Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of Queen of None in exchange for an honest review!

It's been a while since I've read an arthurian retelling and I really enjoyed it. It was a fresh take on old characters and I respect that the author took a character we know little about and spun such a fascinating narrative. It did feel slow at times but it never lost my interest. It was just a lot of planning and political maneuvering.

My favorite characters were Anna and Vyvian. It was fun to read about Anna discovering more secrets about her family and having to re-navigate the political landscape with so much time apart. Also, as someone that's been in the situation of having to move away from a town and then move back, the author portrayed it so very accurately. Having to make new connections, finding out old friends have come and gone without you, and see how everything has been rebuilt or changed around you is really hard. I really felt for Anna, especially having to go through all those things with the added dimensions of a court with a hierarchy and rules on how women should act.

While Arthur was making the big decisions, he felt like a minor character and I appreciated that. I think this was the darkest portrayal of Merlin that I've read and I thought that was an interesting take too. One character I did not enjoy was Nimue. I felt like she was written as both naive and a manipulative seductress and the contrast felt a bit icky (for lack of a better word). Anyways, she did further the plot and I appreciated her ending, but I didn't love her personality.

Overall, I gave the book 4 stars and I will definitely keep going with this series.

Thank you Solaris for my free ARC of Queen of None by Natania Barron — available May 21!

Read this if you:
🗡️ love retellings of Arthurian lore or mythology
💙 prefer your FMCs strong but realistically flawed
👑 are looking for a less-conventional love story

Anna Pendragon, sister of the king of Carelon, has not had a great time over the last 20 years. Married at 12 to the vicious king of Orkney, she gave him three sons and isn't sad to see him into the grave. Now, Anna returns to Carelon and the many machinations always at play in such a powerful kingdom. Will she be doomed to a life of invisibility and obscurity, as Merlin prophesied years ago? Or will she have more influence than anyone dares to imagine?

This was such a fun reimagining of the court of Carelon/Camelot. Arthur plays a teeny tiny role (good), and the women definitely take the spotlight. I absolutely loved the magic aspect and the identity twists therein — Anna was such an easy character for me to connect with, and I think it was great to see her have so large a role in the stories we're already familiar with. The writing in here is great and flows well, and I never found myself bored or wanting more. Can't wait for the second book, because I adore the character featured in that one!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow that’s one way to start a book.
I had no idea what I was getting into or what to expect, and I’m so glad I went into this book unknowingly!

‘Queen of none’ just got better and better while reading it. Yet it also got sadder. I forgot to count how many times my mouth stood open agape in shock and also horror about occurrences in this book.

In ‘Queen of none’ we are following the life of King Arthurs long forgotten only true sister Anna Pendragon, who was married of at the young age of twelve and returned back to her home town after her husbands death twenty years later.

This book made me giggle, gasp and shake my head in disbelief so many times. I really enjoyed Natanias writing style, it made me feel much closer to Anne even though I did not like her actions at all yet I felt for her and what she had to endure throughout her life.

This is not the sort of story I was expecting when I received an ARC via NetGalley, It’s thought provoking, heartbreaking and eye opening to see how the women in King Arthur’s court and family were treated as opposed to the story focusing on Arthur himself. It was engaging and the characters were well written, not my usual read but I’m glad I requested it because I did enjoy it.

This was a very anticipated read for me as a huge fan of Arthurian legend. While this is a more character driven novel exploring the “forgotten” sister of King Arthur, the simmering tension of court politics had me hooked very quickly. I loved the way Anna was written. She had so much strength and love even through all the pain inflicted upon her to further the kingdom. I really enjoyed seeing the differences in her relationships with those around her such as Gawain, Morgen, Gwyen, Bedevere and Arthur. I’m intrigued to see how the rest of the story will play out with books two and three.

CW: domestic violence, infant death, descriptions of childbirth, incest, sexual assault, violence, mentions of miscarriage

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Started this one and then had to stop for awhile. I'm not interested in Arthurian legends, but the writing is really good!

A solid Arthurian novel from a seldom heard perspective!

Everyone knows the story of King Arthur. We know his knights, we know Merlin, we know the sword. But what about those we don't know? Those that time forgot like his sister Anna Pendragon?

