Love love love ! Im obsessed with briars writing ! Top read of the year !

She never fails to hit all the buttons for me

The world building was fantastic. I have no complaints. Easy to follow and very interesting.

The MMC also was written to perfection ! I was swooning and falling in love.

Now the MFC, I could not stand. A bit immature for me when I am reading a NA book.

I also wasn't a fan of the love triangle and how it was written - when this is a favorite trope of mine.

The plot though was great. I was hooked the whole time.


Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review *

I just finished Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn, and I have to say, it was an intriguing read. This book offers a unique twist on the Arthurian legend, blending it seamlessly with fae mythology. The world-building is rich and immersive, pulling you into a realm where magic and royalty collide.

The protagonist, Morgan Pendragon, is a compelling character. As King Arthur’s half-fae sister, she navigates a world filled with political intrigue and personal challenges. Her journey is both captivating and filled with unexpected turns.

One of the standout elements of this book is the slow-burn romance. The chemistry between Morgan and Kairos Draven is palpable, and their evolving relationship adds depth to the story.

While the pacing can be a bit slow at times, the intricate plot and well-developed characters make it worth the read. If you’re a fan of dark fantasy with a touch of romance and a fresh take on classic legends, Queen of Roses is definitely worth checking out.

I struggled to finish the book. It was a decent retelling of Arthurian tales, however it was slow and there was not as much spice and "dark" themes. Low spice level that I was not expecting, I wish it had more. This feels more like a set up book and world building with everything to happen further into the series. Overall it was a good read, just not exactly the "Dark Fae Romance" I was expecting from the description.

Boleyn excels at creating a gothic and decadent world. The royal court is filled with danger, secrets, and betrayals, and the mirror-based magic system is original and thematically resonant.

This is the first book in the Blood of a Fae series by Briar Boleyn. I haven't read anything else by this author and was excited to give this a try. This is a well-developed romantasy with intriguing characters. This has ties to Camelot which was a cool direction to take the story. I liked the pacing and the development of the characters. There was very little spice in this book, but I'm hoping that will increase in the next installment.

I’m a sucker for a good Arthurian retelling, and let me tell you—this book? Did. Not. Miss. Easily one of the best takes on the Arthur myth I’ve ever laid eyes on. Like, crown it and hand it Excalibur already.

Now, if you’re the kind of reader who devoured From Blood and Ash, lives for the “touch her and die” energy, melts over a good “who did this to you” moment, cheers when he falls first, thrives on enemies-to-lovers chaos, and refuses to settle for anything less than a snarky, stabby heroine with a heart of gold and a dagger in her boot? Yeah, this one’s screaming your name.

Throw in a found family that’ll make you emotional, vibes straight out of a Jennifer L. Armentrout or Sarah J. Maas fever dream, and a spicy romantasy that still manages to feel fresh and original? I devoured it. The writing? Sharp. The plot? Juicy. The world-building? Seamless. This book didn’t just check my boxes—it lit them on fire, smirked, and walked away in slow motion. Instantly a fave. And guess what? The series only gets better from here

⭐ I was torn between rating this book 3.5 or 4 /5
🌶️0.5/5

I enjoyed the story, the fact that the story didn't progress more than it did was slightly annoying though haha, I'm ready for book 2!

The reason why I was leaning on rating this book 3.5 was because of a few "mistakes", inconsistency, odd pacing, lack of clarity/explaining.

Here are a few examples

About the "medicine"
Chapter 4 : She, too, drank this same concoction I am told. Every second night as I do now.
Chapter 10 : “Your mother... She took the same medicine herself. Did you know that?” I let out a small cry of surprise.


Chapter 14: Her brother threatens her life.
Chapter 26: And then, I told myself, things would return to the way they had always been. That last part I had my doubts about. After all, I was conveniently avoiding what I had done to Florian.
... How do you think the only thing preventing for things to go back to normal is Florian death....!?

She keeps referring to Draven as her captor but never actually attempts to escape..

I enjoyed this book, it was fast paced, I liked where the plot was going and I thought the characters were decent.

I can’t believe I missed giving feedback on this series! It’s honestly one of my very favorites and I absolutely love Briar Boleyn’s writing. It was stunning!

A great new fantasy with great world building and a captive plot. Leaves you wanting more, looking forward for starting book 2

Thank you netgalley, this book was filled with such beautiful world building and an amazing plot, it never got boring for me. I loved the Arthurian setting with a fae placement it was so different but in a good way. However the romance elements were a bit disappointing for me but I’m not a big fan of love triangles but I can see this being extremely interesting for other readers

Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn is a captivating and immersive fantasy that blends political intrigue, romance, and a richly detailed world. The novel follows a determined and strong-willed protagonist as she navigates courtly power struggles, complex relationships, and her own identity in a realm filled with danger and secrets. Boleyn’s world-building is lush and vivid, creating a magical backdrop that adds depth to the story.

