4.5 stars!!

Okay wow this sequel took everything I loved from the first book and expanded the world. Morgan and Draven have ended up back in Draven’s homeland with the Siabra fae, with new and old titles causing personal and political intrigue.

I adore the trope of trials/competition so getting that thrown into the mix in this book really elevated the new world we had entered for me. With the backdrop of the Blood Rise, we got to connect with Draven’s found family including a talking bear, a cinnamon (crescent) roll, a Valkyrie level warrior, a ginormous cat, the most perfect boy child, and a frenemy with snake powers. I spent the whole book waiting for the end of book one plot twist to come into play and oh boy when it did, it did not disappoint!!! Coupling that with Morgan’s discovery of her own past, this book left me guessing and celebrating and devastated about whether they were true or not.

We also have to talk about the BANTER and the LOVE in this book because those got me in my feels as I was reading. Now I’m a sarcastic gal- and I think just about every character in this book also is. The way they roast each other and the amount of actual out loud snorts I did tells me this author knows what she’s doing. And the love connect between Morgan and Draven through all the banter, the fights, the sweet moments, and everything in between has me rooting for these two 150 year old kids.

I will be immediately going into book 3 and then I may just finish this whole trilogy in the span of 36 hours- that’s how good it is!!


Thank you to Briar Boleyn and NetGalley for a copy of this book! The third book in the series, Empress of Fae just came out on October 25, 2023

thank you to netgalley for a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
honestly I have mixed feelings. morgan was quite annoying to me most of the time. this book felt very slow and i struggled to get through the first half. once the actual competition started things got more interesting and it held my interest. i'm invested enough to continue the series!

Picking right after Briar Boleyn's book Queen of Roses, we find our MCs on a different continent pursuing Draven's goals instead of Morgan's. I truly enjoyed the change of scenery from Camelot and loved the descriptions of the new realm. This book has plenty of action, slow-burn, banter and new characters!

We do see some character growth from our MCs Draven and Morgan, but we also get growth from the side-characters which is quite refreshing. I did find myself frustrated with both MCs because of their poor choices that led to different betrayals. Nonetheless, the story has been exquisitely written and it enthralls you so it is hard to put down.

Can't wait to finish Book 3, Empress of Fae!!!


Thank you Briar Boleyn for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review!

I tried to like this book, I really did, but some things you just can’t force. Everything about this book felt forced. The tension between the love interests felt forced. The enemies-to-lovers angst felt forced. The story progression felt forced. Also, I could not stand Morgan, she was just so frustrating to follow around.She just hated everything and never let anyone explain anything. She was judgemental and harsh yet somehow ultra powerful and special. I don’t like stories where the main character can just overcome anything without really trying. I also did not like Draven and how abruptly he started to love Morgan. He was manipulative and a liar. I really wanted to like this book, but there are only so many ACOTAR retellings I can take at this point.

It is worth noting that we gain further insights into Morgan's background and personal history, while the inclusion of supporting characters significantly enhances the overall narrative. The concluding section, in particular, fulfills all my expectations. This series is undeniably remarkable, encompassing a captivating blend of romance, fantasy, action, well-developed characters, intricate plot twists, and meticulous attention to detail. I have developed a strong preoccupation with this series and eagerly anticipate the release of the next installment.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the electronic copy to read and review.

This is book two in the Blood Of A Fae Series.

I really don't want to mention any particulars that happen in the story as I would hate to give away any of the plot.

But holy hell this is an incredible series. Book 1 was a solid 4 stars. Book 2 is easily a 4.5.

If you are a fan of ACOTAR/Fourth Wing then I implore you to read this series.

The characters are brilliant, the plot is well thought out and executed, the world building is excellent and the endings in each book have been explosive. So much so I'm having to jump straight in to book three to find out what on earth is going to happen next.

Having read some negative reviews about the main FMC I genuinely didn't feel she was too immature of defiant.

