Definitely a must read!! I seriously could not put it down the plot is just … AMAZING & it left me wanting more! So excited for this series!

If you are new to fantasy and have no clue where to begin, this is the book for you.

I must admit, I can sometimes struggle with fantasy as I can often become confused or overwhelmed with the range of characters and settings, but I followed this book well. Boleyn has made a world that is so far away from where we know and yet so familiar at the same time, and integrating myself into the setting and familiarising myself with the world felt like a breeze. I found Morgan to be an extremely likeable and multi-dimensional character.

Really enjoyed and a great fantasy to beginners.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley for this ARC copy in exchange for my review.

You definitely won’t be bored reading this book!

The world building was fabulously done, with great pacing and the perfect amount of drip fed information. There was definitely no white room syndrome going on here, the descriptions were elaborate and clearly well thought out.

The characters were really well written. Arthur reminded me (unfortunately so) of Geoffrey from GoT and there were plenty of times I wanted to shake Morgan for being so complacent, not only with him, but also with Whitehorn on their journey. Her youngest brother Kaye was by far my favourite character, I love anything with a sweet, innocent younger sibling who must be protected at all cost.

I also really liked Kairos, though at his first few introductions I thought he was going to turn out boring and similar to plenty of other MMCs, but I’m a sucker for a protective role and was fully invested by the time they left Camelot.

Also, this is random but I loved the depictions of animals in this. The wild creatures, the horses… as an animal lover I really enjoyed reading those parts of the world. Honestly I’m just insanely relieved that her horse survived the whole book.

There were some really brutal and shocking deaths of various side characters which I was devastated by at times, so read the trigger warnings beforehand if you don’t like that sort of thing.

Can’t wait to read book two!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

This was a really good book. this book is compared to Sarah J Maas, Jennifer L Armentrout and Raven kennedy. and I do agree with that it's so much like each other but also so different. I find this book easy to read the opening is great and makes you want to read more. the characters were enjoyable, the story and the plot is great, also the pacing from the book Is good. there was some amazing action That I loved + it has a very good cliffhanger

I enjoyed this book once I got about a third of the way through. Until the pacing picked up and it became clear what the plot was actually going to be, I was really invested. The first bit of the book was a bit boring and didn't seem very relevant. I thought the first third of the book could've been cut in half with the lack of plot and character development. Once Morgan and Draven began on their journey for a secret weapon, the story fell into place and there was less filler. The world building was interesting and I liked the connections to the King Arthur story, but with all the changes made to the characters and plot, I think the story could have easily stood on its own without needing the inspiration. The twists at the end were good and not obvious, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book!

This book has all the tropes that I love: enemies to lovers, slow burn romance, forced proximity, action-packed, and so much more! This book was so interesting from start to finish, and it was such a great start to a series. Thank you Starwater Press for sending me a copy of this book.

This book takes you into a spin on Camelot with a Fae twist. The first few chapters were a bit slow for me and then the action began and I couldn’t put the book down. Every chapter leaves you wanting to know what is going to happen next. The main female character Morgan is very timid to start but by the end of the book has found her voice. I loved the main male character Draven. He is a man of mystery through the entire book. I thoroughly enjoyed the development of his and Morgan’s relationship. This book is full of amazing characters, mythical creatures, and adventure. Many thanks to NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for the read. I cannot wait to start the second book in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Queen of Roses. I found "Book 1," the first section of the novel to be a bit more slowly paced than I like; however, the next section picked up considerably. The characters were interesting, and I hope to see them continue to develop and become more complex in the rest of the series. Morgan is determined despite her naivete about most things. With a hint of realization at the end of this novel, I'm intrigued to learn more about her past and her history. Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I hope to get more world-building and secrets revealed in the rest of the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Starwater Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

In all honesty I really wanted to enjoy this book. I think the over all theme was great and had a lot of potential. It’s a lot darker than I expected and I definitely recommend reading the triggers just to have a heads up. I was blind sided by how light to dark it got during certain scenes.

Beyond that I really had a hard time with the pacing. At times it felt like it was so slow and nothing was happening to parts where so much was going on I had to reread to understand what was happening. Some of the time jumps felt weird or forced as well. What really did it for me was the lack of character growth. I would’ve loved to see Morgan grow into herself instead of staying meek and submissive. Also we know next to nothing about Draven and maybe it’s on purpose but I would’ve loved to see more depth in his character. These issues probably get fixed in the upcoming books, but this one didn’t leave me wanting more

Overall it wasn’t a bad book, just not a book series I’d like to continue.

