Firstly, hats off to NetGalley for approving my request to read this.

Queen of Roses is a dark fantasy romance based off the well known King Arthur story. From the synopsis, the book seemed captivating to read, the cover was appealing and the last line of the prologue had me hooked.

However, as someone that is a big fantasy reader, I don't think it lived up to my expectations. The beginning started well and the build up was great. The slow burn was not burning as much as I thought it would but I eventually saw the disclaimer at the end that it gets better in the next book.

Some parts of the book seemed rushed and some parts felt like the book was moving too slow.

The ending left me confused and I like to believe that's the point of the whole cliffhanger…to get me to pick up the next book.

Overall, it was an okay read to me.

Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn is an addictive book.

This book got a little bit of folklore about fae, a little bit of romance, high sexual tension, suspense, thriller, angst and action packed. As a fan of Merlin drama series, I'm very excited to read a book about Morgan, Arthur's sister. With all those magic, Morgan as a half fae blooded, the book really give you a high imagination. Morgan shows as a strong female character when she goes for a mission to keep her little brother life from threatened by her own half brother. When she travels with Draven, the attraction between them can't be missed. The last chapters got me screaming "Noooooooooo... I can't believe this". It is expected and unexpected. This book got major cliffhanger which make you need to read the 2nd and 3rd book.

I'll definitely be reading more from Briar Boleyn and desperately waiting for the 2nd book.

The world building for this book was amazing with a story line that interests me. However this was such a slow start and it was not holding my attention. I could not connect with the FMC. Character development needs a bit of work and usually I’m a sucker for love triangles but this one I could do without.

Thank you NetGalley and Starwater Press for giving me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Briar Boleyn, and Starwater Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

✨REVIEW✨
Queen of Roses is an interesting new retelling (with some twists) of the Arthurian legend we all know and love. We follow the story of Morgan Pendragon, King Arthur’s older half-sister, and rightful heir to Camelot had it not been for her “tainted” fae bloodline. Due to this, she has never really had a say in the destiny of her life and has to overcome some heavy abuse and betrayal. Arthur (ugh, despise him) eventually sends her off on a mission that could very well kill her in order to save the kingdom. Luckily, Arthur does send two of his best warriors (including the new head of the Royal Guard, Kairos Draven) to accompany her. Draven is everything we want in a MMC and probably my favorite character in the whole story so far (minus the exmoor). Morgan’s journey into the forgotten fae lands is where the story really picked up for me and I couldn’t convince myself to stop reading after that! The adventure, the secrets, the freaking plot twist I didn’t see coming?! I loved every minute of it and was so upset when it ended on a cliffhanger.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next book in the Blood of a Fae series!

⭐️GLOWS⭐️
•loved the world building
•dark, broody, protective MMC
•exmoors… I want one!
•epic journey to find Excalibur
•new twist on Arthurian legend
•adventure, magic, plot twists

↗️GROWS↖️
•FMC development - It was a little difficult to connect to Morgan at first, but as the story went on, I could see her beginning to grow and change into a more powerful FMC.
•bit of a slow start, but well worth it in the end!
•very mild romance, but I’ve heard it picks up in the next book. I am also happy that romance wasn’t just thrown in there for the sake of it.

❤️ TROPES❤️
•enemies to lovers
•who did this to you…
•forced proximity
•slow burn

💬FAVORITE QUOTE💬
I have the ears of an exmoor and the tread of a fenrir,” he said with a smirk.”I’d say comparing yourself to wild animals was fitting, except the exmoor seems highly intelligent,” I muttered.

I've always been a fan of Arthur, Merlin and all the legends surrounding them.That's why I couldn't help but read this retelling that puts the characters we all know in a new light.For example, Arthur is the villain of the story, Morgana is our protagonist and Merlin is a woman! Plus add the presence of the Fae and we get a familiar but original story!

Morgan , our protagonist, being half fae has been abused all her life! Verbal ,physical and psychological going so far as to suppress a part of herself .This however has not stopped her through small gestures to try to undo the damage that the tyranny of her brother Arthur has brought to the citizens of Camelot. In fact, the entire book serves as an introductory volume toward world building and the growth of Morgan herself who , slowly, begins to embrace her true nature and to no longer justify through brotherly love all the actions that Arthur has taken toward her and her kingdom.

Draven, on the other hand, is very morally black and is surrounded by a halo of mystery until the very end. I cannot say more without spoilers, however, I liked the fact that from the beginning he treated. with respect and as his equal,despite his rank, Morgan.

I can only tell you that theirs is a slow burn with flakes : they don't touch each other ,they don't look at each other and they don't think of each other that way.. but something is definitely up! Also loved their interactions because they reminded me a lot of the Aelin and Rowan in Heir of Fire!