Brilliant series!

Queen of Roses (Book 1), Court of Claws (Book 2), and the most recent of the series, Empress of Fae (Book 3),  are the first three books in a developing series by Briar Boleyn. If you are a fan of the ACTAR series, I highly recommend you give these a chance.  I received these ARC ebooks from and want to thank, NetGalley, Starwater Press, and Briar Boleyn, for providing them to me to read and review.  The third one caught my attention first, but to read it, I needed to read the prior two. Ok...how hard could that be?  As I read Queen of Roses, getting to know the characters and the setting, I was intrigued, but not overly so and I anticipated this being just an ok series.  Then came the second book, this one, Court of Claws, oh wow! It really took off and I dove right into the third one, Empress of Fae, even though it was already past midnight.  This one ends in somewhat of a cliffhanger and leaves me anticipating the fourth, that is due out next spring.  You may be able to read one as a stand-alone, but I would highly recommend you start from the beginning and read them all!

Loved it! I was skeptical at first, expecting it to be another Court of/Queen of blah blah blah formulaic style book but I am thrilled that I was 100% wrong. Highly recommend for fans of ACOTR and the SJM books. Excellent world building and character development. I can't wait to read the next one.

I totally fell for this book! The author's writing blew me away right from the start, making me crave the second book pronto.

This time around, things get less action-packed and more into the dynamics of politics. Draven's court steals the show, with all its fantastic relationships. The author keeps the story moving at a fast clip, and I couldn't get enough of the writing. The world she builds is, once again, pure magic.

The characters are so well developed, with every little detail on display. They take a darker turn, and there were so many "What the heck?!" moments that had me… And let's not forget the slow-burn romance – it finally catches fire!

I tore through this book because it's just that good. But, if I had to gripe about something, I was hoping for more action around the Rose Court. And that final stretch, especially the last 10%, got a bit too tangled up for my liking. Despite that, the whole ride was a wild one.

Briar Boleyn has captivated me with another great book! After the final chapters and the cliffhanger of the first book, I really wasn't sure where this story would continue. I never expected to be transported to another continent where Boleyn did a phenomenal job building up this world, society and all new characters!The flow and pacing of the book worked for me with relaying all of the important information, while having bloody action and sizzling spice scenes.This book has an enemies to lovers vibe, more magic, fake dating, mythical creatures, lots of witty banter, trails and twists. I really loved getting more of Draven coming into his own, despite all of his omissions. I enjoyed Morgan coming into her own with her powers, especially the powers that came through the bond for both of them. The trails were brutal and so intricately described that I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. What a page turner!!! I’m excited to see where the next book leads.

We pick up right where book 1 left off.

Morgan (the FMC) wakes up hurt - physically and emotionally - and feeling a little vulnerable. Not only does Draven (the MMC) have some explaining to do, but he's also brought her home to meet the family. She's less than pleased, because oh - she also has to pretend to be his paramour while he fights for the crown. Did he leave some things out? Yes, he left some things out.

I really liked Draven's kingdom, as the court/castle/kingdom has been imagined differently than most other Romantasy-type books that have courts and castles. It's also a court where the citizens aren't afraid to sharpen their claws and the fights are hot! hot! hot! (if you read the books, I guarantee you'd have a good chuckle at that line).

There's also a lot of new secondary characters introduced in the book, and they're just delightful. Like big ol' kitty cats you can ride into battle (should you choose to do so) and also bears that I am confident know their way around a kitchen better than I do.

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

✨ He fell first ❤️
✨ Slow burn romance
✨ Bonded mates 💞
✨ Found family
✨ Fae magic

The book ends in an amazing cliffhanger, where Morgan makes a big decision. I can't wait to read book 3 to see if it comes back to bite her in the ass or will she live happily ever after.

