Thank you, NetGalley and the author who gave me a free reader's version/e-ARC for an honest review.

Okay. Whew. (pauses to catch a breath)

I was skeptical. I promise. I found this book by accident and wasn't sure of it.
But now I am.

Overall rating: 3.5/5
Plot twists: 2/5
Build up: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Character Development: 4/5
Ending: 5/5

<spoiler>
LETS DIVE IN

Okay first, Plot twists and why I rated it just 2:
I finished reading this book today and I can only recall 2 instances that made me think "o.m.g. did not see that coming."
1. Florian's killing, which was totally unexpected and awesome. It kinda reminded me of the Cruel Prince where Jude kills Locke.
2. Vesper's involvement via Arthur- I knew he was involved somehow, but it took me by surprise that Arthur had hired Vesper himself.
And that's just about it- nothing else stuck out to me as a plot twist per se.

---Build-up:
I've been reading a lot of books recently, and most of them either jump to the core plot, or have just a chapter or two before jumping in. But I enjoy the build up- it's necessary to get an idea of the world we're reading about and builds up the anticipation. This is the kind of thing I'd like to see more in books- a careful escalation into the plot along with world building. 5/5 for sure!

---World Building & Writing Style:
The world building was great and the writing style was better. I loved the descriptions- they transported me to the world. If I close my eyes, I could sink right into the scene and it'd be like I'm actually there. Sometimes it felt like a little too much but then again that was just me. The description of the room, the temple, the court, the coat of arms, everything was super immersive and detailed. I love that and I truly appreciate any author who describes things in such detail as Briar has done.

Just a random example of Briar's beautiful writing, it's not really a description per se, I just highlighted this and I really love it:

<blockquote><i> His voice was loud and angry as he cursed everything and everyone he could think of, or so it seemed at the time. The stars, the sky, the king, and, of course, Whitehorn. </i></blockquote>

another one:

<blockquote><i>"...he moves silently as a void. His blade is there and then gone, into nothingness. A shadow in the night. A ghost in the dark."</i></blockquote>

---Humor because it deserves its own section:
imma just quote a few coz I loved it and they speak for themselves.
<blockquote><i>"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></blockquote>
HaAHAHA.

---A special mention to our very own Merlin, who, mind you, is a WOMAN. Not an old man with a long flowy beard. She's a woman and she's cool and she's got one heck of a title:
<blockquote><i>Merlin, High Priestess of the Temple of the Three Sisters, Keeper of the Sacred Flame, Oracle of the Secret Mysteries, and Guardian of the Celestial Sanctum</i></blockquote>
pls i want a title like that

---Draven in one quote:
<blockquote><i>Violence became Draven. He wore it like I wore my hooded clothes.</i></blockquote>
p.s. i'm still hungover on this guy

---the one and only Morgan Pendragon:
She's the heroine. She's the badass woman, the embodiment of feminine power. I didn't always love her, she seemed childish sometimes but overall she's a great character.

---the ending was great. I loved the cliffhanger. It was timed perfectly and was well-written.

---the prologue:
this is the one thing I seriously disliked about this book. What even was that? Totally honest-it gave a sort of negative impression of the book. It was too vague and too dramatic, especially the "he was the air I breathed. I could not live without him." Girl slow down. Who? What? When? I know this is supposed to like build up anticipation and stuff but it just made me cringe.
The last chapter of the book (in Morgan's pov) seemed to parallel it? I mean, the wording was similar, but it wasn't the same. The whole prologue seemed unnecessary. The first chapter started off just fine. </spoiler>

there were a couple of grammatical errors here and there. Also, it was never mentioned in the blurb that it's an Arthurian retelling. A review I read said it had the Slavic Pantheon. It would've been nice to have that warning, if only because I'd have picked it up 10 times faster. Apart from that I don't really find any other complaints. It was a great read and I'd defo recommend it.

Once again, thank you Briar Boleyn for letting me be part of your e-ARC program.

Update: I just realised that the e-arcs for Book 2 have been archived on NetGalley :_(
Just 5 days late, guys. Just 5 days.

It was enjoyable but also predictable. Initially, I had a difficult time getting into the story due to the writing style, and couldn’t connect with the characters either. It took too long to get to the main plot.

thank you netgalley and briar boleyn from providing me with eARC

3.5/5
Morgan Pendragon is the sister to King Arthur. Born into a life of duty and sacrifice, her destiny has never been her own. Being part Fae, she has always had to hide who she truly is, leading her to a life lived in her brother shadow. So, when her brother commands that she seek out a fae weapon of legendary power, Morgan seizes the chance to break free from the chains of her fate.

