4.5 stars rounded.


There's so much to unpack here.

I've seen people say it was way to much information for just one book and that it should have been written as two separate ones, with that being said, I strongly disagree. This one book was incredible and well paced so it didn't feel like too much too fast.

I had been looking for something exactly like this though it did surprise me to see Arthur depicted like such a mean terrible king AND brother. But I guess I shouldn't have been surprised.

Morgan may have been too naive/innocent at first but she was also strong willed from the very beginning though perhaps she didn't know it herself. She kept ok trying to see the good in everyone and while she should keep on doing that, she should also be more aware that bad people do not always act like bad people.

Lancelet's ending broke my heart because she was so loyal to the people around her, I surely hope Galahad is safe...at least for the time being.

By the Three we had no chance to rejoice on Florian's dead when Vesper came along. Hated them. But at least Vesper brought a little more to the table than Florian.

While Morgan is a great character, I must admit Kairos Draven is my favourite, I don't need to add much more as to why, he's Kairos Draven.

Aside from Arthur and Lord Agravaine Pendrath seems like a really nice place to live.

Briar Boleyn does a great job at describing where we are, who we are with, she makes this book so nice and a doable read. I'm eager to start Court of Claws.

Arthurian books will always be a hit for me.

4.5 stars!

I loved the vast majority of this - I loved the main characters and there was so much to the plot, every page was a surprise. The plot was really, really fantastic and entirely unpredictable. The slow burn trope is also deliciously executed.

However, there were a fair few grammar mistakes and typos, which often made the dialogue feel stunted, but worse than that were the frequent occurrences of verbs switching from past to present tense, which I found removed the reader from the narrative completely. Secondly, while I appreciate the story being inspired by Arthurian legend, I would have preferred it if the plot and world stood entirely on its own, especially as the majority of it is far removed from Arthurian legend. I feel describing it as an 'Arthurian retelling' actually does it a disservice, as it is so much more than that. The author could have just written a foreword saying she was inspired by Morgan’s story etc. and then allowed the story to spiral away on it's own into a very different world.

These were just small gripes, however, and I am very, very much looking forward to the rest of the series!

Since this is a dark fantasy romance, please take the trigger warnings seriously guys. I liked the plot and it's execution in this book and I loved how smart and witty Morgan was. I liked the characters except a few vile ones and the creatures and the settings were described very well. And the enemies to lovers part with the MMC was top tier. I don't want to reveal much about the plot but I can say that I enjoyed the book. However, there was a spark missing. I couldn't really feel awed by the story. Hope the next book is better.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

Wow! This is an interesting retelling of Arthur and Camelot. The story is in Morgan's POV who is the half sister to Arthur. You can really feel Morgan's struggle as she tries to find a way to live that life that she wants, protect the kingdom and her brothers. I do enjoy Morgan's character growth and transformation and look forward to reading more.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

⭐ Characters – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐ Atmosphere – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐ Writing – ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
⭐ Plot – ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
⭐ Pacing – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐ World Building – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐ Enjoyment – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Wow, I have to say, I went into this book with modest expectations since it's a debut, but boy, was I pleasantly surprised! Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn is an enchanting debut that seamlessly blends romance, mythology, and fantasy into a captivating tapestry. Set in a beautifully imagined Medieval-Middle Ages fantasy world, the story embarks on a thrilling road trip adventure with a slow-burning romance full of unexpected twists and turns.

The characters in this novel are truly remarkable. Each one is expertly crafted, multi-dimensional, and their backgrounds and relationships are explored in a way that draws readers in. The inclusion of LGBTQIA+ representation adds depth and makes the setting even more inclusive and heartwarming.

The atmosphere of Queen of Roses is nothing short of magical. Boleyn's vivid descriptions breathe life into the fantastical world, immersing readers in a realm of wonder and intrigue that keeps their attention piqued and their desire to keep reading intact.

Boleyn's writing style is nothing short of impressive. The prose flows smoothly and beautifully captures the essence of emotions and events, drawing readers even further into the story.

The plot is a definite strength of the book. Well-constructed and brimming with unexpected twists and turns, it keeps readers engaged from start to finish. The incorporation of a treasure hunt, mythical discoveries and creatures, friendships, family dynamics, and romance elevates the reading experience to a whole new level.

The pacing is well-balanced, allowing readers to savor every moment without feeling rushed, ensuring a thoroughly enjoyable journey.

The world-building in Queen of Roses is masterful. Boleyn has created a rich and intricate world complete with its own mythology and lore. The attention to detail and depth of this fictional universe will leave readers thoroughly impressed.

