I really enjoyed this book! Can’t wait to continue with the series. The characters were written beautifully, and I was quickly hooked. I loved the fantasy take on the Arthurian legend,

Overall, it had great world building, an enticing plot and would definitely continue with the series!

I so loved this book. After reading her Blood Wing Academy I had to read this. I loved this prequel series, it explains so much! The storyline was incredible with lots of great characters and a unique world! I would so highly recommend this book to everyone!

Thank you to NetGalley and Starwater Press for this eARC. All thoughts are honest and my own.

I enjoyed this retelling, it does start off slow though.

The pacing of this book dragged on a lot. It started to get better around 50-60% in. It also would’ve been nice to see more character development with Morgan. I am looking forward to read the second book!!

**⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Darkly Romantic and Dangerously Addictive**

*Queen of Roses* by Briar Boleyn is a gripping start to a lush and spellbinding fantasy series that blends court intrigue, ancient magic, and a deliciously slow-burn romance. Fans of morally gray characters and intricate worldbuilding will find a lot to love here.

Morgan Pendragon is a compelling heroine—resilient, intelligent, and yearning for freedom in a world that sees her as little more than a pawn. Her journey from a cast-off princess to a woman stepping into her own power is captivating, especially as she uncovers dangerous secrets about her past and her bloodline.

The supporting cast of misfit allies is rich with personality and mystery, and the brooding fae warrior? Absolutely magnetic. Their chemistry is undeniable, with a tension that simmers beneath the surface and promises plenty of fire in future installments. The romance is definitely a slow burn, but the emotional payoff is worth the wait, especially for readers who enjoy tension-filled relationships with bite.

Boleyn's writing shines in its atmosphere—dark, ethereal, and tinged with a haunting sense of destiny. The pacing lags slightly in the middle, as worldbuilding takes center stage, but once the fae kingdom’s secrets begin to unravel, the story picks up momentum fast.

While this first book sets the stage with a lot of groundwork, it hints at even higher emotional and romantic stakes to come. With a cliffhanger that guarantees you’ll want book two in your hands immediately, *Queen of Roses* is a strong start to what promises to be a wild, steamy, and twist-filled fantasy series.

Perfect for fans of *The Cruel Prince* and *A Court of Thorns and Roses*. Just prepare yourself for the long game—both romantically and politically.

4 stars Definitely got From Blood and Ash vibes from this book. The sprinkling of Arthurian tales makes this different from some of the other books I have read recently.

Ich mochte das Buch. Die Geschichte ist gut und spannend erzählt und man wird an einigen Stellen überrascht.

Pretty, tropey fantasy romance with both charm and flaws

Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn is the kind of romantasy that leans hard into familiar tropes—an exiled princess, a brooding and dangerous love interest, courtly intrigue, and magical stakes. It’s an entertaining ride in many places, with lush descriptions and a romantic thread that will satisfy readers looking for tension and angst.

One of the strengths here is the aesthetic: Boleyn paints vivid, almost cinematic scenes of decadent courts and thorny politics. There’s a strong fairy-tale vibe that makes it easy to get swept up in the drama. The dynamic between the leads has enough heat and banter to keep romance readers invested.

But the book isn’t without issues. The pacing can drag in the middle, with scenes that feel repetitive or overindulgent in internal angst. Side characters sometimes lack depth, making court intrigue less impactful than it could be. And while the writing has atmospheric moments, it can also veer into melodramatic or cliché territory.

Overall, Queen of Roses is a solid if imperfect fantasy romance. It delivers on escapist vibes and steamy tension, but stumbles in depth and polish. Recommended for readers who want a dark, flowery, trope-filled fantasy romance and don’t mind a few uneven spots along the way.

I absolutely adored this fantasy tale reminiscent of the King Arthur legend. It was a whole different take on it, the likes of which I have never read. Morgan is the older sister of Arthur and Kaye and is no longer in line to ascend to the throne. Arthur sends her on a quest to obtain Excalibur but what she encounters and experiences is nothing she could have ever imagined. The story will keep you guessing the whole time and thirsting for the next book!

