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.

This was such a fun variation of a fae book! I’ve never read anything with Arthurian roots and I thought it was such a creative way to tell a fantasy story rooted in history and legends.

I love the friendships Morgan had in this story! I love when the FMC has strong friendships before the story begins that she can lean on in the story. I do wish the romantic relationships had a little more focus on them, but it seems we will get that in book 2 which I cannot wait for.

My only big criticism is that the writing style was a little underdeveloped in this, but I have already begun book 2 in the series and the writing is much better! I still enjoyed the story and cannot wait to find out what happens next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5/5 stars

Started off really slow but got better as the story progressed. I hadn't put it together that it was a Camelot story before reading so that was a nice surprise. I thought the plot line was interesting and I liked the characters enough. Overall, I was a little disappointed by the execution and the ending.

This was honestly such a good first book in a series, i’m so glad I can delve into book 2 straight away as that ending had my jaw on the floor! Slow burn romance, amazing magical creatures and fae- what more could you want?
At time it did feel a little slow but apart from that it was incredible.

I struggled with this book. The first 100-150 pages especially. I cannot comment on this being an Arthurian retelling because I do not know the original story well enough. I found the book a tad confusing. The book seems to make the assumption that you know these characters, or at least a version of the story, so I think my confusion would be remedied if I knew the original better.

I thought the premise was interesting. The end of the book was dramatic. I think it struggled with pacing, which I understand is difficult, but the end had a lot happening with too little pages. I also wish that Morgan and Draven’s relationship was better fleshed out. I’m assuming that is going to be a major focus of book 2.

My absolute biggest issue with the book, and had this not been an ARC I would have DNF’d, is the fact that trigger warnings are included, but DO NOT include sexual assault/rape.

There are explicit scenes that HEAVILY insinuate that Morgan is raped. Nearer to the end of the book, she comments that “it didn’t go that far” but her assailant literally drugged her, tied her to a bed, cut her clothes off, and carved his name into her chest. This is how the chapter ends, and technically no rape occurs on-page, but the implication of the final paragraph seems to heavily insinuate what is about to happen.

“I watched as Florian positioned the dagger over my left arm. As he began cutting away the fabric of my tunic, I closed my eyes, praying to the Three that whatever drug he had slipped into my drink would take me far away again.”

Minimally that is sexual assault. It was very jarring to read, because I did check triggers prior to starting the book, and was extremely surprised that this did not make it into the warning list. I actually stopped reading the book, read a couple others, before deciding to come back to it.

I understand this is supposed to be a darker Romantasy, and I have read The Plated Prisoner series which follows a similar darker vein. I didn’t have a problem with that series. My main issue was that a list was provided, and this very glaring moment was left out. This is not at all a small, throwaway scene. It leaves large ripples in the story, and understandably the main character suffers from it. So, it really isn’t something that was *missed* and not put on the list, rather it seems to have been intentionally left out; either for shock factor or because it is later revealed he “didn’t go all the way” so perhaps the author didn’t think it counted.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book. I do not want to bring down the Goodreads rating, especially because I honestly think a lot of people would enjoy the story, so I will not be posting a review there.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️🌶️/5

First off, thank you to NetGalley, Starwater Press, and Briar Boleyn for an ARC of the first book in the Blood of the Fae series!

In this retelling of the legends of Camelot and King Arthur we follow Morgan Pendragon (known as Morgan le Fay in the legends), the king’s older sister, as she struggles with the potential fae blood she might possess - which in this world means she’s tainted - and how to serve a throne that should have been hers. Sent on an epic quest to collect an ancient fae weapon for her brother, Morgan begins to discover the world of magic and fae while traveling with a dark and handsome warrior and starts questioning everything she grew up believing.

I really ended up loving this book! I mean I’ll always love an Arthurian legend but throw Fae in there as well and I’m hooked! While there was some slow world building in the beginning (which is to be expected since this is recreating a known legend) this story quickly picks up with nail-biting plot twists and actions that had me staying up wayyy past my bedtime to keep reading about!

I loved watching the journey of Morgan as she dealt with truly horrible things happening in her life because of her blood and then learning how to be her own person with her own power. The mystery surrounding the fae builds and builds in this book as she is discovering the world outside of Camelot and I can’t wait to get some answers in book 2 hopefully!

The romance in this book was both expected and unexpected (I know that sounds confusing but if you read it you’d understand haha) and I loved the slow steamy burn! This series does promise to up the spice with each book so I’m super excited to get more of that!

This book was packed with surprising plot twists, betrayal, mystery, action and an insane cliffhanger that I did not see coming! This has the potential to be an amazing Romantasy series and I can’t wait to read the rest!

As always, please check with the trigger warnings as there are a decent amount in this book! Your mental health comes first so please take care of yourself!

