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.

An alternative Camelot where Arthur isnt the kind king of legend, but instead a terrible tyrant who revels in the pain and bloodshed of others. Enter Morgan, the rightful heir of the throne, keeping her head down and trying to help where she can while protecting those she loves. But when Arthur asks her to find a weapon of great power in exchange for the freedom of her future, she agrees and starts on a quest of hardship and discovery.

Was very well written and im glad it didnt stick too much to the aurthurian legend to keep rraders on their toes. Im eager to get to the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Really wanted to love this but I didn’t connect with the story or the characters.

*Thank you NetGalley for this e-ARC*

I will be honest that when I first opened up this novel a d tried to read it, I could not get into it. I put it down and picked it up a few weeks later, and I am SO GLAD I gave this another try. I have absolutely devoured every single novel in the series and have loved every single one.

Do yourself a favor and read all four novels in the series, and then continue on to her Bloodwing Academy spin offs.

Briar Boleyn can do no wrong. Thank you so much for this opportunity!

OMG this book will probably go down as one of my fav books this year! I absolutely adored it, I was hooked from the very first! The world building, the plot, the characters, all of it had me in a complete and total chokehold and I’m so glad I can go right into book 2 because holy crap!!

*Queen of Roses* is an engaging start to the *Blood of a Fae* series, blending elements of fantasy, romance, and political intrigue. Briar Boleyn creates an interesting world with vivid descriptions of the Fae realm and its characters. The protagonist, a strong-willed heroine, is a likable and determined figure who brings a lot of energy to the story. The romance is steamy and builds at a nice pace, and there’s definitely chemistry between the lead characters.

That said, the plot can sometimes feel a bit predictable, relying on familiar fantasy tropes without offering much new. While the world-building is solid, it can also feel overwhelming at times, as the novel introduces a lot of complex lore that may be difficult for new readers to fully absorb. The pacing slows down in places, and some of the side characters don’t get enough development to make a strong impact. Overall, it’s a fun read, but there’s room for more depth and originality. Fans of the genre will likely enjoy it, but it doesn't quite reach its full potential in this first installment.

A very interesting read. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this book. It wasn't really for me, but I am sure that it will be loved by the right audience.

Fantastic. I really loved this one. It was fast paced, and exciting. I liked the world building and the romance.