I enjoyed this read. The pacing was good and the story was quite fast moving. This book was so actionpacked!
I absolutely love retellings, and this twisted version of King Arthur had me hooked. I loved reading about Morgan, as she ventures on a journey to find a mysterious fae relic.
I will say Vesper just irked me, I wasn't sure what part he played other than a second love interest, and his interactions with Morgan just didn't feel natural.
The cliffhanger though!

Queen of Roses follows Morgan Pendragon, a princess skipped for the throne who has been deemed a threat for her whole life due to being part fae. Under rule of her brother, a violent and paranoid king, Morgan is sent on a dangerous mission to recover Excalibur (from the King Arthur stories) along side two guards who have interesting allegiances.
This book has remnants of From Blood and Ash by JL Armentrout and is situated in the world of King Arthur but with fae and other magical creatures. As someone who is a huge fan of From Blood and Ash and fairytale retellings this book hit that spot. I found the main character Morgan to be interesting and while naive at times still strong and able to think for herself. I think in terms of character growth she still has a long way to go and am looking forward to how she evolves in book 2.
While there was so much world building and character introductions, the world still felt a bit flat to me. A lot of the characters motivations are still unknown and I just feel like there was some unnecessary descriptions and introductions. It will be interesting to see if these side characters and plot points were truly necessary throughout the series. Because of this extreme world building and setup for the plot, the journey mentioned in the summary of the book does not even get mentioned until like halfway through which was a little off for me.
Also, just personal preference, but I would’ve loved a little more romance. There was some, but not a lot at all.
Overall, Queen of Roses is a standard fantasy novel that will transport you to a world of kingdoms and mythical creatures while introducing you to a huge cast with a rich history. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a high fantasy novel that is at the start of a series and anyone looking for an escape from reality.

Queen of Roses

Plot: .5
Writing: 1
World building: .5
Characters: .5
Themes: .5
3/5

Spice: 1/5

What you can expect:
- Morgan le Fay retelling
- Fae
- 'Who did this to you?!'

This Arthurian re-telling of Morgan le Fay is full of twists and turns.
It started off kind of slow, it took until ~50% to really be invested in the story. I think if we got to the mission earlier in the story it wouldn't have felt as slow.

**SPOILERS***
We're told a lot of the world building but I feel like there's still so much more we're going to get in the next book. It's understandable given the naivitee of the FMC as we're being exposed to the world with her.

Though I was invested in the story by the end, I wasn't invested in the characters. If any of them died it wouldn't have made a difference to me. That said, I do believe we're just starting to see Morgan come out of her shell. I hope we'll see her train with her powers.
**END SPOILERS**

I am excited to get into book two! I think this is one where the collective series will be good even if each individual book is ok.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eArc of Queen of Roses. This book is also available now on Kindle Unlimited. This review is my honest opinion

I really enjoyed this one. Whilst I admit I found it a little slow going to start, before I knew it I was addicted and at the end with my jaw to the floor.

I really love the characters in this book, the world building is SPOT ON and the development of the characters is so engaging that I just couldn't put the book down. I really loved the book from when the characters went on their adventure that Arthur had set Morgan. I immediately liked Draven even though initially you're probably not supposed to. I also immediately HATED VESPER. He came across as instant slime and the author did a good job of sweeping you along with the story whilst their relationship developed.

The steam in this book was a little awkward, but I think it's because Morgan is unexperienced so that was written intentionally (or perhaps it was because I hated VESPER!!!) however I really really liked the ending. I loved that it opened up so many questions ready for book two. I'm also super glad I had book 2 to go straight into!

WONDERFUL!!!!!

Briar Boleyn's "Queen of Roses" is a wonderfully refreshing reinterpretation of the Arthurian legends we know and love. The story invites you into an imaginative world rich with riveting characters, engaging dialogue, and a narrative that, while predictable at times, remains a captivating read throughout.

The story centers around Morgan Pendragon, Arthur's sister, and offers a fresh perspective on the familiar tales. Boleyn beautifully merges elements of historical folklore, fantasy, and romance to craft a unique narrative that stands out in the genre.

One of the most striking features of this novel is its pacing. The story unfolds at a speed that allows for ample character development and world-building without losing the readers' interest. Boleyn's meticulous attention to detail and the depth she brings to the kingdom of Camelot create a beautifully immersive experience that leaves you entranced from start to finish.