I went into this book not knowing what it was about, and I am happy to say that I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

This is a King Arthur retelling, where we follow our protagonist Morgan Pendragon, Princess of Camelot. I quiet liked the premise of the story, and I could clearly tell that this was the author laying the foundation. Whilst some parts were unnecessarily overly descriptive, I would have appreciated more world building. Morgan and Draven were likeable characters that we have only just scratched the surface, I am looking forward to reading book two, which Ican tell book two is going to be so much better!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC! Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn is a fae fantasy romance novel entrenched in Arthurian legend. Our main character Morgan is the first-born daughter of the king, and is rumored to be half-fae despite showing no evidence of magical powers. Morgan watched as her father killed her mother in a fit of anger, with the goal of marrying a new wife and producing a new heir. And so, Arthur becomes our new king. A bigoted man, Arthur hates all who have fae characteristics and is just overall such a dislikable character with no redeeming qualities.

This book was definitely a slow burn. I'd recommend it for fantasy readers who like having a slow entrance into the world, as Boleyn takes her time with introducing all the aspects of the world. For me, it was a bit too long, as I feel I need a good dosing of plot or mystery or even romance to get through the start of a fantasy book. This book requires high buy-in. Boleyn spends a lot of time detailing the various settings that we are placed in, the layout of the government with high priestess Merlin, the different gods of this world and their rituals and magics. She's clearly invented a whole new world, and I give her credit for the fact that it isn't a rip-off reminiscent of all the other fae fantasy that already exists out there with a three-trials in a competition setting.

Warning that this book does leave off on a cliffhanger! But the second book is out already

4.5 stars

With so many retellings
Coming out, to craft something that has a unique twist to it is a rare but wonderful thing,

Queen of the Rose is a dark fae romance with quests. Threats and secrets. Every character has their own desires and some more devious then other and that is why this book deserves a high rating. It’s a slow burn but there is something urging the the building tension that has you reaching for the next book. -

This book wasn’t afraid to push the norms and has made her characters come to life a twist on a tale people have grown up with and so much questions left to be answered.

Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn is a great fantasy and adventure book for older teens. It has a dark aspect with a slow burn set up that makes it more mature, therefore is more suited for older students. I don't read a huge amount of fantasy, so I really enjoyed this book and how the characters are building up for the next books in the series.

Thank you netgalley for an arc of Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn

"Queen of Roses" by Briar Boleyn is a captivating fantasy tale that immerses readers in a world of magic, intrigue, and destiny. Set against a backdrop of political upheaval and ancient prophecies, this novel follows the journey of Morgan Pendragon, a princess determined to carve her own path in a world where fate seems predetermined.

Boleyn's richly imagined world-building brings the story to life, weaving together elements of fae mythology, royal intrigue, and forbidden romance. From the lush landscapes of the fae kingdom to the intricate court politics of the mortal realm, the author creates a vivid and immersive setting that draws readers deeper into the story with each page.

At the heart of the novel is Morgan's struggle to reconcile her duty to her kingdom with her desire for freedom and self-determination. As she navigates the dangers and challenges that confront her, including a burgeoning romance with a mysterious warrior, Morgan must confront the secrets of her past and the true nature of her destiny.

Boleyn's skillful storytelling and evocative prose keep the reader engaged from beginning to end, with twists and turns that keep the plot moving at a brisk pace. The characters are well-developed and complex, each with their own motivations and secrets that add depth to the narrative.

Overall, "Queen of Roses" is a compelling fantasy novel that will appeal to fans of epic adventure, political intrigue, and forbidden romance. With its engaging plot, vivid world-building, and relatable characters, it is sure to captivate readers until the very last page.

**Features:**
- Loose retelling of Arthurian legend with fae a dark twist
- Slow burn, enemies to lovers romance; not much spice
- Excellent world building
- Cliffhanger ending that will leave you begging for more

This loose retelling of Arthurian legend turns everything on its head and was a wild ride I totally didn’t expect! There are a lot of intriguing ideas introduced to this version of Camelot that makes it feel unique and fresh. Boleyn constructs this world in such an engaging way that the hunger to know more about it kept me reading through an otherwise slow start to the story. Once the real adventure starts, the plot really takes off and it becomes hard to put down. Though I loved the story overall, I still felt like there was some untapped potential, especially in the character department. If you are looking for a true retelling of Arthurian legend and/or a steamy romance, you will probably be disappointed. However, if an engaging, action packed fae fantasy with an Arthurian flavor sounds like your kind of book, I would definitely recommend this read!

