4 ⭐️

Talk about a slow burn plot reveal! The way this story unfolds in the most unexpected manner… pair that with the slow burn romances taking place - this book just got better and better as the pages turned.

Queen of Roses is a Camelot retelling with a twist - and it is so fun! The FMC Morgan starts the book repressed and is forced on a journey of self discovery with more than a few hiccups along the way.

Our MMC is the typical grumpy main man, a man of few words, and in Morgan’s words “the definition of handsome”.

Throw in a cast of human, Fae and creatures alike and this fantasy novel will have you continually guessing where this story will end. I promise you, you won’t see that last chapter coming.

Tropes:
- Hate to Friendship
- Fae/Magic
- Insta love (with a twist… you’ll see)
- Grumpy x Grumpy
- forced proximity
- (elements of) Destiny


Thank you NetGalley & Briar Boleyn for the opportunity to receive this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I’ll admit this book started out INCREDIBLY slow, the character progression was grating an S not moving for a long while, you didn’t really have a lot of info on anyone. I found some scenes were incredibly lacking in detail while others had so much it seemed to just drone on and I honestly thought about abandoning this one.

But! The second half of this book the author found her mark, the storyline became addictive, the character development kicked in, the plot twisted and turned, you fell in love with characters and the story redeemed itself!

I look forward to reading book two!

Okay I’m gonna be honest (because that’s what this platform is about) and say that I just found this one to be average. It was good, and I’ll still recommend, but there just wasn’t that wow factor I look for.

This was described as perfect for fans of Holly Black, Jennifer L Armentrout and Sarah J Maas, and I have to agree. This book gave me From Blood and Ash vibes but the MMC did not quite suck me in th way Hawke did.
I enjoyed the play on the king Arthur legend and gender-bending of some of the characters and how the female characters were just as strong as the males.
I did wish there was a bit more chemistry between Morgan and Draven. I felt like it was building up nicely then another character was thrown in the mix and then everything that was building up was gone.. But I do feel the next book will remedy that.
All in all a solid first book and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
I want to say thank you to Netgalley for the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily

I saw a King Arthur retelling and I was all in. This first book was definitely world building and setting the stage for the next book. I honestly enjoyed this book. I liked that got to see the world before jumping into any major conflict. I’m excited to learn more about the characters and hopefully watch them grow in the next book. I just reviewed Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn. #QueenofRoses #NetGalley

3.5 Stars: Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn

Lately I’ve been shying away from YA fantasy romance as they have become a bit predictable and tedious. I was extremely excited about the premise of this novel. Camelot has been soooo overplayed, BUT this story shakes up the plot and role of the original characters. Morgan the repressed Fae and unlikely heroine, Arthur the brooding and evil king, and Merlin the ethereal priestess with Fae power. There are a host of other characters, supporting Camelot roles, and others weaved into the storyline. However, there are a few pitfalls that rounded my overall rating down.

Morgan is the true heir to the throne of Camelot; she was usurped by father’s decision to legitimize and promote her younger brother. Arthur, the king, is incredibly prejudice of anyone with Fae heritage and does not trust Morgan. Of course, there is a hunt for the mythical Excalibur, however Morgan is sent to find it by Arthur.

What I liked: the switch-a-roo on Camelot, support for the LGBTQ community, Fae magic, and Kairos Draven. What I didn’t like: the fact that Morgan drank “medicine” every other day and didn’t seem to comprehend it was limiting her power. The twisty-pretzel three-way romance that began badly and ended badly. The underdevelopment of characters like Merlin, Draven, Lancelet, and Vesper. The cliff-hanger; we don’t have enough information to understand the mythical references and ancient battle.

Overall, this story piqued my interest and I very well might pick of book two upon its release.

I want to personally thank the author and Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read a free ARC of this particular book.

Oh my, where should I start with this book? This book is set back in the time of King Arthur but with a dark and addictive twist. It begins with Morgan, who is King Authur's sister, at around five years old. We live through her most horrific moments, but as we are brought into the present we are able to see how those moments didn't define her- at least not according to her. We also learn that no one knows the truth of that day or her lineage, but Morgan herself.
Morgan is a strong, if not slightly shielded woman, who has to witness firsthand the dark and brutal hand of her brother. She fights for her people, and in return, she is seen as a bug that must be squashed by Arthur and those who have his ear. It's not until a large, mysterious, and broodily handsome stranger comes into town that sends our heroine into overdrive. Kairos Draven is the only person in all of Camelot that seems to pierce her hardened shell, fighting tooth and nail to keep her safe while at an arm's distance.
As war looms in the near future, Arthur sets her on a dangerous quest that will solidify his destructive reign, but will she be able to trust her small traveling party? Or will there be death at every corner?
Love, loyalty, newfound power, and friendship with be tested on her journey.