I really wanted to love this novel because it is about Morgan LeFaye. However, I did not like the graphic scenes in this novel. It made for uncomfortable reading. It would have been more enjoyable and would have been given a higher rating if it was not included because the graphic scenes seemed unnecessary. Nevertheless, I recommend it for fans of Arthurian legends!

Thank you to NetGalley for approving this earc
I loved this book so much. You genuinely cannot go wrong with a briar bolyne novel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice, scheming, and sapphires—Queen of Roses had me hooked from chapter one! 👑🌹✨

This book is giving political drama, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a queen who is DONE playing nice. Liana is sharp, calculating, and absolutely fascinating to follow as she maneuvers through court life, betrayal, and some seriously steamy moments (yes, it's spicy 👀🔥).

The world-building was lush and the pacing had that addictive “just one more chapter” energy. While a few plot twists felt a little predictable, I was still totally invested—and that ending?? I need book two like, yesterday. 😭💔

If you're into morally gray heroines, slow-burn tension, and courtly intrigue with a hint of fantasy flair, this one belongs on your shelf.

🖤 Thank you @netgalley for the ARC!

Well paced. Very entertaining. Good plot. Spice level minimal. More spice to come as stated in the end of the book. Very character driven. Onward to book two because I’m binge reading this.

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.

This book was amazing!!!! I loved this world and the twist of the King Arthur legend. I’m so excited to see the romance bloom in the next book. I loved the twists and turns and how crazy the end was!

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

Book was on a little slow at times but the plot moved quickly enough and the characters dynamic kept it interesting.

Morgan Pendragon is a sidelined royal with a predictable backstory: mysterious bloodline, stolen birthright, and a destiny tied to ancient powers. Promised to goddesses and ignored by her brother the king, she jumps at the chance to go after a legendary fae weapon—because apparently, that’s easier than dealing with her real life.

She soon meets a group of misfit companions, including the obligatory brooding, beautiful warrior who sets her heart racing. Their chemistry is teased constantly but barely delivers, and the romance is drawn out without real payoff. Meanwhile, threats build—but mostly in vague, distant ways that never feel urgent.

A lost fae kingdom reemerges, because of course it does, and Morgan’s special bloodline suddenly becomes important again. Twists are hinted at but don’t hit with much impact, and the world-building leans on familiar tropes without offering anything truly new.

Queen of Roses tries to blend fae lore, slow-burn romance, and Arthurian mythology, but never fully commits to anything. The pacing drags, the stakes feel forced, and while it hints at future intensity, the first book doesn’t give enough reason to stick around for more.

SO much fun! Great fantasy world, excellently structured plot and all of my favorite tropes wrapped up in this one. High hopes for this author, I'll definitely continue to read her work!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While fantasy romance is usually not my genre as I don’t want the romance aspect to take over the fantasy world, I requested this book and wanted to read it because of the interesting plot. An arthurian retelling, a woman whose destiny has been taken away, a group of outcasts, a new kingdom… Perfect for me!

The plot is the real strength of the book, it maintained my interest throughout the entire story. Filled with twists and turns, I was hooked as we followed the FMC in her quest for freedom and purpose. The slow start was really enjoyable, full of world and story building and made the fast paced hunt that followed even better and really high stakes.
Boleyn's prose flows very smoothly and I would definitely read her future novels.

Overall, it is a well-rounded fantasy novel. Even though the romantic aspect may not have resonated with me, I enjoyed the novel a lot!!

In 2019 my health started going down hill and I didn't take into consideration what that would mean for my book reviewing. Sadly, I've been trying to play catch up for years and it's been affecting my ability to keep up with present day tasks. So I greatly apologize for this but I am going to clear out all these older review books and focus on present day. I will come back and update this review if I end up reading the book, which is very possible as a lot of these books are still ones I would like to read, I just don't think the pressure looming over me is helpful. Thank you for giving me a chance to early read these books and I am so sorry I wasn't able to provide what was needed.