The characters in "Queen of Roses" are skillfully developed and serve as another highlight of the book. Each character has their own unique personality and charm, making it easy for readers to get invested in their stories. The relationship dynamics, particularly the playful banter among the characters, add a delightful layer of entertainment to the narrative.

However, despite its many strengths, "Queen of Roses" does follow some predictable paths. Although this predictability might slightly diminish the element of surprise, it doesn't significantly detract from the overall reading experience. In fact, the predictability can also serve as a comfort, like returning to the familiar beats of a favorite song.

Briar Boleyn's "Queen of Roses" is a triumph of imaginative storytelling. It beautifully encapsulates the charm of Arthurian legends while bringing something new and refreshing to the table. Despite the somewhat predictable plotline, the journey itself is a joy to experience, leaving readers eager for the sequel.

So, for those who enjoy well-paced narratives, engaging characters, and a good dose of banter, "Queen of Roses" comes highly recommended. The enjoyment derived from this book is a testament to Boleyn's storytelling skills, and I, for one, am eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Well paced, well told and a really fun and interesting read. I enjoyed the basis of the book being a retelling of Arthurian legends but it’s so much more. Definitely recommended

King Arthur retelling in a fantasy romance world with Fae is about a girl named Morgan Pendragon. After Morgan watches her father kill her mother she lives with her trauma and sense of being less than because of her half Fae heritage. Morgan struggles to deal with the political issues arising from lack of food for the people that she wishes to help but not angering King Arthur who makes many shows of corrupt power all while protecting her youngest brother inside the castle. She fights to find her place where she can be content while avoiding marriage to an abusive powerful man or being celibate in the church or finding out who she actually is. Her life is changed when she is sent on a mission with Draven, the new guard, to find Excalibur, along the way finding new and old friends and defeating creatures she has only read about in stories. Does Morgan decide to side with her tyrant brother, King Arthur? Will she choose to keep her youngest brother, Kaye, and her friends safe while trying to help the land of Camelot? Will she side with her people, the Fae? Or will she choose herself to try to find happiness?

I loved loved loved Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn. 5 out of 5 stars hands down. I have nothing bad to say about the book at all, it is utterly perfect. The spice so far in the series is 1-2, very enticing and sweet. I absolutely loved the ending and all the turmoil and heartbreak and cannot wait to read the second book. I was intrigued by the unique lore and creatures that I’ve never heard of before. One of the best books I’ve read this year.

**Thank you to NetGalley, Starwater Press, and Briar Boleyn for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review**

My disclaimer for this review is noting that my favorite literary genre is typically historical fiction. While I enjoy fantasy, I have not read any of the SJM or HB series, or any other booktok hyped fantasy reads (though they may or may not be on my TBR list).

I honestly really enjoyed this book! This was my first NetGalley read and I wasn’t sure what to expect from a debut dark fantasy/romance novel based on a Camelot retelling. I was, however, intrigued by the description provided.

I loved the mix of fae, folklore, historical fiction, and mythical creatures. The first half of the book was slower paced, as there was a lot of world building and descriptors of the setting in Medieval times. However, I enjoyed the attention to detail and the author setting the stage for her readers. I loved how much imagination the author put forth in building the world and I am hoping the investment pays off with future books in the series. I loved the spin on the Camelot retelling with strong female characters, LGBTQ+ characters, and a fae spin that kept the story interesting. The next half of the book flew by and I found myself staying up WAY past my bedtime to read “just one more chapter” as the author worked to build up her characters. The depth and development of characters is well done and I found myself invested in the story. It all leads up to a cliffhanger and I’m dying to read book 2 to see what happens!! Below is a synopsis of the story line.

Morgan Pendragon is a princess of the Rose Court of Camelot. Her mother was part fae and her father the King. She loses both of her parents at a young age and is raised alongside her 2 younger half-brothers. Before his death, her father arranges to pull Morgan from the line of succession (because of her tainted fae bloodline) and instead, makes arrangements to offer her to the goddesses when she becomes of age. Her younger brother and eldest son, Arthur, usurps her to become king. King Arthur is a tyrant and Morgan sees much of her father's cruel and ruthless tendencies in him. A mysterious handsome stranger soon comes to Camelot and this man, Kairos Draven, becomes promoted within the Royal Guard. Morgan’s first encounters with the stranger have her despising him. King Arthur commands Morgan to set out on a journey to retrieve the mystical fae sword, Excalibur. He appoints Captain Draven as her companion on the journey. He is a fierce warrior and risks his life to protect her. Along the journey, they must learn to tolerate one another and the forced proximity, slow burn romance is palpable. They are faced with a near impossible task and must travel to distant lands, where a long forgotten fae kingdom awaits.