I absolutely loved this book. I honestly could not put it down, and with each turn of the page, I got sucked in by the powerful world-building and enriching characters. The author balanced both of these will the utmost skill and expertise. To say that I'm slightly withering away until the next book comes out is an understatement. If you love fae lore, magical worlds, strong FMC, and morally grey MMC, then this is right up your alley!

I usually like adaptions based on arthurian legend, but this one was not what I was expecting. I know you are not supposed to judge a book by the cover, but it is what drew me to read Queen of Roses. It seemed to be a girl power story with the only resemblance being the characters names. I expected Arthur to be a protagonist but that was not the case. Disappointed, because I really like Avalon High by Meg Cabot and thought this would be a more adult version. The series will continue, so I might retry reading after it is completed. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not one to typically go for Camelot stories, but this one simply stole my heart. If you’re looking for a slow burn romance that entrances you and a great plot line, look no further!

Before I read this book, I could safely say that There is only one series that I can think of that is a take on the Camelot that I like.
This is the second.
This was so unexpectedly good and entertaining.
A slow burn? I guess you could call it that.
A twist on the typical arthurian legend? Definitely yes
Adventure, magic, romance, intrigue, murder etc etc etc?
YES!!
I really enjoyed this one and I'm so glad the next one is coming out soon!

Thank you to NetGalley for the Arc. All opinions are my own.

Queen of Roses brings us a retelling of the well known and loved Camelot story with its own twists and turns. In this story Arthur is villain, and this is a really refreshing take which I found rejuvenated the story. It brought the element of surprise and you didn’t really know what would come next. This book has everything you could need. Fae, magic, solid world building, a quest for Excalibur, found family and a slow-burn romance that keeps you on your toes. I really enjoyed the elements of this book, and it set a solid foundation for what is to come in book two.

I need to preface this review by revealing that this is a darker take on Arthurian legends, and I am NOT usually a fan of the tales that spring from the mythical Camelot. I usually find them excessively boring and unoriginal. I really struggle with them. However, Queen of Roses was an absolute DELIGHT. There are quite a few trigger warnings for it and some dark material here, so you need to be prepared for that, but it really sets the tone of this darker version of Arthur and his kingdom.

Often, Morgan (Morganna in some instances), Arthur’s half sister, is painted in a negative light by authors or put in a position where she is the villain. This story flips that on its head.

Morgan watched her father kill her fae-blooded mother. And then had to live with that fact. Now, Morgan lives in a very human kingdom where anyone with fae blood is heavily persecuted and sometimes killed. The only thing that really saves Morgan is that she is King Arthur's sister. As a child and because she is part fae, she was passed up for the throne. She is to be sent to the temple when she turns 21 to study under the High Priestess Merlin, a fate she’s not exactly thrilled with, but one she must accept. After all, it would get her away from Lord Florian, the son of Arthur’s most trusted advisor, who terrorizes her at every turn.

However, it also becomes a matter of survival. Any resistance on her part could mean trouble for those she cares about most like her friends Galahad and Lancelet, and Kaye, her youngest brother, who means everything to her and is the one person in her life that loves her for exactly who she is.

What she's not expecting is for Arthur to come to her with an important task, one that could save the kingdom. She is threatened with dire consequences should she resist or fail, and is sent with the bare minimum in the way of supplies and protection. One of her protectors is the handsome but infuriating and always grumpy new head of the Royal Guard, Kairos Draven, whose rumored past is one of terror and violence.

As their journey progresses, Draven and Morgan find themselves relying on one another more and more, and Morgan begins to suspect that there is more to Draven then what she was told. But before she can find her way into the cracks she finds in his armor and into the spaces that reveal a far kinder heart, the two are joined by a third party, one that makes Morgan question if her heart and body really belong locked away in a temple, and one that Draven is suspect of, not because he's competition, but because his motives are suspect.

The major vibes throughout this one were: enemies to lovers, a little love triangle, duty bound, deep secrets revealed, betrayal, interesting magic, and surviving/escaping abuse.
I truly loved this story and I’ve already preordered the next installment!

Thank you to Netgalley and Starwater Press for an advanced copy in exchange for this honest review. Opinions herein are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s that if there’s a retelling of the myths of Camelot, I’m gonna read it.

I loved how this took everything we knew about Camelot, Arthur, Merlin, and the rest of the heroes of this time, and flipped it on its head. The gender-swapping was refreshing, and Arthur as the villain was a unique take I thoroughly enjoyed.

Some things were not very well explained, but I’m hoping we’ll get more answers in book 2.

This is like the lovechild of From Blood and Ash and Plated Prisoner.

It's got fae, it's got Arthurian legends, it's got a sub-plot or romance and a hint of spice. What's not to love?

I wouldn't say this book is anything new in terms of NA/YA fantasy but it's good enough book that I'm definitely going to keep up with this series. There are tons of tropes that would be very TikTok worthy and will make you swoon. And I think there's a lot of promise for the sequels. Some of the world-building and lore is a bit of a pain to understand, a lot of deities and history that doesn't really get explained yet that well but what could make for great stories later on in the series.