✨ It is the first book of three and is very introductory because it focuses on world buoling, the characters and gives the beginning to the plot. However, all this did not weigh on me because the whole thing came across as very original, intriguing and the author's writing was very vivid and immersive! Although Plot Twists I had seen them all coming I can say that I loved this book and look forward to reading the sequels!

Queen of Roses: A Dark Face Fantasy Romance by Briar Boleyn is an enchanting journey into a mystical realm filled with intrigue and passion. Boleyn masterfully blends elements of dark fantasy and romance, creating a world where far magic and forbidden love intertwine. The protagonist's evolution from an ordinary existence to a queen entangled in the complexities of fae politics is both thrilling and emotionally resonant. Boleyn's vivid descriptions and rich world-building immerse readers in a fantastical setting, while the intense romance dynamics add depth to narrative.
#review #BriarBoleyn #thriller #honestreview #goodreads #fiction #amazon #QueenofRoses #NetGalley #booklover #bookstagram #miabooknook

I liked this book very much. It was a cozy read. The story flowed and had a nice pace. I liked the characters and the worlbuilding. I look forward to book 2!

Rate - 5/5
Spice - 1

OMG i could not get enough of this book. This one is by far one of the best books I have ever read. This was fast paced and very fascinating. Everything about this novel was exceptional. From the characters, to the romance, to the world building everything was amazing! This author is definitely one to watch!

Thank you Netgalley, Victory Editing and most importantly Briar Boleyn for this amazing novel. This story was beyond captivating and I cannot wait for the next book. I truly hope I am approved for the ARC again.

Queen of Roses is an Arthurian legend inspired romance.

Morgan is the elder sister of King Arthur and Kaye living in a world that discriminates against her because she is part fae. She, her mother, and siblings suffered at the hands of the father, abusive King Uther. Denied the throne because of her heritage, her brother grows up to be a cruel king just as her father was a cruel man. He sends her on a mission to retrieve Excalibur. Unfortunately for her, she is accompanied by the rude but handsome Kairos Draven, Head of the Royal Guard. However, as the mission progresses, Morgan realizes how ignorant she has been of the world, and how dangerous this mission may be.

This book is the definition of an addictive slow-burn that will make sleeping impossible in the best way.

The story line of this was ok. Don’t expect to get any real answers until the very end of the book. There were so many typos and grammatical errors. The way the author structures sentences can be difficult to follow.

Well shit. That was SO good.

The plot was incredible and the ending was such a cliff hanger I am extremely grateful to have had the second book already downloaded. The characters were great, theres only so much you can do with Fae but I think that Briar Boleyn did an excellent job. I loved the slow burn and I’m really excited to see how it develops in the second book. The scene towards the end in the Fae city (I won’t say too much so I don’t spoil it), was so well written I could see the creatures so vividly in my mind. The descriptions were incredible.

rated this 3.5 stars. The author painted an enchanting world with vivid descriptions that truly transported me. It’s a first-person, single-point-of-view narrative. While the story's pace was a bit leisurely, the slow-burn romance, complete with a love triangle, added an intriguing layer. The finale brought a satisfying blend of action and unexpected twists. I'm eagerly anticipating more character development for the main character in the next installment, especially after glimpsing her newfound strength in the final chapters.

Thank you NetGalley, publishers, and author for the e-ARC.
"Queen of Roses" by Briar Boleyn introduces Morgan Pendragon, a half-fae protagonist with enchanting royal lineage. Boleyn's exceptional world-building seamlessly combines fae magic and Arthurian legends, immersing readers in a vividly described fantasy realm. The landscapes and courtly life are richly depicted, drawing readers into the heart of the story. Notably, the enigmatic Kairos Draven adds intrigue, with the author skillfully maintaining a mysterious atmosphere, leading to a compelling cliffhanger.

However, despite Morgan's unique attributes, her portrayal falls short at times. Her innocence in critical moments feels inconsistent with her established depth. A more subtle approach could enhance Morgan's character development. Despite these flaws, "Queen of Roses" remains engaging for fans of Arthurian retellings and fae fiction.

Some readers, however, may find the story less appealing. The lack of a satisfying romantic element, particularly between the main characters, may disappoint those expecting a slow-burn romance. Additionally, the inclusion of graphic animal deaths without adequate warnings may be distressing for certain readers. The last 20% of the book delivers a significant character transformation and an interesting conclusion.

This book. THIS. BOOK.

Queen of Roses is definitely one of my favourites of the year. It is a slow-burn Romantasy that is written as an Arthurian inspired tale with a fae mix.

This book completely transported me to a new world, and I could not put it down. The story follows our FMC Morgan Pendragon who is part fae-part human and the true heir to the throne of Camelot. Because of the fae blood in her veins her father gives the crown to her half brother, Arthur instead and promises Morgan to the three Goddesses.