Prophesied at birth to be forgotten by the hearts of men, Anna Pendragon lives a life of mediocrity. Married young to a cruel husband, delivered of three strong sons, and widowed all by the age of thirty two, Anna now returns home with a crown in hand, ready to relinquish the Kingdom of Orkney to her brother.

If she had hoped for a life of quiet and solitude in her widowhood, Anna finds quickly that she is to be disappointed. Once again forced into the fate of all women, Anna finds herself brokered off into another marriage to further the goals of her brother at the behest of his advisor Merlin.

Powerless to stop what has already been set in motion, Anna must learn to navigate the complexities of life in Carelon once more - even as the home she once knew begins to change. Threats arise, new faces emerge at court, and even Anna herself finds that maybe, just maybe, she has more power than she once believed. Power enough to bring down those she holds responsible for the tragedies she has faced throughout her life.

This first installment in the Queens of Fate series by Natania Barron was a highly entertaining take on a classic legend. I very much enjoyed seeing the world of Arthur through the eyes of his sister Anna. Natania easily navigates the life of a woman in medieval times, courtly intrigue, and the various fantastica elements of the tale with ease and grace. The tale that she gives us tells the story of a woman, forgotten by those around her, but nonetheless pivotal to the events of history. The tale of a woman used and abused who finally comes into her own and seeks revenge for the hands dealt to her by those around her.

I especially loved the interactions between Anna and the other female characters, the way she grew closer to Morgen, sought power and information from her aunt, and more. Ms. Barron has taken the legend I thought I knew and turned it on its head, bringing a fresh new perspective to a beloved legend.

I'm definitely intrigued to continue this series and see where Ms. Barron takes the rest of this story. I'm so excited the next book is coming out sooner rather than later!

I struggled to get into this novel and ended up DNFing at around 20%. I went into with high expectations, but could not see it through. The style of writing did not make me want to keep going, it was also just very slow paced.

I am super partial to some Arthurian Lore, so the chance to read a book about Arthurs only full-blooded sibling, who history and myth just decided to forget was a no brainer.

So the story was great, I loved meeting characters I’m familiar with in different ways. Have the personalities of these known characters really fleshed out in ways I didn’t expect.

The twists the story took were fascinating, the way the characters were the same but so different from other telling’s was great too.

But it was a slow read, I’m not sure if that’s just because I had just finished a very fast paced read, or if its just not my preference, but its was a bit slow for my liking. Took me awhile to get through it.

That being said, I did enjoy the read and am curious about what the next 2 books will have in store.

This was a wonderfully done retelling and reimagining of King Arthur’s forgotten sister, Anna. I really enjoyed the retold elements and how Barron reimagines different myths of Camelot into Anna’s story. I also really enjoyed the older spelling variations of all the characters and places in the book. It made for a fantastic world that felt both recognizable and different at the same time. 🗡️

The story follows Anna as she returns to Camelot after 20 years away. She was such an emotionally strong woman that had to deal with her experiences of being a child bride and abused spouse and then pawned off again for Arthur’s gain. I liked her take on court politics and her way of maneuvering through them. It reminded me of how women had to take action in the shadows during the medieval period. I did find myself wishing we had a deeper look into her first marriage with Lot though and how those years shaped her from such a young age instead of getting it told second hand. 💍

I really loved the different angles the reader gets of Arthur, Lancelot, Morgan, and Merlin. The idea that Arthur and Lancelot shared an Achillean love as bisexual (I’m assuming here) men fit perfectly in my opinion and really helps set up the betrayal between these two. I loved that Morgan was once again portrayed as a loving if rather aloof sister. I’ve been loving the feminist takes on her character instead of her being painted as simply evil. Merlin as a sexual predator and manipulator was both horrendous and right in a weird way. I can see how this could go down for the mysterious wizard, and I liked the ending he got here. 🧙🏼‍♂️

In general, I really enjoyed the plot though I do wish it was a little longer to draw out the tension between the characters more. Big thank you goes to Solaris Books and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this in exchange for an honest review, and to the author Natania Barron for crafting a wonderful take on Anna Pendragon! I can’t wait for Hwyfar’s tale later this year! 🌿

Publication date: May 21!