In conclusion, Queen of Roses is an exceptional debut that leaves a lasting impression. Briar Boleyn's storytelling skills shine throughout the narrative, making me eagerly anticipate the second book in the series. If you're on the hunt for a captivating fantasy romance with a unique blend of elements, this book is an absolute must-add to your reading list.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Review posted July 20th - GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5700281733

🌹 TROPES & THEMES 🌹
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Dislike to 👁️🫦👁️
✔️ Slow Burn
✔️ Hidden Powers
✔️ Camelot/King Arthur vibes, but make it fae
✔️ He’s her guard/protector 😎
✔️ Going on a mission/travel together
✔️ That cliffhanger EEEEEEEEEEEEE 😵‍💫

Firstly, thank you so much for the arc NetGalley! And for the author, she’s so sweet as well. I really enjoyed this book!!

Morgan is our FMC, and she’s the kings daughter… and was meant to take the throne to become King. But family is TOXICCCC so they decided to send her to their temple to be celebrate for 30 years and her brother takes the throne instead. And he’s a NASTY ruler, just like theirs as was.

Their world has a lot of hate towards the fae. And they don’t even exist anymore. Some have fae blood, like Morgan. But they are very uncommon. She takes a medicine every other day to help to dull the fae side of her.

There is a lot of world building and story building at first. But I found it easy to follow and still fun! The side characters added to the story and I enjoyed them a lot!

Draven is a big ol mystery, starting out as coming from a farm to join the kings guard. He and Morgan butt heads. In the best of ways. 🤣

Morgan starts to see that the kingdom is not all sunshine and rainbows - their people are starving. And her brother doesn’t care. He eventually tells her she must go a long distance to find a legendary weapon to bring back and prove her loyalty to him - the Excalibur.

This part of the story was so fun!! Lots of plot twists. The ending was WILD!!! I’ll need book 2 like today. 🤣 I had a lot of fun reading this. It checked off a lot of my must-haves for a romantacy. I can’t wait to see where the story goes!

A retelling of the traditional Camelot stories with a twist, instead of Arthur being a hero he is instead the villain of the tale, focusing instead of his sister Morgan (who with rumoured fae blood has been outcast within the royal household) who is sent by her brother to look and recover a legendary fae weapon, beginning a tale of fantasy, adventure and naturally romance in the form of enemies to lovers trope.

An interesting take on Camelot lore, though I do think it's the kind of book I would have enjoyed more as a late teen than I do as an adult? Definitely a series for those into fantasy romance.

Fabulous Fae quirky re telling of Camelot. What if Arthur was the villain, Merlin a high priestess, Lancelot a female Knight who beds women and the true hero a suppressed Fae/human princess who should have been queen? I flew through the pages of this book and devoured it in one day, absolutely loved the plot and morally grey characters. Please be warned that the book may contain triggers for some readers, the book does have a list of these triggers.
Spicy, gory, fantasy at its best!

Queen of Roses (Blood of a Fae #1)
by Briar Boleyn

3/5 ⭐

Queen of Roses is a Morgan Pendragon (Camelot) retelling through a fantasy romance lens. It is the first book in the planned Blood of a Fae seies by Briar Boelyn. I am not a huge King Arthur/Camelot gal, so this character and the storyline were all completely new to me.

I liked but didn't love this book. It had a lot of tropes I enjoy, including:

*enemies to lovers
*touch her and die
*who did this to you
*witty banter
*slow burn
*forced proximity

That said, something just didn't click with me. I enjoyed going on Morgan's travels but I didn't get fully emotionally invested. There was enough good stuff there that I would read the next book; I think there is a lot of potential. It wouldn't be the first time I've thought a first book was just setting the table for a fabulous full series.

Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn (pen name of Fenna Edgewood) is the first book in the Blood of a Fae series. It’s a retelling of the Camelot stories with a fae twist. The book follows Morgan Pendragon, the princess of Camelot whose rumored fae bloodline has caused her to lose her birthright to the throne. Her younger half-brother, King Arthur, sends her on a quest to recover a weapon of legendary power as he anticipates an upcoming war. She finds herself on a perilous journey with two guards, of equal dangerousness. Readers follow her on her journey as she gets to know her guards, explores new-to-her lands, and meets new people along the way.
 
Overall I enjoyed this book. It felt a bit slow at the beginning but quickly picked up the pace. There’s a lot of history and information that I was left wondering about by the conclusion and I have a feeling the next book will reveal all of most of that. I am looking forward to reading the next book to see what happens next! I think most fantasy readers would enjoy this series. It’s available on Kindle Unlimited.

