eARC Review: Queen of Mercy by Natania Barron 🪾

This was a wonderful conclusion to the Queens of Fate trilogy. I loved this new look into Morgan le Fay’s portrayal and role in Arthur’s Camelot as well as a return to old characters. My review might be a bit short as I don’t want to spoil it for those who are looking for a fantastic Arthurian retelling through the eyes of its unseen and unsung women.

The story takes place 10 years after the events of Queen of Fury. Carelon’s splendor is fading and Morgen has found herself deep in grief once more. I really enjoyed Barron’s take on an older (sixties-ish) le Fay who is still burdened and traumatized by her past. I loved the journey her character development goes on and how it accumulated into a powerful ending for the series. I do wish we could’ve spent more time in Morgen’s POV simply because she’s so complex and deeply yearning for companionship. 💔

The return of old characters and introductions of new ones were a full delight to see in this book. I definitely hope we get more spin offs of the other women from this world because they are so wonderfully flawed and complex. I also really enjoyed the deeper dive into the incredibly strained relationship between the worship of goddesses vs. Christianity and how toxic masculinity flocked to the latter to uplift themselves. I would definitely love a deeper dive into this role through the eyes of a specific young knight and his loyal squire and how their relationship bends around Christianity’s prejudices and constrains. 🤫

Seriously though, if you’re looking for an incredible series of Arthurian retellings to hold you over until Keetch’s third Morgan le Fay book comes out, look no further than Barron’s work! ❤️

HUGE thank you goes out to Solaris Books and NetGalley for accepting my request to read and review all 3 books in this series in exchange for an honest review. I’ve had an incredible one with them and can’t thank Barron enough for yoinking me back into Arthurian lore. 🥰

Publication date: June 3, so go get all three books now!!

Overall: 4.5/5 ⭐️

Morgen le Fay has lived at the center of King Arthur’s court her whole life: apprentice to Merlin, midwife to Gweynevere, aunt to the Orkneys, and acolyte to the high sorceress Vyvian du Lac. From the age of fourteen, her ubiquitous presence upon battlefields, in birthing chambers, and in political arenas—along with her reputation for powerful magic—has made her a myth in her own time. And a target.

But Morgen is just a mortal like the rest, and when Vyvian du Lac dies, she is left inexplicably bereft of her magic. Not only her power, but the entire framework of the Path—a powerful network connecting the Circle of Nine, Morgen’s council of sorceresses—collapses. And death itself, it seems, is close on Morgen’s heels.

Magic isn’t done with her yet, though. Morgen is whisked away from Carelon to the heart of Brocèliande forest, where she must face legendary beasts, mad witches, and the shadows of her own past. Forced to lean on the moody, mysterious Sir Yvain—the son of the man she once married for love—Morgen must embark on an adventure worthy of the songs, or lose everything she has worked decades for.

Things at Carelon, however, continue to deteriorate in Morgen’s absence. Bolstered by her disappearance, Queen Mawra targets Morgen’s daughter, Llachlyn. Unlike her mother, Llachlyn does not appear to have any powers, but spends most of her time at court with her cousin young Sir Galahad and their friend, the squire Percival. When they share a vision of the graal, Queen Mawra threatens to send Llachlyn—a pagan—to a nunnery. With Galahad's help, she and Percival escape north to Sir Gawain’s home, begging for help and protection.

Gawain and Hwyfar, who have spent ten peaceful years away from court in a forbidden marriage, are now swept back into the political sphere where the battle for Arthur's legacy has just begun. As Arthur’s health deteriorates, Lanceloch and Mawra’s schemes come to life, and new threats arise from deep within the castle, they must atone for their past decisions and train up the next generation, all before the graal falls into the wrong hands.

The epic conclusion to the Queens of Fate series sees old foes return, new loves kindled, buried secrets revealed, and ancient grudges re-emerge, all against the backdrop of the final days of King Arthur’s Carelon.

So this book I struggled with. My official rating is 2.75, though I hedged on giving it a three. While the story could be read as a standalone, the author did a good job giving enough backstory that if one didn't read all the information, you weren't completely lost. What made this really hard for me to read, and this is completely personal, is that it was too wordy. I felt myself getting lost and losing interest. The story itself is not bad, but if there was another round of condensing sentences, getting rid of superfluous words, it would have made the story so much tighter and refined.

What a perfectly beautiful conclusion to such a stunning series. Queen of Mercy was nothing short of pure, unadulterated, and unbridled feminine rage coupled with the love and strength found within the bonds of friends and family.

As the final book in the Queens of Fate series, QoM wraps up this version of Arthuriana told from a feminist perspective.

Grappled by grief after the death of her Aunt Vyvian, Morgen le Fey is attacked by some invisible yet familiar force that leaves her without the power that gained her notoriety as the famed sorceress.

However, just when her brother, Arthur, her daughter, Llachlyn, and the whole of Carelon need her the most, Morgen is involuntarily teleported to the heart of the forest of Brocèliande, now threatened by some kind of pestilence that was sapping the magic from the woods.

While Morgen traverses the treacherous forest to find a way out of its magical boundaries that prevent her escape, Gawain & Hwyfar decide to return to Caerelon after ten long years away from court.

Together, they escort Llachlyn and Percival (a young squire who is more than he seems) back to the castle they fled out of fear. When they arrive, they find the once-thriving stone compound in slow disrepair and a court falling apart at the seams, and they discover there is a quest to find the graal after Llachlyn, Percival, and Galahad shared a dream of the shield.

