Queen of Roses

4.95 (minor grammar issues that the editor didn't catch that were noticeable enough to ruin the flow of my reading which can be hard to maintain at times due to my ADHD) but 5 by technical default, rounding up.

I liked it! It was a good King Arthur retelling with a lot of unexpected twists to make it feel fresh.

I definitely don't know near enough about Camelot folklore or Slavic mythology to pick up on any themes that the conjoining of the two may have created, but I found the choice to use the Slavic pantheon instead of the original Celtic to be a fascinating choice. I'm excited to see where it continues to go in the 2nd book.

It was refreshing to read a high fantasy novel where homosexuality was normalized; I think that it would have been cooler if the main romantic pairing had been gay but can't look a gift horse in the mouth--I hadn't expected a single character to be gay let alone two! There was some unintentional gay culture humor re: Draven that had me LOLing

There were some fun tropes that made for a few giggles (one has chills and the other warms them with their body, big baddie is a big softie deep down, etc), but they didn't overwhelm or takeover the story like what happens frequently in the trope-focused storytelling that is popular now. I mean, there are plenty of tropes that people seek out content specifically for within the book, but there was enough of a solid plot to the story where it didn't feel like a mental eye sore to me while reading.

I do appreciate the reversal of Arthur being cast as the fairly 2D (even the Mona Lisa is in 2D) villain to Morgan's rise to heroics. It brings to mind Thomas Wheeler's Cursed and MZB's The Mists of Avalon (like a nice mix of the two), and I won't lie: definitely pictured Draven as The Weeping Monk, & it was... satisfying, lol.

I think that the beginning of the novel was a little drawn out; it could have been just a tad tighter up until the hunt. From there, the pacing improved, and continued to do so up until the addition of a potential love interest; from there to the last chapters, things just seemed to fly by in a way that left the ending somewhat anticlimactic for me. That may have been my fault though as I tried to be more mentally present for my review rather than sinking

It was a fun book; I stayed up late on my nights before work reading it a few times, so it had me hooked pretty good!

🌹 TROPES & THEMES 🌹
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Dislike to 👁️🫦👁️
✔️ Slow Burn
✔️ Hidden Powers
✔️ Camelot/King Arthur vibes, but make it fae
✔️ He’s her guard/protector 😎
✔️ Going on a mission/travel together
✔️ That cliffhanger EEEEEEEEEEEEE 😵‍💫

Firstly, thank you so much for the arc NetGalley! And for the author, she’s so sweet as well. I really enjoyed this book!!

Morgan is our FMC, and she’s the kings daughter… and was meant to take the throne to become King. But family is TOXICCCC so they decided to send her to their temple to be celebrate for 30 years and her brother takes the throne instead. And he’s a NASTY ruler, just like theirs as was.

Their world has a lot of hate towards the fae. And they don’t even exist anymore. Some have fae blood, like Morgan. But they are very uncommon. She takes a medicine every other day to help to dull the fae side of her.

There is a lot of world building and story building at first. But I found it easy to follow and still fun! The side characters added to the story and I enjoyed them a lot!

Draven is a big ol mystery, starting out as coming from a farm to join the kings guard. He and Morgan butt heads. In the best of ways. 🤣

Morgan starts to see that the kingdom is not all sunshine and rainbows - their people are starving. And her brother doesn’t care. He eventually tells her she must go a long distance to find a legendary weapon to bring back and prove her loyalty to him - the Excalibur.

This part of the story was so fun!! Lots of plot twists. The ending was WILD!!! I’ll need book 2 like today. 🤣 I had a lot of fun reading this. It checked off a lot of my must-haves for a romantacy. I can’t wait to see where the story goes!

⭐ Characters – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐ Atmosphere – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐ Writing – ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
⭐ Plot – ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
⭐ Pacing – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐ World Building – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐ Enjoyment – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Wow, I have to say, I went into this book with modest expectations since it's a debut, but boy, was I pleasantly surprised! Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn is an enchanting debut that seamlessly blends romance, mythology, and fantasy into a captivating tapestry. Set in a beautifully imagined Medieval-Middle Ages fantasy world, the story embarks on a thrilling road trip adventure with a slow-burning romance full of unexpected twists and turns.

The characters in this novel are truly remarkable. Each one is expertly crafted, multi-dimensional, and their backgrounds and relationships are explored in a way that draws readers in. The inclusion of LGBTQIA+ representation adds depth and makes the setting even more inclusive and heartwarming.

The atmosphere of Queen of Roses is nothing short of magical. Boleyn's vivid descriptions breathe life into the fantastical world, immersing readers in a realm of wonder and intrigue that keeps their attention piqued and their desire to keep reading intact.

Boleyn's writing style is nothing short of impressive. The prose flows smoothly and beautifully captures the essence of emotions and events, drawing readers even further into the story.

The plot is a definite strength of the book. Well-constructed and brimming with unexpected twists and turns, it keeps readers engaged from start to finish. The incorporation of a treasure hunt, mythical discoveries and creatures, friendships, family dynamics, and romance elevates the reading experience to a whole new level.

The pacing is well-balanced, allowing readers to savor every moment without feeling rushed, ensuring a thoroughly enjoyable journey.

The world-building in Queen of Roses is masterful. Boleyn has created a rich and intricate world complete with its own mythology and lore. The attention to detail and depth of this fictional universe will leave readers thoroughly impressed.

In conclusion, Queen of Roses is an exceptional debut that leaves a lasting impression. Briar Boleyn's storytelling skills shine throughout the narrative, making me eagerly anticipate the second book in the series. If you're on the hunt for a captivating fantasy romance with a unique blend of elements, this book is an absolute must-add to your reading list.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Review posted July 20th - GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5700281733