Such a fun twist in the Arthurian legend and definitely a series I wish to continue . Our heroine is what you could describe as a cast off Princess due to being removed from her ascension to the throne as her younger brother Arthur was named instead. I won’t repeat the history of just why but Morgan whilst dissatisfied is still very protective of her two brothers and clearly wants to be supportive. When told she must search out a powerful Fae weapon she’s absolutely gobsmacked because for so long she’s been considered less and virtually unimportant ! The Fae have left the world so why such a dangerous request although if I’m honest there’s absolutely no way for Morgan to refuse as those she’s trusted turn on her . Morgan finds herself in a strange land having to rely on a dangerous male but her journey has just begun with everything she was told truly being turned on its head !
Such a fabulous idea to take characters we all have perceived ideas about and do something completely different with them. Whilst not exactly a romance the stage is definitely set for Morgan and Draven to at some point light up the pages because he’s just so protective and yep pretty dreamy ! Haha I love slow burn and enemies to lovers tropes but what tickled me here was the juxtaposition of Lancelot and Galahad and I sincerely hope for more of the same. I think the next book will show a different side of Morgan as she’s no longer under her brothers control and I cannot wait to discover more about the Fae .
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I simply loved this epic fantasy which involved a retelling of Excalibur and the pageantry involved. The characters are multifaceted and intriguing. It is hard to tell who to trust in a world that is so duplicitous. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. I read this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The character names and location names confused my brain. I thought it was a Knights of the Round table retelling, but there are no similarities in the story. I found it very predictable. If it didn't have the tiny bit of spice, I would recommend it to the YA audience. I actually think it would be better as YA book.

Well well well!

I have to say I had my doubts at the beginning because Morgan seemed to be this strong warrior but then at the same time no backbone when it mattered!
I cannot be happier that I was wrong! This story is amazing, I cannot wait for book 2.

Much better than I anticipated! It started a bit slow for me but picked up rather quickly and wound up being a solid 4 star read!

I expected very much of this book and I wasn't disappointed. I love it, how Morgan has to deal with her own problems but also wants to help her people. Her father decided, that she would never get the crown, because of her Fae blood, but she doesn't want to rule, she only wants the best for the people in her kingdom.

I also love, that Morgan has to decide, whom to trust and that she has to decide, what to do next, for example, when her brother do terrible things.

Who doesn't love Arthurian legends, fae, magic, and romance! This book has plenty of tropes that anyone on booktok would be familiar with and love. I wish there had been a little more character development, but considering it's the first book in a series I'm not too stressed over it. Looking forward to book two!

Wow! Wow! Wow!

This is probably my new favorite read of 2023! I will always think about this book and definitely will want to reread!

This was a Camelot retelling with the focus on Morgan Pendragon. And with a Fae twist!! This book was filled with amazing world building, romance, intrigue, and lots and lots of pain and hardship.

First thing I wanted to say is that the reimagining of the original characters is amazing and I could not get enough! Merlin as a female?! Lancelot as a female?! Yes freaking please. What a powerhouse!

I appreciate how each character in this book went through amazing character development, and it further helped this book feel more engaging. Don’t get me wrong, although it is nice to see a FMC grow, if everyone else in the books stays stagnant, it feels weird. Right?? So 10/10 for me there!

The first installment follows Morgan as she goes through her life in Camelot as the sister of King Arthur. She relives and lives through the trauma of being a daughter of the terrible and abusive late king and the terrible reign of her young brother Arthur. She mourns the loss of her mother, the first queen, who was fae, and the affects it has in her life in court.

The story does not feel rushed but it also does not feel like it dragged on. Everything that Morgan went through, served a purpose for the main adventure/mission she embarks on.

She is asked by King Arthur to go in search of Excalibur and to bring it back in hopes of “protecting” Camelot. She makes this trek through old fae territory, alongside her companion of sorts, Draven. I would not say their relationship is “enemies to lovers” but it was more of a, “I don’t know you, so I don’t trust you.” There is banter but never cringy or eye roll worthy!

Overall, She is fae/human ish and has her faults but it just makes for a great read. Her learning to love, dealing with heartbreak, family loss and trauma, and abuse, adds to her growth.

The plot twists were amazing and I usually can tell who is not to be trusted and I WAS BLOWN AWAY!

I am so excited to read book 2!

Thank you to NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for the eARC of Queen of Roses in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️/5

I was actually quite surprised by how much I ended up liking this book! It definitely had me hooked from the very beginning, leaving me constantly wondering on where the story would go, although I have to admit that some parts of the story were quite predictable, but not so much that it took away from the story. I love that it’s a King Arthur retelling with a fae twist, with all kinds of fabled creatures. And while I did enjoy the entire book, the last couple of chapters REALLY kicked it off and turned it up.
Now for the lows of the review, like I said I did find bits of the story to be a little predictable but maybe that’s just me! I also wish there was almost more…”substance” to the characters. While I feel like we’ve learned a bit about the MFC, there’s just not enough for me to really feel anything for her or any of the other characters really. They’re kind of just there. Although I do feel like the way this book ended may be leading into more of character backgrounds, which I’m excited to see!
All in all I found Queen of Roses to be an entertaining read and I can’t wait to see where the storyline goes in the follow up book, Court of Claws.

A King Arthur retelling meets From blood and ash.
I had never read a book were King Arthur was an evil character and I enjoy it.
I hope his sister to teach him some manners on the next book.
Morgan's story is heartbreaking, specially the part she still needs to discover.
The love interest, Kairos, is the best morally grey character that ever existed.
I love the pair they make and hope they can explore that soon.