3.75⭐️ | 1 🌶️

In this Arthurian retelling, Morgan Pendragon, an usurped queen due to her fae heritage, was tasked to go on a journey to retrieve an ancient weapon for her king & half brother, Arthur. On this journey with a reluctant ally, the royal guard Kairos Draven, Morgan's goals are simple: find the weapon, return to Pendrath and protect those she loves. Easy! But along the way, Kairos, the once intimidating and dangerous guard doesn't seem as ominous as Morgan thought, even if he has his own ulterior motives for wanting the ancient weapon himself. Trust & loyalty will be tested in an intense (& creepy) ending that will have you turning the pages for that cliffhanger 🤭

I really wanted to love this book since I love a good retelling, but this one fell short for me. It started out super slow in my opinion...14 long chapters later then that's when the plot really picks up. I understand the earlier chapters were needed in some areas for world building, but also, a lot of it were just fluff & over explanation of scenes. I wish there were more interactions between Morgan & Kairos, even though they were on the journey by themselves for the most part, the tensions weren't really there? They still felt very distant to me.

Some things that I did enjoy:
- SLOW BURN romance (& I mean slowwww)
- "Who did this to you?"
- Diversed cast of characters
- Self discovery journey
- Fae & dark fae vibes
- Loyalty being tested

If you want an Arthurian retelling, it's a pretty fun & quick read!

Sadly, I DNF this book at 40%. I really gave it my best shot and would normally try to push through, especially for an ARC and give it the benefit of doubt but I had a really had time following the writing. It felt so choppy and distracting to the plot of the story. I did like the idea of the story, but the writing just wasn't up to par for me to continue.

DNF. I quickly realised this was not the type of romantasy book I vibe with. I also saw reviews that the books get darker as they go and I did not want to start a series that I knew I would end up not enjoying.

Queen of Roses is for the Sarah J. Maas and JLA girlies. The story, her writing style, and tropes (political intrigue, found family, and slow burn) all lend themselves to a great start for a NA romantasy series.

I'm looking forward to the next book! I also can't wait for Briar Boleyn's upcoming releases. Thank you to the author, Briar Boleyn, and Starwater Press for providing me with an ARC of Queen of Roses!

I thought that the author did an excellent job with the world-building. It was necessary to set the tone and move the plot forward, so I appreciated how thorough it was. I love a slow burn, but I wanted it to move juuuuuuust a little faster. I'm interested to see how the story continues on the heels of the cliffhanger!

I loved this and can't wait to read the next one.
I found the slower pace enjoyable after reading a lot of romantasy that seems like a bunch of love scenes bunched together.
This had more history but with some gender-swapped characters.
Morgan was so compelling.

Okay, I finally got to this one and I'm glad that I did.
I love a king Authur vibes fantasy.
I did feel like we could have spent a little bit more time fleshing out the romance to actually achieve romantasy status on this book.
And I definitely think that the the MMC was fleshed out waaaaaay more than the FMC. But overall an enjoyable book and I'll be reading the second because of that cliffhanger. 3.5 rounded up to 4.

AHHHH I AM OBSESSED!!! Queen of Roses absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way!!!
Dark fae vibes? ✔️
Slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance? ✔️✔️
Sword fights, secret powers, and a brooding warrior?? YES PLEASE!!!

Morgan Pendragon is THAT girl — fierce, brave, and just the right amount of chaotic. I was rooting for her SO hard from page one. And don’t even get me started on the tension with you-know-who… I was literally SCREAMING. Like, the banter?? The longing?? The forbidden love angle?? GAHHHH.

The worldbuilding?? Chef’s kiss. The plot?? Twisty and magical and impossible to put down. The vibes?? Pure Arthurian-fantasy-fae realness. It gave everything I wanted and more. Briar Boleyn is seriously a genius. I need book 2 like yesterday!!!

Also: this book may start off a little tame, but don’t let it fool you — the SPICE is simmering and I can feel the burn coming… and I’m READY!!!

If you love morally gray characters, powerful heroines, fae lore, and romance that makes your heart ache (in the best way), you NEED to read Queen of Roses immediately!!!

5/5 stars, infinite stars, eternal stars — just TAKE THEM ALL!!!
I’m still not okay and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Brb rereading my favorite scenes and screaming into the void

PS: That ending?? RUDE. I’m feral.

PPS: Briar, you’ve got me in a chokehold. Never let me go.

PPPPS: Fae + destiny + slow burn = perfection. You heard it here first.

RUN don’t walk to add this to your TBR!!!
Spicy, magical, and utterly addictive!!!

10/10 recommend — I’d sell my soul to the fae to read it again for the first time
(and maybe I already did…)

*spoiler free*
Why did I wait so long to read this!!! This was a great fantasy with slow burn romance. Queen of Roses is a Camelot/ Arthurian retelling with fae and gender twists. The Main Female Character Morgan is a half-fae princess who is caught between love of family and bad decisions being made by her brother King Arthur for the kingdom. She is hiding her fae side since it is looked down upon in Camelot. Morgan is an FMC one can get behind and root for especially for her vulnerable yet brave attitude, love of family and her longing for more in her life. This story develops her character to change throughout the book and I expect even more growth in further books.

This book was fast paced, action packed and the quest for Morgan to find Excalibur for her brother King Arthur was exciting. She is traveling with 2 bodyguards and Draven is a perfect broody morally grey character. She meets many interesting characters and goes through many trials on her journey including coming of age type growth. I enjoyed the world building and well-paced reveals of magic, secrets and twists. The romance sub-plot is something I can tell is going to develop over the series and this gives you the kind of slow burn that keeps you reading and rooting for Morgan to find her happiness.