**Pro: Camelot reimagined**

The world building in this book definitely makes it stand out. The story takes place in Camelot, but it is a Camelot like you have never seen it before. It has been shown that fae lore and magic fit comfortably into the context of Arthurian legend, but Boleyn takes it even further than expected. This world has a true sense of history and culture that has evolved, in part, through a long and tenuous relationship with the fae. Morgan’s complicated position at the beginning of the story is due in large part to how she fits (or doesn’t) into this established cultural identity and the success of the world building makes everything she experiences feel more poignant. Honestly, this has such a unique identity that it really wouldn’t be Camelot if all of the names were suddenly changed. For me, this really made the rest of the story work.

**The Breakdown: An uncomplicated character in a complicated world**

This book follows the story of Arthur’s older sister, Morgan. Due to having fae blood, Morgan was passed over for the crown and finds herself in the odd situation of being royalty while also being part of a group society looks down upon. As a result, she is often overlooked and experiences both freedom and vulnerability as a result. Despite all of the wonderful world building and the complicated situation Morgan finds herself in, I thought she was an uncomplicated character.

Having lived a sheltered life, Morgan is naturally naive about a lot of things. However, some of this naivety is more extreme than what is fitting for the character and her experiences. There are some moments of brilliance in how Morgan processes and questions what is happening around her, so it is sad when things become more ‘cookie cutter’ and prevent these deeper, more intriguing developments to flourish. This issue is even more prominent with the other characters and the end result individuals that feel one note in an otherwise complicated world. This improves as the story develops, but I was still left feeling like there was a lot of untapped potential.

Special thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Starwater Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for a review. As a fan of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and others, I am so excited to read this series by Briar Boleyn! Will update you soon with my review.

Queen of Roses by Briar Boleyn follows Morgan Pendragon, a half-fae princess who is tasked to go on a quest to retrieve a magical object. It is a retelling of King Arthur complete with magical creatures, intrigue, politics, and romance.

This is the first book in the series and as an avid reader of fantasy, I enjoyed this book immensely. I wanted to race through it, but I also didn’t want to finish it too quickly. I especially enjoyed the various characters and by the time the book ended, I felt connected with the characters and their fates.

It is to be noted, however, that the book is an adult fantasy (16+) and is not suitable for younger readers. There are numerous trigger warnings for this book so you may want to proceed with caution should this be an issue.

The writing is nice and detailed. This helped me imagine King Arthur’s world, the various characters we encounter as the story progresses and the quest that ultimately unfolds. The romance is slow burn and although I’m not a fan of slow burn, I did feel it flowed along nicely. There were times I cringed at the plot though but as I went through the book, everything eventually fell into place nicely with an intriguing ending that will definitely have me reading the next books in the series. As I write this in April 2024, the series is now complete with four books in total. Plenty to binge on!

Overall, I found the book to be engaging and I would recommend this to all fantasy readers and romance readers alike. Thank you to Saltpress Publishers for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Queen of Roses (Book 1), Court of Claws (Book 2), Empress of Fae (Book 3), and the final installment, Knight of the Goddess (Book 4) are all part of a 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?  While reading Queen of Roses, and 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, Court of Claws, oh wow! It took off and I dove right into the third one, Empress of Fae, even though it was well past midnight.  The third book ended on a cliffhanger, leaving me anticipating the fourth and final book, Knight of the Goddess. As with the others, Boleyn doesn't spare our feelings and intrigues the reader through unexpected twists. The ending was...wow! Boy was it worth the wait! While I'll miss these characters and following their story, I eagerly anticipate what fabulous new adventure Briar Boleyn has in store for us next.  While you may be able to read one as a stand-alone, I would highly recommend you start from the beginning and read them all from the start.

Dark fantasy slowburn with SUCH great world building! The story definitely captivates you and keeps you wanting to read more.

Queen of Roses had me hooked from page 1.

If you're a romantasy fan add this book to your list now! When I started this book I got Throne of Glass vibes; cast-off princess who enjoys being a warrior in her spare time. The slow-burn romance was to die for, especially with the enemies to lovers added in. I look forward to seeing how Morgan's character develops over the next 3 books! Draven has all the possibility to be ranked among the shadow-daddies of our favorite genre (watch out Xaden and Rhysand!) I am personally hoping for some more spice in future books. This book ended on a cliff-hanger that had me rushing to start book 2.

This book was full of unexpected surprises and wonderful world building. It has been a great introduction to Arthurian stories and I will be back for more! Briar Boleyn has earned herself a spot in my favorite romantasy authors list.

Disclaimer: I did receive this book as an E-ARC from Starwater Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. There is a list of trigger warnings, please read those before starting this book.