* Thank you to NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest review *

While I liked the first book in the series, I loved this second one. There was significantly more character and world development which I loved. The second book in a series has a habit of being bad, but this one hooked me even more and lead to me reaching for the last one

Thank you NetGalley, Starwater Press and Briar Boleyn the the e-ARC of this book! '

This was an incredible follow up to Queen of Roses and far exceeded all my expectations. The book picks up with Morgan waking up in an underground palace she doesn't recognize after killing Vesper and freeing excalibur.

This book has a lot of common fantasy tropes- royal guard who's actually a prince, court intrigue, challenge for the throne, learning how to harness magic, fae vs fae, bonded mates but it executes them all exceptionally well and the spins on them are unique.

The pacing of the series really works for me. I am usually impatient and annoyed with the betrayal trope/fmc not trusting the mmc even though she wants him. Here, we know how fresh Vesper's betrayal was and everything Morgan was feeling so I understood her fighting against her feelings for Draven and it made the payoff better. I love the dialogue in this series. It feels real and is quite funny at times.

I can't wait to read the next book.

I am obsessed with Court of Claws! The previous story ended with a lot of suspense, so I immediately started reading Court of Claws right after because I had to know what happened next. It did not disappoint! There is even more action and drama to be found in this sequel, which was giving ACOTAR/Hunger Games vibes in my opinion. The action was so well written; I was completely immersed and invested in the outcomes. We get more Draven and Morgan banter, which I LIVE for. The heat gets turned up between Draven and Morgan, and the resulting steam/spice is just *chiefs kiss*. Most importantly, we see Morgan really begin to develop her confidence and grow as a character. I am enjoying seeing her growth, and happy to be along for the journey.

The author also does an amazing job continuing the world-building, and it shows she put a lot of care/thought into the sequel. I can see the hard work the author put in to build her craft. We also get more friends (and a few frenemies/enemies), who help Morgan navigate the new court she is thrust into. I absolutely fell in love with Beks and Crescent. Of course, there are many twists and turns that took me through a roller coaster of emotions. These cliffhanger endings are going to be the death of me! In essence, run, don’t walk to read this sequel to Queen of Roses!

The second installment of this series focuses on three trials in a new location, and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I loved the relationships that grew, and the nemesises who were made. And, what a CLIFF HANGER! Can't wait to see what happens next.

I'm SO glad I kept going with this series after being on the fence after book one! If you read the first book and weren't sure if you'd like to continue the series, I definitely recommend giving book 2 a shot.

Read if you like:
~The Legend of King Arthur
~Fae stories
~Morally Gray characters
~Court Politics
~Magical Creatures
~Relationship of Convenience
~One Bed
~Found Family

There's no time jump--this story starts right where we left off and continues in a linear fashion. There are definitely some plot twists that change the course of the story, but generally in a way that feel right and fit with the story.

Draven and Morgana are still working through their crap, and both honestly have reasons to be full of rage and frustration with each other. Yeah, Draven is a liar and has been withholding information--one of the plot twists would have sent me into an EXTREME rage, so Morgana's reactions are justified. But at the same time, Morgana continues to not think ahead or attempt to understand WHY she's not getting all of the information, and her reactions to finding out are exactly what's keeping Draven from talking to her in the first place. They really just need some Arthurian couples therapy.

I LOVED the trials--they were action packed, very interesting, and really gave me a Game of Thrones vibe that stays true to the legends/stories this pulls from. The politics come into play pretty heavily as well, but it doesn't bog down the story, and it's easy to follow (Looking at you, A Song of Ice and Fire).

My biggest complaints are that I wish there had been more worldbuilding (which is so crazy to ask for in most fantasy novels!) and more of the politics side. The story focuses heavily on the relationship between Draven and Morgana, and I wish there had been more speaking to what was going on with the politics of it all that was causing their relationship to have issues. Looking forward to book 3 for sure!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

Book two of blood of a fae finished!!
Court of Claws by @briarboleynauthor was aptly named with the viscious court setting of the Sabra.
Very cunning story and return to the story of Morgan and Draven. Lots of twists and turns and awesome truths revealed. I will admit that I do not like how my favourite duo left things at the end of this story but it does make me want to jump into the third and see if they will reunite.
Thank you netgalley and @fennaedgewood for the opportunity to read and review. This story was captivating, gut wrenching and yes finally gave me the spice I had been looking for!!!