Overall: 4.25/5 ⭐️

Being a fan of Arthurian legends, I was looking forward to reading this book. I had never heard of Arthur's sister, Anna. But that's not surprising as I always found the myth a little confusing. Some characters double up or are known under different names when using different sources. But that's the thing with myth and legend - you kind of just have to go with it.

I found that to be the case with this story. While Anna and her life are woven into a familiar tale, Initially events seemed to unwind out of sequence. I believe this is a re-release of a book so I am not sure if it went through further edits or if that had a bearing on the narrative. I didn't let it bother me too much and read on.

Firstly, I would recommend looking up the paintings of the artists mentioned in the Foreword. These are female Pre-Raphaelite paintings and give the reader a sense of the visual inspiration that the author used to shape her characters. It certainly sets the mood.

Anna is an interesting character, as are her sisters and the other familiar characters in the book. This novel has been described as romance, but it's not, at least in the modern sense. There are romantic elements but if you are reading this book for a traditional HEA you should know that there is very little romantic fulfillment for Anna.

Anna takes back her power in a court that ignores and dismisses her while using her as a political pawn. She endures, learns and eventually exacts revenge. But she pays her own price for her actions, even while she makes others pay for theirs.

I'm not sure if this is the first book in a series but I don't think I would read on if there is. I don't feel there is much more that Anna can contribute. While Anna's perspective on this legend was interesting, there was not enough light to contrast to the dark moments in the story. Anna is not a positive person, for good reason, but even when she triumphs there doesn't seem to be any sense of satisfaction. It feels like an empty victory lacking in emotion. Her perspective was a bit all over the place too. For example, her feelings seem to change for Gweyn abruptly, without any discernable reason. When Morgawse appears in the story I thought she would create more dramatic tension, but that seemed to go nowhere.

My personal preference is to have more balance and clarity, but others may not feel the same. If you are a fan of Arthurian legend and curious about how a prominent female member of the court might view the events as they unfolded, you may want to check this out.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I received an ARC of this book from Solaris and Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Natania Barron’s “Queen of None” is a King Arthur retelling through the eyes of the youngest, and perpetually forgotten, Pendragon sister: Anna. After being forced to endure an abusive marriage at the behest of Arthur and Merlin, Anna returns to court seeking revenge a new start and her revenge. This tale is full of interpersonal drama, politics, romance, magic, and powerful women. The themes of power, identity, transformation, and family were so strong and so beautifully explored. Anna is a character unlike any other I’ve read, at times loving and at others distant and pragmatic. While there are a few issues with pacing and lore-dumping, and I’m not sure anyone unfamiliar with King Arthur’s mythology would get as much out of it, I found this book refreshing and original.

I found the concept of this book quite interesting. An Arthurian legend featuring a forgotten woman in history, giving a voice to those who fall into the shadows of legend and are NEVER talked about??? Heck yeah. This is a tale of duty, sorrow, grief, and how women fight in men's battles through the loss of their agency in favor of the patriarchal agenda.

The plot was relatively well-paced, though I wasn't a big fan of the writing style, but I think that is just a personal issue. You were, however, able to form an understanding with Anna through these elements.

My biggest issue was how aspects of this book felt like they dragged a bit. The most exciting bits were in about the last quarter of the book, but by that point, I'd kind of stopped caring.

Totally loved this, it was refreshing to read a female character in a fantasy setting who was not about 18 years old. The main character is tenacious and in many ways (in my opinion) quite like her brother but... smarter. I loved how the author took us from our MC being and feeling used and abused to slowly taking her own power. Excellently done, would highly recommend! My only gripe is I don't think the cover gives it justice!

Thank you to Netgalley and Rebellion Publishing for the ARC.

Unfortunately, I'm having to DNF this book. I want to make it clear that this is not a bad book by any means, and I think it's one many people will love, it's just not for me and trying to read it is starting to put me in a reading slump.