The character development is one of the book's strongest points, especially the protagonist, whose journey of growth and resilience makes her both relatable and compelling. The relationships, particularly the romance, feel genuine and add emotional weight to the narrative without overshadowing the central plot.

While the pacing is mostly well-balanced, there are a few moments where the story slows down a bit, but these are outweighed by the gripping plot and emotional stakes. The tension between the political intrigue and personal conflicts keeps the pages turning.

Overall, Queen of Roses is an engaging and well-crafted fantasy that will appeal to fans of court politics, magical intrigue, and strong character-driven stories. It strikes a good balance between romance and adventure, leaving readers eager to see what comes next.

I enjoyed the mythological aspect of the story and the accuracy to the myth however I wish that there was more character development within this story.
That to be said, there were a few characters that I instantly loved and wanted more of . The twists and magic system of this book were amazing and I would move on to the second book

*I received this book free via NetGalley*

Queen of Roses starts out this epic fantasy journey, for the ultimate what is still to be known.

Morgan is the first born, she should have been queen when her father died, but she was part fae and according to him that was unsuitable for anything, let alone queen. Instead, her father made her younger brother king and promised her to the temple once she was of age. Being a princess should not have been that bad, but her brother was getting more ruthless by the day, she was being tormented by an unwelcome suitor, and basically poisoned to keep most of her fae qualities from making themselves known.

It's only when her brother sends her on a journey to find Excalibur that she begins to learn the full extent of his depravity.  Her two traveling companions are anything, but mean guards surely sent to keep her in line. One wants to poison her to death, the other's desires are still unknown. As they travel and visit more places she's finds it's not all as bad as she once thought it may be, that is until they get to where they are going. The harpies, the caves...the children.

This book is a page turner that easily keeps you wanting to know what happens next. It is a rollercoaster of emotions, you never truly know who the bad guy is and who is the good. There is corruption, usurpers, hidden magic, betrayals, and unlikely friendships. As this book came to its cliffhanger ending all I could think of was....oh hell, what's next?!?!

"A gift to you then. Forged in blood and darkness. A bond that can never be broken."

Review: Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn

I’ll admit, Queen of Roses took a bit of concentration for me to get into at first, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. The story is a retelling of King Arthur, which, as a fan of Arthurian legends, I absolutely loved. The twist? It’s set in a fae world, which was such a refreshing and unique take on the traditional story. Mixing the magic of the fae with the familiar elements of Arthurian lore gave the book a whole new layer, and I really enjoyed how it added depth and intrigue to the world.

The book is definitely heavy in terms of world-building and character development, and I found myself needing to pay close attention at times to fully understand the intricacies of the plot. It wasn’t always an easy read, but once I got into the rhythm of the story, it became really compelling. There’s a richness to the writing that kept me invested, and the characters felt vivid and complex.

Looking back, I kind of wish I’d gone with the audiobook version, as it might have helped me get immersed in the story a bit quicker. Still, overall, it was an enjoyable read that combined my love for King Arthur with an enchanting fae twist.

I’m giving Queen of Roses three stars, almost four. It was a great read, though at times it felt a bit heavy, but once I settled into the story, it definitely captured my attention. If you’re a fan of Arthurian legends and enjoy a bit of fantasy with your historical fiction, I think you’ll really like it!

This story was an interesting story from an author I don’t know or haven’t read before! Will look at finding other things by this author. I am grateful for the early access, thank you to those that allowed it!

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook arc. Whole is was a nice read I can’t really say anything stood out to me. 3.5 stars

I have a habit of wanting to read books based on their covers! That being said, I had no idea what I was getting into when I read this first book in the Blood of a Fae series, and we get a retelling of the Arthurian legend!

The Dynamics and backstory that Boleyn poured into this book was on-point! It served up a great experience in a well crafted world.

The FMC Morgan has potential, I really hope that she is developed and comes into her own more as the series progresses, she was a bit of a wallflower. However, the same can't be said for KD! Now, that's a fantasy MMC done noice!!!

I'm in this for the long-haul, so we'll see where I'm taken I hope!!

*Queen of Roses* by Briar Boleyn introduces an intriguing fantasy world filled with fae, magic, and political intrigue. The premise of the story, focusing on a young woman’s rise to power amidst the complex dynamics of the fae realm, is captivating, and Boleyn does a great job building a richly imagined world. The plot has plenty of twists, and the concept of the fae hierarchy adds an interesting layer to the narrative.

However, while the world-building is solid, the pacing of the story can be uneven. At times, the plot feels slow, especially in the first half, and it took a while for the character development to really pick up. The main character’s journey is compelling, but I didn’t feel as emotionally connected to her as I’d hoped. Additionally, some secondary characters felt underdeveloped, which left me wanting more depth.

Overall, *Queen of Roses* has a lot of potential for fans of fantasy and fae stories, but it doesn’t fully deliver on the emotional stakes or depth I was hoping for. It’s an enjoyable start to the *Blood of a Fae* series, but I’m hoping the next book will build on its foundation and provide a bit more intensity and character growth.