I received an ARC of this book and am writing this review voluntarily.

Holy cliff-hanger batman! What a whirlwind! Queen of Roses is an action-packed adventure, full of familiar-ish faces and a fresh spin off of an old tale.

A beautiful blend of Arthurian legend meets The Gilded Prisoner meets ACOTAR, the story starts off with Morgan, half-sister of the young King Arthur, who, unlike the traditional legends, is a bit of an arsehole. Power hungry and vicious, he gives Morgan a choice; head off on an adventure to reclaim the storied fae blade Excalibur, or be forcibly wed to an abusive lord. With a brooding guard at her side, Morgan heads off into the wilds, discovering way more about her heritage and the world than she bargained for.

I at once really appreciated the gender-bending of the familiar Arthurian characters (Lancelot is now Lancelet, Galahad is a very gay priest and Merlin is a woman) and didn't, I at times felt it was forced just to play into modern audiences. Still, I'm not mad at it; just wish there were character plot points which really needed this kind of gender bend. I also felt this story could have been really excellent even if it hadn't had a King Arthur and Morgan(a) and Merlin. Those characters could all have been named something else and the plot could have been the same, even going to get the weapon, and it would have been excellent and I wouldn't have connected it to Arthurian legend. As it is, I really enjoyed this book. It's got everything I look for in a good fae-tale, with lots of action and heartbreak, romance and pulse-pounding adventure. And oh that cliff-hanger!! Going to have to pre-order the sequel out in June '23! So good!

I really enjoyed the world building and the inclusion of fae. A spicy fantasy to enemies to lovers. A retelling of King Author & Camelot but with its own unique vibe and plot! I recommend for From Blood and Ash readers

3.5 🌟
1.5 🌶

Morgan Pendragon was the offspring of a(n evil) King and a fae mother. Unfortunately, the King had murdered her mother solely because he despised the fae within her blood. the King has another baby with one of his mistresses, a son, which they named Arthur.

As a fan of the original telling of King Arthur, I wish this book had more originality than making them fae. The story of Camelot has been told over and over again, I wish there was a bit more character and plot development.
This was just my personal opinion and others will think differently. I give the author credit for developing such an intense book with a story that has been retold for hundreds of years.

I did enjoy how the roses were such a beautiful element and symbol throughout the book. Roses are a beautiful flower signifying love and passion, but they're the color of blood, and if one doesn't rip the thorns off the stem, they're bound to get pricked.

I enjoyed reading this book and think it shows a lot of promise as a series. I often struggle with the first book in a fantasy series because of all the background and world building that takes place and this was no different. I found the beginning to middle a little sluggish and all the action jam packed at the end. But it certainly got exciting and I look forward to seeing where the author takes the plot in the next installment.

I hope that we get to learn more about Kairos Draven as we only got glimpses beyond the surly bodyguard vibe. And I hope we get some real chemistry between him and Morgan. I was a little disappointed by the lack of it in this book but it’s all set up nicely for book number two and I’m looking forward to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Starwater Press for the opportunity to read rate and review this arc which is now available!

This was a five star read for me. It’s about Morgan Pendragon, fae usurpers, magic, found family and good gawd it was delicious!

It’s an eyeball feast. The world is intricate and vast, plot steady, characters were fleshed out and the pace was perfection. Honestly I will be buying a physical copy of this book. It is that good:

Review of Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn
* * * * *
A fantastic twisted retelling of Arthuria legend, our characters that we know take on new roles and a new history, as our villainess is now a princess on a mission, facing troubles and trying not to fall in love.

Morgan is already an outcast in her own kingdom, thanks to her half fae heritage and her old-hag style grey hair. After the horrible death of her mother - the truth of her death only known by a small handful of people, Morgan's line to the throne is taken and given to her brother.
His hatred towards the fae and half fae blood shows in the kingdom.
Morgan is in constant fear of her life, and her safety becomes questionable when an attempt on her life is made!
Who can she trust?
Certainly not her brother's trusted councilmen, or even some of the guards in the palace...and maybe not even the handsome new captain who is skyrocketing due to his constant promotions.
Her brother has given her a mission...but has he just out her in further danger than before?

I was concerned to know if I would like this book, and I am happy to say that I am DYING for the next one! I do love my twisted fairytales and popular fiction, and am a huge fan of Arhturian legend.
Having Morgana turned into Morgan takes on another side of our supposed villain from original lore, and provides a new side and story to this character. Forced medication for her 'troubles', carrying the secret of her mother and the trust monstrosity that was her father, she is heavily burdened. Morgan is still seen as a great sister, even when Arthur is a cold brute and her youngest sibling is trying so hard to appear strong. Then there is the fact she's fighting her attraction to the new captain of the guard on top of a hot new little helper who just came out of nowhere!
With that cliffhanger ending...who knows what will happen next!