Court of Claws….book 2 was absolutely fantastic! I love Morgan and Draven’s chemistry. The secrets and mystery surrounding Morgan truly develop in this installment in the series and I look forward to learning more about her. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for these two.

Well, you were really holding back in book one, weren't you Briar?

Thank you again to Briar Boleyn, Netgalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this immense opportunity. This is the second book I've reviewed in the Blood of a Fae series and it was quite entertaining.

Did I ignore most of my responsibilities and read this in a day? Yes. Do I regret it? No. Book one leaves us on a huge cliffhanger and book 2 carries us through the ramifications that are born from that situation. We finally see the slow burn romance ignite, we meet new and interesting characters and their magic and we're given more information about the origin of our FMC and MMC. Do we also suffer through another cliffhanger? Naturally. Fortunately book 3 is already published.

This is an entertaining and fast paced read and I absolutely recommend it for fans of the romantasy genre. Again, I caution you to read the trigger warnings. This is a dark fantasy with depictions of very real, domestic issues.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Starwater Press for giving me a chance to read and review this book!

“Everything Morgan Pendragon knows and loves is gone as she wakes in the dangerous court of the Siabra. Surrounded by liars and knives in the dark, all Morgan wants to do is run the other way but Kairos Draven is determined to keep her by his side.”

As Morgan and Draven's lives become even more irrevocably entwined, little do they know the sins of the past are coming for them both…

For the Prince of Claws will drown kingdoms in blood for her sake.”

Court of Claws is an engaging read from start to finish. Full stop. I was wildly impressed at the continued world building that now stretches far beyond the borders of Camelot. In fact we find the two main characters, Morgan Pendragon and Kairos Draven, on a whole other continent entirely. One week after the ending of the first book.

While I was a bit sad to have left the familiar aspect of Camelot, the world we were transported to is molten fire. Literally. The stakes of the story are much higher than the first book, the new (villainous) side characters are much more brutal and unforgiving, and the connection between Morgan and Draven is far more complex. While I appreciated Morgan’s defiance and resolve, her wit truly does set her apart, at times her displays of emotion felt borderline crazed and it became a rollercoaster of whiplash. Granted Draven isn’t without issue either, as secrets abound between them both, however I felt the depth of his character development really did shine and I grew increasingly fond of him as well as the people he keeps in his circle. Plus it was nice to finally get some real spice between the two. The tension and connection was real, it was hard NOT to feel it while reading. And while I did miss a few of the side characters from the first book, the introduction of a new group of people added to Morgan and Draven’s story nicely. Oh and the ‘Games’ + plot twists! They definitely stoked the fire and kept the intrigue of development at a very high level.

While tension and emotion run high in Court of Claws, so does the lore of the Fae. This book also provides a whole new look into this relatively unknown side of their universe, which continues to draw me in, especially as we begin to understand more of the war between the Fae and Morgan’s powers and who she really is. That revelation alone cracked a whole potential of story that I’m very curious to see how it unfolds!

TLDR: Book two of ‘Blood of a Fae’ series takes the story to a whole new level. A new world, new side characters, and heady deviousness that really set the pace and drives the story. It’s more loosely based on Arthurian Legend than its predecessor. Morgan and Draven continue to bring the heat, the emotion, and tension to further the complexities of their relationship. The spice was good and we were promised more in the next installment, praise be. Plot twists abound as does the potential for the story to further develop into a much grander scale. The swearing is raised to a new level too. Trigger warnings are present again for this book and I do recommend checking them out if you feel you might be susceptible.