This is your basic fae romance. It includes all the tropes you could want. I really loved the Camelot twist on the arguably overdone genre. However, the last about 30 percent kind of lost me. I think if a person who has not read countless fae romances would be unable to put it down -- the twist would definitely be something that kept them hooked. However, it felt too predictable to me to really feel the impact.

Thank you NetGalley for this book.

Queen of Roses is a fantasy romance that is loosely a King Arthur retelling with fae. The story has a slow build in every way, from the story telling to the romance. I don’t know if I would call Morgan and Draven enemies to lovers just yet…..😉 But it does have mythical creatures, tension, banter, forced proximity, friendship, betrayal, sibling love, and self discovery.
I believe the plot could have used more spice and adventure. Hopefully that’ll change in the next book in this series. And in no way did anything take away from the fact that I was absolutely hooked to this story! AND OMG! that cliffhanger has me reeling!! I definitely need to read book 2 ASAP!

🖤Please make sure you check your trigger warnings! This one has a few.

Synopsis:
“Queen of Roses” by Briar Boleyn is a fae filled reimagining of the King Arthur legends told through the perspective of his sister Morgan.
Morgan Pendragon’s life in her home Kingdom of Camelot was far from ideal. Scorned for the fae blood passed to her by her mother, Morgan’s father passed over Morgan to give the crown to her brother Arthur. Instead of becoming the queen of Camelot Morgan has been promised to join the Temple of the Three, whether she wants to or not.
After learning about a legendary fae relic of untold power, Arthur sends Morgan to retrieve it in exchange for a say in her future. So Morgan sets off on this quest with her bodyguards and those who join them along the way.
My Thoughts:
I am a life-long fan of the Legend of King Arthur, and I absolutely loved this twist on the classic tale.
I enjoyed Boleyn’s reimagining of the characters from the legend. I also loved the world-building, the fae, and the magical creatures. I felt invested in all of the characters, and I look forward to seeing what happens to those who remain in the sequel Court of Claws.
My only critiques are that some of the discussions in some of the scenes in the book felt repetitive at times and could be edited down and have a more powerful impact. I also would have liked to see more development between Morgan and the intended love interest (but I am hopeful I will see a lot of that in the next book).
To wrap up, definitely read this book if you are into:
Arthurian Legend retellings
Strong FMC
Morally gray MMC
“Who did this to you?” trope
Forced proximity
Slow-burn
Dark fantasy/romance

Boleyn did a really impressive job with world building. As Morgan travels throughout, it is easy to visualize the journey and the terrors in between. However, it was hard to believe either a blooming relationship with either Draven or Vesper. The majority of any build up is very slow and subtle, but the spicy scenes are thrown in a bit haphazardly. I would love to see more development in the emotional side of relationships going forward.

First off, let me say I enjoyed the book. I'm in the middle of the second ones. The characters are fairly traditional, but enjoyable. The writing is good, the description isn't too much or too little. I'm finding I'm enjoying the second book more than the first, but not for the reasons you might think. This story flips the Arthurian mythos, but it's incredibly distracting to me. Honestly in a lot of ways, it feels like the Arthurian names are just stapled to these characters and I have found it to be a negative. I honestly wish the author had just given them different names. It would have worked better. I get the point of flipping a tale, and I have read my versions of various stories but this isn't merely a different perspective to a familiar tale. There are characters that don't match where they fit into their 'old' versions. I didn't mind the genderswap of one of the main characters, that was fine, but then it doesn't really fit the role that character is in traditional version. (At least so far)

I will say I think the author is good enough that it would have been as effective, it not more to do her own world building for these stories. Hence why I find I am preferring the second book as she steps away from the Arthurian court (at least where I am in my reading) and has creating this antithesis of a traditional, kind of unseelie court.

A hint of an Arthurian retelling but not the main prospect as such and a story I've really enjoyed!

It's given me ever so slight FBAA & ACOTAR vibes, it's definitely a major slow burn which better be worth it in book 2 which I've dived straight into.

There was one small smut scene in this one, nothing major and that didn't bother me as I was sucked into the plot of the book.

Arthurian legends are the inspiration for this fantasy series. But they have been flipped on their head and made LGBTQIA friendly. All is not well in Camelot - Arthur is a teenage king and tyrant, his counsellors are power hungry and he allows his older sister to be maligned and harassed. He's an all around horror!

