Arthurian retelling
Historical
Prophecy
Magic
Romance
Revenge
War
Strong FMC
Marriage of convenience

“Another girl to add to the litany: Elaine, Morgen, Margawse, and now Anna.”

“Anna Briallen Carys Pendragon. Through all the ages, and in the hearts of men, you will be forgotten.”

Queen of None is the first book in the Queens of Fate series. The book follows Anna Pendragon, King Arthur’s sister.

I really liked Anna as a main character, she is strong, witty & independent. I loved how she didn’t need a man to take care of her and didn’t give into the dominance of men.

Both the characters and the world building were well written and interesting. The storyline itself was a fresh take and brought something new to Arthurian legend and the story of King Arthur.

Really well written retelling with interesting female characters and perspective.

Overall a great concept. The ending wasn’t my favorite but other than that I really enjoyed the book.

Perfect book for you if you like Arthurian legends and strong, independent female characters.

Queen of None by Natania Barron
Published by Solaris
4/5 stars!

After birthing her 3 sons Anna leaves her home but returns when Arthur needs her. She returns to face everything she left behind but soon finds herself with a power!
This is such a captivating story and beautifully written, I haven’t read many books inspired by Arthurian legend and so far I’m really enjoying it!

Thank you to Natania, the published and NetGalley for this arc!

Feedback to be published on Goodreads.

📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚

QUEEN OF NONE - NATANIA BARRON

Thank you to #netgalley and #rebellionpublishing for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Uk publication date: 21st may 2024 ( but as far as I can tell it has been published before and is coming out again).

I really loved Anna's story. I felt compelled to keep picking this book up because she was such a relatable character. As an Arthurian retelling it was enchanting and clever - I especially love the prophecies as a way of weaving the character's stories and motivations. In fact I loved the first 80% or so of this story. However, I got a bit confused in the last bit - I am not sure if I missed some things - such as the incident with margawse. I'm still not sure what happened there. And I felt that the nimue story line tried to develop a whole character in too short a time so that I had no sense of her character, nor did I understand what happened with merlin at the end.
Maybe it's me 🤷🏻‍♀️ but I will indeed read the sequel!

—Thank you to NetGalley and the publidher for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review!


“First in a sumptuous, female-led Arthurian Fantasy Romance trilogy“
I saw this and was like ‘say less’. And i mean look at this cover, isn’t it stunning?
It was a good start to a series. I’m excited to read the others now. I hope we get to have much more of an inner look into the characters’ personalities and motives. It was a fast read.

DNF at 50%

I’m really gutted I couldn’t get along with this, because the premise is right up my alley. However it quickly became clear that when I put it down, I didn’t feel to inclined to pick it up again. And the longer I took to read it, the more I just… didn’t care. I would forget it existed. Reading it felt like a chore. I kept going for months until I reached the halfway point and realised I didn’t want to continue the slog through the second half.

My main review of the half of the book I did read: There is a distance to the storytelling that gives an old-timey feel to the tone, however it also left me detached from the heart of the story — Anna’s reactions and emotional responses to the plot seemed narrated rather than felt, and I struggled to get invested because of that.

For the most part, I enjoyed this book. It was just too slow-placed for my preference and the writing style was the telling and not a lot of showing type. Which is also not my reading preference.

This is a retelling of King Arthur following his forgotten sister.
For the most part, I enjoyed this book. It was just too slow-placed for my preference and the writing style was the telling and not a lot of showing type. Which is also not my reading preference.

This series is going to be a trilogy, and while I didn’t super love this book I would like to see what else the author does within this world.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of this title in return for my truthful review

From literature to The Sword in the Stone to Monty Python’s Holy Grail, the story of King Arthur and his knights is embedded in my memory. It is a delight to have such a beautiful retelling with a strong new female character and the refreshed viewpoint of events. I was so happy to hear the follow up is also coming out this year!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

Throughly enjoyed this book

Full of new and interesting factual information.

The author did a fantastic job.

I enjoyed every minute of this read.

Highly recommend

Queen of Nothing
I’m not sure what I was expecting going into this book, but it wasn’t what I got.

Overall, I enjoyed it.
I know ashamedly little about the legend of Arthur, but I do like to think I know more than your average Joe. It was a very interesting take, with a lot of artistic licence (although, with a legend like Arthur’s, who’s to say the author didn’t just read a different telling to that I know?).

At times I found the timeline confusing and honestly, didn’t understand what was happening. Times like the very ending - I’m not sure what was happening there? I don’t want to go into too much detail, because I don’t want to spoil it but, some clarity would be nice?? Also, when Anna was becoming Nimue - I didn’t understand if it was Anna’s body that was changing? Or if she’d created a whole new body for Nimue?

*massive spoiler coming*

I don’t understand how or why Gaheris killed Maugawse?? I get it was some kind of magic that Nimue was trying to pull on Lamorak (I think it was Lamorak, there were so many names I also got confused there too?!), but I don’t understand WHY? Was it supposed to be so Maugawse’s son killed her? I don’t get it??

I was intrigued throughout the whole story; it was slow going, but enjoyable. I liked Anna’s character development but do wish we’d got to see more of her ending with Bedevere after everything she’d gone through to get there.