I immediately started on Book 2 because this book sets up the plot and story for you to continue reading to know what happens next. I highly recommend for those who love an easy to read and understand fantasy with fae, magic, romance, quest, fighting, female rage and a broody hero to cheer for.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to finish this book before it expired due to timing and life circumstances. I have however got this book on my kindle and I'm very excited to read it.

I am a sucker for anything fae related!
Did I enjoy this book? Yes! Will I be continuing the series? Probably!
However there was just something missing that could have potentially got it to a 4 🌟 for me.

Absolutely love the Arthurian story with a fae twist!! Love the chaotic family dynamic, love the descriptions throughout the book. Despite being dark, it was fun!! I know some didn’t love the love triangle, but I didn’t mind it! I loved all of the magic and all of the creatures. That cliffhanger though!!! My goodness I need to read the next one asap

This was an interesting retelling of the Sword In the Stone/King Arthur fable with Faeries!! Many of the original character names are used (King Arthur, Lancelot, Merlin, Kay, Sir Ector, etc) to tell the story of our FMC Princess Morgan Pendragon.

Morgan has been the family outcast for years, first rejected as the true heir to the throne by her father for being part Fae and now by her brother King Arthur who sees her as a threat. Arthur decides to send Morgan on a mission to find and bring back Excalibur (the legendary sword in the stone). Alongside Kairos Draven, her "bodyguard" to ensure she completes her mission, Morgan embarks on an epic adventure full of faeries, betrayals and even some romance, all as she also begins unraveling who she truly is and the learns of the secrets of those around her.

This was a really well done retelling of the story with it's own unique twists. I'm usually not huge into the world of Fae but will definitely continue into the next book of this series.

I was able to get the whole series of this and I loved it I’m not very good at reviews but I would like to enjoy reading more by this author. I hope they continue to impress us with their writing

Queen of Roses is the start of a new series that features magic and an addictive slow burn romance that any romantasy reader will devour. This author has always come up as a recommendation and so glad that I finally got to read one of their books. I am now looking forward to continuing on with the series and will check out the authors other works. Highly recommended for those looking for a slow burn romantasy with magical elements.

"Queen of Roses" introduces an enticing, high-stakes narrative that blends dark fantasy, romance, and political intrigue. The premise of Morgan Pendragon, a princess bound by duty and destiny, seeking to escape her constrained life while uncovering secrets about her bloodline, is a compelling hook. The stakes are high, and the world-building potential seems rich, particularly with the hint of a reawakening fae kingdom and the dramatic implications of Morgan's heritage.

Morgan's internal conflict—torn between her duty and her desires—adds layers of emotional depth to the plot. The presence of a mysterious, attractive warrior who draws her in promises to create the kind of slow-burn romance that many readers crave, especially when paired with the tension of a kingdom on the brink of war. This, combined with the promise of morally gray characters, gives the narrative a sense of unpredictability and complexity that is likely to keep readers invested.

However, while the synopsis is enticing, it could benefit from more distinct details to set it apart from other books in the genre. The "tainted blood of the fae" and the "fae weapon of legendary power" are intriguing, but they are fairly common tropes in fantasy, so a deeper exploration of what makes Morgan's situation unique could elevate the stakes even further. The mention of a "slumbering kingdom" and "secrets in her blood" hints at larger, more complex themes, but these aspects could use more fleshing out to give the reader a clearer sense of what makes this world and plot stand out in a crowded fantasy market.

The comparison to other popular authors like Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout sets high expectations, but it also risks raising comparisons in terms of both world-building and character dynamics. The mention of "magic, danger, and spellbinding slow-burn romance" sets the tone effectively but could delve deeper into what makes this series different from others in terms of narrative voice or character development.

Overall, "Queen of Roses" has all the ingredients for an action-packed, engaging read, with an intriguing heroine, high stakes, and the promise of romance and danger. With a bit more distinction in its world-building and plot mechanics, it could easily stand out as a fresh and exciting addition to the fantasy genre.

Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn is an enchanting dark fae fantasy romance that pulls you into a world of magic, intrigue, and intense chemistry. The romance is captivating, and the characters are complex, with both light and dark sides that keep you guessing. The world-building is immersive, though at times the pacing can slow a bit. Overall, it’s a gripping start to the Blood of a Fae series. A solid 4 stars—dark, romantic, and full of twists that will keep you hooked.

DNF’d at first, and tried to get back through it. The slow burn was just too slow for me, and I don’t think this is my kind of fantasy (despite the plot synopsis sounding wonderful). Despite this, the world seems incredible and I will likely pick up book 2 to see if it piques my interest more.

Thank you for the arc!

I LOVED this book and I’m already starting the 2nd! I can’t get enough of Morgan and Draven and the end of this book had me talking out loud to myself in awe. The world is built beautifully and I’m so excited to see where we’re going in book 2… read this book! It’s definitely slow burn, some spice, our FMC just keeps getting better and cooler. I love the writing and imagery and I was completely transported to their realm ✨

“And then, before Orcades vanished like a wraith, she touched a finger to my forehead and cursed me with a single word. "Remember."
So I did.
I remembered my mother.
I remembered her running through the city of Numenos with me in her arms.”

This SENT ME! I love a big mind blowing moment like this! I’m going to devour this series! 🥀

Thank you for this ARC.
A story with a beautiful cover and about faes? That keeps me going.
Long story short, the FMC was rejected for being becoming a queen because of her being a half fae. When her brother, the king gives her a mission, she accepts and goes to it.
One thing I wished is the backbone that the FMC carried in the beginning to be well present throughout the whole book; from the beginning till the end. It is seems to come and go…
Nonetheless, I enjoyed and will definitely pick up the series, it is in my tbr