Enter Morgan. The Elder sister of Arthur, half Fae - Half Human. She trains with the knights before she is shipped off to the local Temple aged 21. Her besties are Lancelet and Galahad and along with her younger brother Kaye they are essentially the only family she has.

But Morgan is about to get more than she bargained for when Arthur sends her on a quest to find Excalibur. She and her 2-man team are mismatched to say the least. How can she possibly find Excalibur when she's more worried about not getting stabbed in the back by her own guards!

This was a great story and well worth a read. The Arthurian legends flipped on their head and expanded. Camelot is less shining pinnacle and more grubby grey stronghold. Morgan didn't really want to be queen but she'll be damned is she lets her brother grind their people into the muck. You're never quite sure whose side Draven is on, Lancelet is hysterical and beautifully and wittily written as the womanising Knight, Galahad is still the principled male but now he is an acolyte and lover of the male form. And if you love an animal sidekick, you're going to love meeting the Exmoor!

There are plenty of action scenes and scary moments. I still shudder at certain underground scenes. The romance is more slow-burn than some fantasies but I really enjoyed it as I felt it cranked up the suspense. There are treasonous allies, unexpected helpers and some truly funny scenes.

Morgan does get in her own way and she really does lend her trust to the wrong folk! She does have a tendency to see herself as always in the right but she does eventually see things from other point of views.

My first read by this author and now off to read book 2!

Queen of Roses is broken into two books. The first book took me a long time to get through. This author loves their imagery and that’s where I felt myself getting bored or struggling to focus. I love imagery (but my ADD doesn’t always handle it well) and it felt like that was a lot of the pages. Book 1 is definitely building up the story and setting so not much happens, but you get a lot of information. It’s essentially your info dump but pretty.

Book 2 was almost immediately better for me and I devoured it as quickly as I could. There were some parts that made my eyes roll though. For example, in Chapter 17 she thinks about some of the things Draven says and is all like, ‘Is that all I am to him?’ giiiiiirl, he doesn’t know you. You’ve hardly spoken to each other and have definitely not gotten along when you do speak. Why would you mean anything more?

Overall, I felt like this whole book was not what I expected, but found it a little predictable. In the summary, it says, ”As she travels, Morgan finds herself drawn into a strange group of outcasts…”Who? I read this and thought there would be maybe 4 or 5 people involved and that they would be outcasts. She’s initially sent with two guards of the castle, definitely not outcasts. Then you have Vesper about halfway along the way, but he is not framed or described as being an outcast at all? He came across as fairly popular and well traveled. The party was also not more than 3 people at a time. I am not including the last couple of chapters as that isn’t really much time of the journey in comparison in my opinion. There might have been a couple things I didn’t expect, but there are just a few things that are mentioned so many times or just in such a way that you know you’ll be more surprised if it doesn’t go the way you think it will.

When fenrirs were mentioned, I immediately thought of “Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill” and was hoping for a pet. Still got a pet, just not what I expected.

There was so much I did truly enjoy about this book and I'm excited that I already have the next book!

This novel is a retelling of King Arthur and Camelot, plus some. It is a retelling that I never knew I needed to read! Queen of Roses takes place in a world with humans and Fae/humans. Are there any pure Fae left after the centuries?
The world-building done by Briar Boleyn is simply stunning. The characters present a variety of features, from their bloodlines to their various tastes. I love that every demographic was included in this story. All the extra characters help the heroine come into her own, from torment to friendship.
There is never ending adventure that keeps the story full of action. The storyline and plot twists will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. I personally read the entire book within 24 hours and will be starting book 2, Court of Claw, as soon as I finish submitting my review. I simply could not walk away from the story.
This is a dark romance story. There are elements of abuse, starvation, and death.
Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Queer characters, Grumpy meets Sunshine, Found Family, Diverse Characters, Hidden Magic

This is the retelling of the century! What an incredible story. The amount of work and research that the author had to have put into this is unbelievable!

I have always been a fan of any and all King Arthur storie! I never realized that what I have been longing for was a Fae telling! Briar takes characters that we are all familiar with and changes them just the right amount, making this story perfect.

A female Merlin and a lesbian Lancelot (Lancelet)… yes please!!! All the characters that we know and love, as well as some new ones. Book one is a very slow burn but the amount of world building that’s happening makes the wait worth it!!

I got this as an arc on NetGalley and I’m extremely grateful for that!! I can’t wait to start book 2!!!