Lioness is a coming of age story of Morgan, Princess of Brigtania. She finds herself caught between her past and the brutal Roman empire. Each decision can flip the tables for her and those she cares for. There are battles, betrayal, a little bit of sweet romance, spying, and intrigue.

Thank you to the publisher, The Book Guild, and NetGalley for the early review copy! All ratings and opinions are my own. I would rate the book 3.75 stars for all the potential it has; however, there are a few things I think took away from the story.

At the beginning of the book, I was really struggling with the info dumping that occurred. Many of the phrasings felt too long winded with run on thoughts, but as I look back, I think that may have been on purpose to really sell that Morgan is younger, age 9, when her journey in this story begins. As I kept diving deeper into the story though, it became so hard to but the book down. The information shared, especially the historically accurate tidbits about the Roman empire, helped me to piece together better Ryan’s descriptions. I would say that the book definitely gives historical documentary vibes with a fantasy twist and a mini romance subplot.

This book was just not my cup of tea; it was really fast-paced and kind of left me reeling and confused. Not something I would actually read or enjoy if I wasn't bored, I didn't really get the plot; it kind of just seemed like the main character was just doing random things. The book starts with her at 9 years old, and her experiences just seem a little unrealistic, even for a fiction piece. There were some really awkward age moments when it came to romance, but if you are into historical pieces, you would probably really enjoy it. The book had some really accurate elements to it in that regard. This is also a book that you could read and finish in 1 or 2 sittings, so if you just want something quick to read, this is a good option. I think the synopsis and tags of this book made me think it was going to be something other than what it actually was, unfortunately.

Sometimes you want to watch historical intrigue and costume drama on TV, this book seemed to offer just the right mini TV series. I liked the little Lioness who schemed under the power struggles of Rome and grew up to be the wise and brave queen of the province of Britannia.

The book had perhaps packed a little too much information into it for its brevity, but when I decided to approach it as a bit of a historical documentary drama, it seemed to fit the plot of the book well. The book surprised me positively 3.5 stars.

Thank you for the publisher The Book Guild and NetGalley for the early review copy!

Lioness is a coming-of-age historical fantasy that follows Morgan, Princess of Britannia, as she grows up caught between her homeland and the brutal reach of the Roman Empire. The story is filled with battles, betrayal, espionage, political intrigue, and a touch of sweet romance, all wrapped in a setting that feels heavily inspired by real history.

I’d rate this book around 3.5–3.75 stars, largely for its ambition and potential. The opening was a bit of a struggle for me due to heavy info-dumping and long, winding phrasing that sometimes felt overwhelming. However, looking back, this stylistic choice may have been intentional, as Morgan begins the story at just nine years old. Once I settled into the narrative and moved further along, the book became much harder to put down.

One of the strongest aspects is the incorporation of historically accurate details about the Roman Empire. These moments gave the story a documentary-like feel and helped ground the fantasy elements. At times, the book feels less like a traditional fantasy novel and more like a historical drama with a light romantic subplot—almost like a mini TV series unfolding on the page.

That said, the pacing can be jarring. The story moves very quickly, sometimes to the point of feeling confusing, and certain plot points feel rushed or underdeveloped. Morgan’s early experiences, especially given her age, occasionally stretched believability, and there were a few awkward moments surrounding romance that didn’t quite land for me. The synopsis and tags also led me to expect a slightly different kind of story, which may have contributed to my mixed reaction.

Still, when approached as a historical intrigue or costume drama rather than a traditional fantasy, Lioness works much better. Watching Morgan grow from a scheming child under Roman rule into a wiser, braver leader was genuinely engaging, and I appreciated the scope of her journey despite the book’s relatively short length.

Overall, Lioness isn’t quite my usual cup of tea, but it surprised me in a positive way. It’s a quick read that can easily be finished in one or two sittings and will likely appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction, political intrigue, and Roman-era settings with a light fantasy twist.

And this is, unfortunately, one of those books that I delay and delay posting a review for. Why? because I know how important reviews are for authors, traditionally published or indie authors. And I have respect for the authors who have the courage to publish - something I consider an incredible feat. However, there is no way I can get around how I felt about this book. Since highschool Latin (four years under an amazing teacher who was not only a teacher of Latin, a lover of Roman civilization but also an anthropologist) I have loved the study of Roman culture. I have always enjoyed books regarding its history and stories based during the Roman times. However, this book did not hold true for me. I did not enjoy this book in the least. The Roman history is one that is bloody, brutal and unforgiving for all its advancements. It certainly had dark and unforgivable moments. This book is written from a 19 year old's POV who goes from hating Rome to accepting them. I would say such a journey under would be interesting but all aspects of this book fell flat and felt forced or understudied. When doing historical fiction I think a strong historical and cultural knowledge is needed. When studying an aspect of a historical event that is so long past where emotions would have run high and tension even higher I believe time really contemplating such events is needed. It felt like neither of this was done to an adequate degree. Therefore, I give my marks because of the attempt, but don't give higher because of the lack.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lioness caught my attention right from the beginning. J. Ryan builds a world shaped by Rome and its power, and Morgan is the kind of heroine who pulls you in straight away. She is fierce, hurting, and determined. Her lifelong fight against Rome feels believable, and what really stood out to me was how the story handles loyalty, love and survival without ever losing sight of the human cost.