She spends her free time learning to fight and helping the people of Camelot as much as she can with the time she has left of her freedom. When Arthur sends her on a quest with Kairos Draven to find the legendary fae artifact Excalibur, she has to put their differences aside and do everything in her power to save her brother Kaye and the people of Camelot.

I absolutely loved the character development and how Kairos always stood up for Morgan. This story involves magic, fae, mythical creatures, adventure, self discovery, love, betrayal, and friendships. It involves various tropes including who did this to you, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and a sprinkle of touch her and die. I cannot wait to see where their adventure takes them, especially with that ending!!!

Thank you to Victory Editing, Net Galley and Briar Boleyn for giving me the opportunity to read this.

My review has already been posted on Goodreads and Amazon. I will most likely do a TikTok video once I have finished book 2

4 stars
🌟🌟🌟🌟
A wonderfully original and unique look at canelot, King Arthur, Morgana and excalibar. Add in the mix, fae, corruption, God worship and sedition. Its just so good.
The book is written from Morgans POV and she is overlooked as heir to the throne due to being half Fae and essentially promised to a nunnery but as the head of it, where there is also magic. Arthur is King and not a good one. Not good at Al, with another brother as the Heir spare, Kaye.
The book touches on sexuality in a wonderful way, it looks at openness of loving whomever you love regardless of sex, and the flip side, those whom are in high powered positions finding it disturbing and ready to do something about it. Very interesting as it's close to our ow societal problems right now. Where we are facing many problems, unable to freely love is a sad place to live.
It's just so good. You must read it.
Morgan is badass but also downtrodden, fragile, vulnerable. A woman apart despite having friends and relations with people, she must stay reserved for reasons that are clear in the book. She is sent on a mission to find a powerful Fae weapon, Excalibar. There's a mission, adventure and smoldering tension. Label this a Must Read full of great twists and turns.

3.5 ⭐️ I love Arthurian legend, I wasn’t aware before starting the book that it would have these elements. I liked the flip that lancelet and Merlin were strong female leads. Slow to start, but felt the book got stronger as it went on, started to enjoy it more once they were on the journey. Enough mystery as to what Morgan may be, hooked and invested in the characters enough that I will read the second one.

As a huge fan of anything Arthurian, I jumped at the chance to read this one, especially knowing it was the start of a trilogy.

It took me a little while to get used to the gender switches and Arthur being the villain. They worked; I just have other versions too ingrained.

Queen of Roses had a lot of potential, and was an interesting start to the series. I feel it set things up well and has paved the way for the rest of the trilogy to be stronger.

Morgan was a solid main character, but she doesn’t develop. While her technical skills appear, her thoughts and behaviour remain the same throughout. Magic aside, she doesn’t grow.

The almost-love-triangle was predictable. The steamier scenes came out of nowhere and the tone jarred with the rest: they were fast paced and full-on; the rest of the book, less so. Also predictable was the direction the relationship would take – partly due to the prologue – and the way it was executed felt repetitive to an earlier attack.

The pacing was slow. Morgan’s time at court sets up the world. With more characters at play, those scenes were more engaging. Once the journey starts, the endless travelling takes over. It’s hard to write a quest book without travelling scenes, but there either needed to be more world-building, or character/relationship development. The rules of the magic also would have benefitted from clearer explanation: magical arches to get a character into position felt convenient.

Overall, I enjoyed this. It has a lot of potential and the story kept me engaged. It’s an intriguing beginning and I look forward to reading the remaining books.

Morgan is half-fae princess overlooked by her father to be the next queen. Instead her fae-hating brother, Arthur becomes king. When Arthur sends her on a quest to retrieve Excalibur she must go with the new captain of the Royal Guard Draven leaving her best friends Lancelet and Galahad behind. After learning some things about Draven, she doesn’t know who to trust. Will she find Excalibur? Will her brother kill her first? Will she stop hating Draven? Will the overgrown cat eat them?

This book is compulsively readable. I had a hard time in the beginning with one of the plots due to some triggers (read the trigger warnings).

The writing is easy, the flow and plot moved at a good pace. I found it predictable in some ways; however, I still wanted to know what was going to happen!

Thank you NetGalley for the copy.

I loved the fierce Female main character. I highly enjoyed the world building and look forward to Briar's other books.

This book was exactly what I needed to shake off the book hangover from The Ashes and the Star Cursed King. It was a rollercoaster of twists and turns, keeping me on the edge with just the right mix of nerves and happy vibes. This new take on Camelot flips the script on the usual hero vibe we get from Arthur. Morgan, our main girl, is not your typical flawless heroine – she's relatable in both the good and the bad. If you're into Aelin and her crew, you're gonna love Morgan. She's fierce, loyal, and had me glued to the pages.

My heart went through the wringer – I cried, I laughed, and I couldn't put the darn book down. Now I'm itching to know what's next! I'm diving headfirst into Court of Claws as soon as I can. Bring it on!