricks on my feet.

It's slow and repetitive.

Maybe it's because I just finished another book with the same premise, and it blew my socks off....this one.... made me put them back on so I could leave

3 stars: this book had an interesting plot and unique story line but I think there was just something missing for me. It could be because I listened to this book but I missed a connection between the two main characters and if I don’t connect to them I struggle to enjoy the book more! Still a good fantasy book and definitely a slow burn which I love!!!

DNF @ 36%

I wanted to love this, the premise sounded so good!

Unfortunately I think the execution was a bit off. The whole thing was all a bit convoluted to the point where even at 36% in I felt like I didn’t quite understand what the author was trying to do with the story or characters or what was even happening

The first half was so slow. It was mostly world building and descriptions. By the time things started happening, I was already checked out of the story. I tried to get into the story again, but it really was slow burn, and I mean slow.

The narrator was fantastic and was engaging. She managed to multiple voices so it was easy to distinguish between the characters.

The plot was good, but I wish it was a bit quicker and condensed. I love the twists on the standard Fae stories.

I absolutely loved this book! I really enjoyed the pace of the world building. It wasn’t difficult to follow and got to the action quickly.

I love the fact that book 1 is obviously building us up form more action in book 2 and 3. With a Main Female Character that has lots of room for more growth as the books develop.

Highly recommend to fans of fae fantasy, strong female leads and slow burns!

The audiobook version narration was very clear, well passed and an enjoyable listen.