I don’t know if I’ll hurry to pick up the next few books in the trilogy, but I would like to see what else the author does within this world.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an eARC of this title in return for my truthful review.

In keeping with the legends and myths that the book itself is based on, the narration of the book was probably what impressed me the most and held me captive to the very end of the story. The narrator is the main character, and she tells you the story from a point in the future, so to speak, offering plenty of ominous and foreshadowing context that'll keep you turning the page. Indeed, it'll even prime you for reading the next books in the series.

Aside from the narration itself, I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship dynamics that drive the plot of the story foward. There's a lot of characters, and I would at times have to pause to keep track of ages and familial bonds etc., but for someone without tons of knowledge insofar as Arthurian legends go, I was still able to enjoy myself.

The pacing is fairly slow, especially at the start, but I found myself gripped by the story regardless (which I contribute to the narrator's voice, in large part).

Thank you NetGalley for sending me an earc of this! All reviews are my own!

First off I love Arthurian retellings so instantly I was drawn into this book. At first while reading it I was a little confused; however that quickly changed when the pace picked up. I throughly enjoyed reading this. I think my favorite character was Anna, I felt like I could hear her struggle and emphasize with her based on her marriage. Overall, wonderful job to the author and I will definitely be looking at more in the future by them!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Solaris for providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review*

I've read a ton of Arthurians novels but never about Arthur's sister. It was a refreshing change for once. I liked Barron's unique pen and overall Queen of None was a really interesting read.

Queen of None is a female-centered retelling of Arthurian legend. The novel follows Anna Pendragon, Arthur's forgotten sister, who has been used as a pawn for her entire life. But after being wronged countless times by the men in her life, she decides to reshape her fate.

This was such a good retelling! I loved Anna's character and her growth. And the writing was beautiful as well.

**Thank you to Netgalley for an arc of this book**

I love Arthurian retellings, but I will say I didn't remember Anna, the forgotten sister of King Arthur, prophesied by Merlin to be forgotten by all. So it was nice to read through her eyes. Usually the story is told by the popular male characters, so this was refreshing. Anna was standoffish at times, but I understood it. She is strong and is done being at the mercy of the men in her life. I enjoyed the court politics, twists, turns, magic, romance and characters. I can't wait to see where the next book goes.

3.75 rating

Queen of None is a delightful twist on the tales of old!

This is a story of King Arthur's court as told by his sister Anna. It is an engaging plot with twists of magic and court intrigue. I really appreciate how sympathetic it is to the life of a woman living in those ages.

The most exciting part of the book begins in the last 25%. There was important plot and character development leading to that point. However, it did feel a little long at times.

I love Arthurian based remakes and I liked that this book came from the perspective of a little known character.. But this was just an okay entry in the vast catalog of Arthurian based fiction so I would not buy it or recommend it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I found the beginning a tad slow however I struggled to put it down still.

The character development was outstanding too, I loved watching Anna grow.

Additionally I liked how the author showed the cycle of how her children become their father and portrays it really well.

Natania Barron's "Queen of None" takes readers on a captivating journey into the life of Anna, King Arthur's sister, providing a fresh perspective on a character often relegated to the sidelines in the Arthurian legends. Married at a young age and burdened with responsibilities, Anna's story unfolds with a richness and depth that adds a new layer to the well-known narrative.

The novel begins with Anna's return to Carelon, holding the crown of her deceased husband. From the outset, Barron paints a vivid picture of Anna's complex relationships with her sisters, Morgen, Elaine, and Morgause, as well as with key figures like Merlin and Bedevere. The author masterfully weaves together elements of Arthurian legend with a compelling exploration of Anna's inner world, creating a narrative that is both familiar and refreshingly original.

Anna's journey is one of self-discovery, resilience, and empowerment. Barron skillfully brings out the nuances of Anna's character, allowing readers to witness her growth from a young bride and mother to a woman determined to navigate the challenges and intrigues of Carelon. The themes of ambition and revenge add layers of complexity to Anna's motivations, making her a protagonist whose struggles and triumphs resonate deeply.

The prose in "Queen of None" is both eloquent and evocative, immersing readers in the mystical world of Camelot and the political machinations that shape Anna's destiny. The author's attention to detail and the seamless integration of magical elements contribute to the overall enchanting atmosphere of the story.

One of the strengths of the novel lies in its ability to reframe a familiar tale through the lens of a previously overlooked character. Barron's storytelling prowess breathes new life into Anna, allowing her to step into the spotlight and claim her own narrative. The narrative unfolds with a perfect balance of tension and introspection, keeping readers engaged from start to finish.

In conclusion, "Queen of None" is a masterfully written and compelling addition to Arthurian literature. Natania Barron's ability to delve into the complexities of character and deliver a fresh perspective on a well-loved legend makes this novel a must-read for fans of historical fantasy. "Queen of None" is not just a retelling; it is a triumphant exploration of a woman's journey toward agency, strength, and the pursuit of her own destiny.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I seem to be continuing in my trend of reading feminist Retellings this year and im still loving it with this Arthurian addition. This was such a cool spin on a familiar cast of characters and setting and I really enjoyed it.