Read if you like:
Enemies to Lovers
Slow burn romance
Forced Proximity
Magic
Morally Grey MMC
Touched Her and Die
Who did this to you?
Bonded Protector

Captivating fantasy romance novel that weaves together elements of Excalibur mythology and fae. Set in a richly imagined world, the story follow main character with mmc who embark on a journey of self-discovery. Allowing the romantic relationship to evolve amidst tension and conflict, building palpable chemistry between the characters.
Boleyn's writing style creates a slow burn romance that kept me engaged, eagerly turning the pages to witness the emotional transformation between the protagonists.
There is also the "who did this to you" 😏 trope.
Overall I have to say I really enjoyed reading it and it heavily reminded me of books From Blood and Ash series.

What a journey! Boleyn's Camelot inspired fantasy is an intriguing fresh take. I love how she has woven this story. Her character dialogue is great and not just between our main characters. There are dynamic conversations with our side characters as well. From political intrigue to a perilous journey, Morgan is a character worth following. Merlin and Lancelot are both fresh takes and I loved how each are portrayed. The world created is more inclusive (well not everyone in it but we get to see the contrasts of that) and the world created is morally grey in the best way.

While I am usually not a big fan of slow burn and this one is oh so slowly burning... there is so much happening here and so many developments, I didn't mind it at all in this book.

One last thing, check the trigger warnings. I was glad I knew some things were coming.

Queen of roses

Fantasy? Fae? Spice? It’s all here, ready for you!

Morgan Pendragon is a queen. Well, she was supposed to be, anyway, until her father passed her up for her younger ~half~ brother Arthur and decided she was to be promised to the Temple. While having a hard relationship with her father, she loved her brother-both of them- and only wanted the best for him, so she stood by his side and stayed loyal, even when he was no longer loyal to her, but only himself and his selfish wants for Camelot and all of Pendrath.

When Arthur sends Morgan off on a mission with some deadly-in their own ways- men, she is astonished at the feat hes assigned her to complete. Find the sword and return it to him so he can take care of any threat that may come against Pendrath. Leaving abruptly in the dead of night starts this mission off on a rocky path, and it only continues to become more suspicious. In unlikely turns of events, Morgan comes into herself and discovers her own secrets hidden beneath the surface-but is it too late to survive?


I found this book and the author on NetGalley, and read from there. I did have a hard time getting into the book-much longer than usual. At about 50%, I couldn’t put it down. The tension between Morgan and Draven was so satisfying and stressful all at the same time, and when Vesper showed up, the wrench in that was all the drama! Until she got on the road, Morgan was NOT my favorite. She was so meek and refused to tell anyone about her problems with Florian that I had a hard time reading her. When she took the blame all of the time, it stressed me out and all I wanted was to grab her shoulders and shake her!

I’m ready to get into the second book of this three book series immediately, and I’m hoping it’s the same way!

#queenofroses #netgalley #fantasy #fae

Maybe I'm growing a soft spot for Arthurian inspired stories...

I'm typically not a fan of the legend; however, Boleyn's adaptation has me rethinking my preferences. Queen of Roses stole my heart. It was refreshing, heartbreaking, inspiring, intriguing... it was it all.

If you're into slow burn romances, enemies-to-lovers, and gentle alphas, this is definitely for you.
If you're into adventure, magic, and action, this is also for you.

The pacing was well done, characters were consistent with their defining traits, and it was an easy read. Only comment I'd note was that the characters didn't have too much development, however, for a first book it has so much potential to lead into a great story and stronger characters. I'm more than excited to read the second book, Court of Claws!

I very much appreciated that the trigger warnings were provided but disclosed at the end of the book. It gave readers the option to decide if they wanted the plot to potentially be spoiled. I can't tell you the number of times I've read the TW at the start of the book, only to guess exactly how the story plays out.

I received this title as an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for the opportunity to read this treasure!

This book swept me away into a mesmerizing retelling of the Arthurian legend, where Morgan le Fey takes center stage. Right from the start, I was captivated by the poignant backstory of our protagonist and the clever twists that breathed new life into the familiar tale. The slow-burn romance between Morgan and the enigmatic Kairos Draven had me positively giddy with anticipation. The sparkling banter between them added an extra layer of delight. The world-building transported me effortlessly into this enchanting realm, although there were instances of slightly overwhelming information towards the end. With its blend of betrayal, intrigue, and unexpected revelations, this book left me yearning for more. If you crave a spellbinding fantasy romance with rich characters and a fresh take on Arthurian lore, looking forward to the next one.

A big thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and Briar Boleyn for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Queen of Roses a very unique retelling of the King Arthur legend complete with magical creatures and fae. The story follows Morgan, the half sister of King Arthur, who is half-fae. The fae are a race shunned by humans and King Arthur looks down on his sister and wants her out of the way and uses their younger brother to emotionally manipulate her. He sends Morgan off on a mission to recover Excalibur which, in this retelling, is a weapon forged by a god. Morgan is sent off with Draven, a Royal guard and assassin, to recover the weapon. The whole story is one that is hard to put down especially if you love fantasy and authors like SJM and JLA. The ending is insane and I cannot wait to start Court of Claws.