The historical setting feels vivid without becoming too dense. The writing has a very cinematic feel that makes the battles, political shifts and emotional moments all hit with equal weight. I also liked the way the romance grows quietly in the background. It never takes over the story, but it adds something real and steady that helps balance the darker moments.

There were a few spots in the middle where the pacing slowed for me, mostly in the strategy parts, but the final third made up for it. Once the story picked up again I read it in one sitting. The ending felt sharp and satisfying, and it left me curious to see where this world could go next.

If you enjoy stories about resistance, complicated heroines and romance that grows in unlikely places, Lioness is a strong pick. Morgan is a character I will be thinking about for a while.

I enjoyed the story. Well paced, well written. the ending was a bit abrupt to me, i expect a cliffhanger, but this was less a cliffhanger and more, i turned the page and there was no more story. that aside, it was a well written, engaging story and I'd definitely want to read the next installment.

I found Lioness by J Ryan to be a solid, enjoyable read, though not outstanding.
It’s a story that I appreciated and would recommend, but it didn’t quite reach the level of being a favorite or a must-read.
I thought it was engaging enough to keep my interest, but some elements might not have fully resonated or stood out as exceptional.
Overall, it’s a good choice for anyone looking for a satisfying story.

The concept of this book was very intriguing and appealing to me however there were a few aspects that I just could not get past.

The story follows Morgan who, at 9 years old, partakes in Queen Boudicca's rebellion against the Romans. It then follows her life and examines the complexity of war through the eyes of a young woman, who is nicknamed Lioness, originally by her father and used later as a pseudo-title.

The pace, political intrigue and slow burn romance of the the novel was really great however it was hard to believe that the story started when the heroine was 9 years old. Her actions and understanding of what was happening was simply not believable. At one point she even mentions that as a 9 year old, she was not concerned with robbers because children don't always understand danger, yet she is aiding and abetting rebels and on battlefields.

I did really enjoy the history the novel included; it is not a time period I have any particular depth of knowledge on so learning about different places after Boudicca's rebellion was a positive aspect for me.

All in all, an interesting read but with some shortcomings.

In this fascinating new historical fiction novel, readers follow Morgan, the teenage princess of Brigantia, as she chooses between Queen Boudicca’s legacy and the brutalities of Roman rule in Britannia. In a world of spies, battles, betrayal, and courage, Morgan must figure out who she can trust and how she can protect her people all while growing up and finding love in unexpected places. As the Romans consolidate power in Brigantia and the rest of the island, Morgan must find her place in this ever-changing political landscape and keep her moral code intact. The characters are the stars of the book, and the historical details really bring the setting to life. Morgan is an entertaining protagonist who has a good mix of historical and relatable modern traits that readers will appreciate. The depth of detail in bringing post-Boudicca Roman Britain to life really pulls readers into the narrative, and fans of the genre will appreciate the depth of detail that Ryan puts into every page of the story. The emotional beats are really well-written and mix with the characters’ backstories and relationships in particularly interesting ways. Detailed and immersive, historical fiction readers will love this brilliant new novel from J Ryan and the characters that populate its pages.

I just finished Liones by J. Ryan and honestly… I was hooked pretty quickly. The world-building took a minute to settle into, but once it clicked, I was all in. There’s a good mix of intrigue, tension, and character dynamics that kept me engaged, even when things got a little dense.

The characters were interesting enough to keep me invested, though I definitely found myself more drawn to some storylines than others. It’s one of those books where you’re not always 100% sure what’s going on at first, but it slowly comes together in a satisfying way.

Overall, not a flawless read, but definitely enjoyable and worth it if you like layered fantasy with a bit of mystery. ✨

I received an ARC from NetGalley for my review.

A character‑driven fantasy blending political intrigue, personal growth, and slow‑burn relationships. If you enjoy character focus over epic battles, this delivers strong emotional dynamics and world‑building that grows more interesting the deeper you get into it.

Pros
Strong character development and relationships
Engaging political intrigue and plot twists
Well‑realised fantasy world with immersive details

Cons
Pacing is slow at times
Some plot threads feel uneven or stretched
Not ideal if you want high‑action fantasy

⭐ 3 / 5 — Great for readers who like thoughtful character work and plot complexity over non‑stop action.