I do really like the concept of this book (and I presume the series that will follow), exploring the untold stories of the women of Arthurian legend, and I do think Barron has achieved this quite well. However, Barron's writing style is very much focused on telling, and not showing, and so, to me personally, this felt like reading a history textbook or a non-fiction book on Arthurian legend rather than a fictional retelling. It's also very slow in pace, with very very long chapters, which might work for some people, however for me this just isn't something I enjoy and I found myself very bored whilst reading. I didn't find myself connecting to any of the characters either, and it's hard to read from a character's POV when you find them quite annoying and can't bring yourself to route for them. There's also far too many side characters for me (personally, but I think others have shared this opinion), to keep track of. I understand there are many figures in Arthurian legend, and Barron likely wants to explore a great deal of them, however it just all felt too much in this book.

This is not a bad book at all, and I'm sure die-hard Arthurian legend fans are going to adore this, it just personally wasn't for me.

This was a very hard book to put down and totally drew me in. Based on Arthurian legend we get the story of Anna , sister to Arthur and her struggle to actually claim her own destiny. It's at times very poignant as Anna is used as a political pawn who is expected to accept she isn't entitled to choose happiness for herself and time and time again she suffers. Yet in spite of the men being large and in charge as so often is the case the women in the background make their own plans.
This was unexpected as it truly made me so sad for Anna and I hadn't expected to feel such strong empathy. I very much enjoyed this unusual take on the Arthurian legend and although it isn't exactly a romance there is an ending that left me with hope.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I am always intrigued in finding new arthurian based books, and when i saw the description of this one i knew i had to read it.
But unfortunately, as with all the other ones i tried, i couldn’t for the life pf me concentrate on the story or care about the characters

And trust me i really tried to like this

Thank you netgalley for the arc 🫶🏻🫶🏻

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC. I thought I would enjoy this since the concept seemed intriguing. It was alright. Anna's character and prophecy intrigued me. While I loved her character, I wish the story had a little more of something to it. Hardly anything happened and I barely cared.

This book was such an interesting take on the Legend of King Arthur. The perspective from a female POV is refreshing, as well as endearing. We all know that King Arthur, Merlin, and all the King's men were made out to be popular, all-good, characters, but this book tells a different story. This book tells of the sacrifice that the long forgotten, supporting, wallflowers had to play in order for King Arthur to thrive.

The suffering that the females had to go through during this time (although fictional) was tragic, but was relatable in the sense that in our own human history, women were treated unfairly. Used, abused, and forgotten. We have to fight for what we want, and sometimes we end up being the villain, or the opposite of a happy ending.

I enjoyed this retelling and the FMC POV on King Arthur. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good retelling. The world building, character development, plot twists, and political intrigue were amazing. I cannot dive into the next book, that will give us another POV from a female character from the Legend of King Arthur.

Thank you NetGalley, Natania Barron for the e-ARC, in exchange for my opinion.

It's been a while since I've read any Arthurian legends. I picked this up because the author's name sounded somewhat familiar - it seems I've stumbled across some of her Twitter threads on medieval clothes (?) or something of that sort. Besides, I'd never heard of Anna Pendragon before.

Queen of None is the story of the powerless women in King Arthur's court. They seem to have titles, prestige, and honour, but their lives are orchestrated and ordered by the men around them. In Anna's case, her brother King Arthur and his advisor, Merlin. It is a powerlessness that the men around them do not - and sometimes cannot - understand. For them, there is always a choice, always a decision they can make and unmake to shape their destinies. Anna's eldest, Gawain, keeps failing to grasp this lesson.

Where the legends of Arthur that I recall reading/watching make out Merlin to be a benevolent sage, the Merlin here is much darker. There is a menacing tone to his watching and meddling, the idea that he is evil in his machinations.

Anna Pendragon herself has a tragic life - because Arthur listens to Merlin over the happiness of his own sister. Arthur tries to make amends, but it is always too little, too late. I do not like the Arthur in this; then again, I do not think I am meant to like him. It is not his story.

No, this is the story of Anna finding her hidden strength, discovering the magic that runs through her mother's blood, and uncovering the battle between her mother's line and Merlin that has scattered her half-sisters and her aunts and twisted prophecies to their own ends. And in this, with her prophecy to be forgotten, Anna finds the chance to change history - if she can manage to make the magic work for her.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Solaris/Rebellion Publishing via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.