To keep the graal from falling into the wrong hands, Gawain & Hwyfar, Percival & Galahad, and Llachlyn & Morgen must work together and face their past to defeat the corrupt presence coming deep within the bowels of Caerelon.

I absolutely savored every single moment of this one. I was simultaneously excited and so saddened to finish because I knew that there would never be a chance to see more of this world and its characters.

The writing style was very unique and differed slightly from the format of the previous books.

This story was mostly told through a first-person POV perspective through Morgen le Fey, but it also had multiple third-person POV perspectives from many other characters as well, which helped bring the entirety of the story together. It was so well written, I didn't notice this stylistic choice until I was halfway through reading.

I absolutely loved all the characters and was happy to see where some characters in the previous books tied into this final story. It was definitely a satisfying and well-paid off ending.

Perhaps the one thing that stood out the most to me in the novel was the relationship between the Christian faith and the Old Ways of this world. I personally have my own struggles when it comes to faith, so there were times when I honestly was so angry towards a few characters for their zealous behaviors.

The one thing Barron does well, though, is characterization. And when I tell you that the character growth a lot of these characters have in their own ways is just spectacular. You love and hate characters the way they were meant to be loved and hated.

I'm not sure if there is anything else that could ever live up to my expectations when it comes to Arthurian retellings. The bar is set pretty high now. Highly recommend. 4.5⭐️ (rounded up to 5).

Thank you to NetGalley, Natania Barron, and Solaris Books for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Solaris Books, for the joy of reading this incredible book.

This book is the last book in the series and is hugely emotional. I was crying ugly tears. Have the tissues ready.

It is the last, but probably the best.

So sad to have it end.

Recommend.

The final book in a female-led Arthurian Fantasy Romance trilogy, Queen of Mercy focuses on Morgen le Fay. It is also features the next generation-Llachlyn, Sir Galahad, and Percival-who share a vision of the graal. It is beautifully written and such a great statement on the role of women in the epic stories of old. It's also a long book; this series is an investment of time. But if you really love Arthurian legends, you need to give this one a read.

📖 Title: Queen of Mercy-Queens of Fate #3

✍🏾 Author: Natania Barron-I've read Queen of None 4* and Queen of Fury 3*

📅Publication date: 6/3/25 | Read 6/3/25

📃 Format: eBook 432 pgs.

Genre:
*Fantasy
*Romance
*Arthurian retelling/Historical

Tropes:
*religion/Christianity
*court politics
*hidden secrets
*secret identity

👆🏾POV: 3rd person

⚠️TW: incest, SA, baby switch, death of loved ones, grief

🌎 Setting: Carelon to Broceliande

Summary: High priestess Vyvian du Lac (Morgen's aunt) has passed, and Morgen le Fay (Merlin's apprentice) is left as her heir. She's transported to Broceliande to survive the forest and save Carelon from ruin with help from Sir Yvain. Morgen's daughter Llachlyn, her cousin Sir Galahad, and their friend squire Percival help her escape when Mawra (King Arthur's jealous wife) threatens to send Llachlyn away because she's pagan. They go to her cousin Sir Gawain and his wife Hwyfar, who have been living on their own for over ten years away from King Arthur and are sucked back into court politics.

👩🏾 Heroine: Morgen le Fay-a sorceress, King Arthur's sister

👩🏾Heroine: Llachlyn le Fay - 18, Morgen's daughter

👨🏾Hero: Sir Galahad-Lady Anna and Lanceloch's son

👨🏾Hero: Percival-a squire

👨🏾Hero: Sir Yvain-a Knight of the Round Table

🎭 Other Characters:
* Elaine- Morgen's sister who raised Llachlyn for her
* Prince Mordred-a changeling, Arthur's son
* Loholt-Arthur's illegitimate son, the oldest
* Uther Pendragon-King Arthur's father
* Lady Anna du Lac -Morgen's half-sister
*Lanceloch du Lac-Anna's husband, married 15 years
* King Arthur-King of Britain, quests for the graal-The Holy Grail
* Sir Gawain + Princess Hwyfar(Dame Ragnell)
* Merlin-deceased but had a prophecy that Arthur's 1st born child would be his demise
* Queen Mawra-King Arthur's wife


🤔 My Thoughts: This was a good end to a Romantasy based off Arthurian legend. I read The Once and Future King years ago, so my knowledge of these stories was vague. I got the hidden and blatant instances of misogyny, and the strong female leads who fought against it. Morgen and her daughter Llachlyn were resourceful women who wanted better for their abused female family members.

Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level 4/5 🌶️

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Rebellion | Solaris and Natania Barron for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

The castle at Carelon is crumbling, Arthur is failing, & Morgan Le Fay has vanished. New characters & old must unite to save the kingdom from all that threatens it.

This was almost everything I wanted from the conclusion. Everything comes together from the previous two books (so I would definitely recommend rereading both of them closer than I did). We get a grail quest and I can’t even begin to describe the joy I felt when Galahad, perfect Galahad, best of the Knights of the Round Table, was so human. He had a temper, he was jealous, he tried to be a good friend and a good brother, he loved Percival and Llachlyn. And he was still worthy to wield the grail.

And there were so many references to both myths that I knew well and ones I hadn’t read before. It did feel like some parts were a little glossed over like the final situation with Mawra and Lanceloch, but it was very satisfying all around. I’m absolutely going to have to look up more by Barron and I’m excited to have the matching trilogy on my shelves now.

My thanks to both NetGalley and Rebellion for the opportunity to review this arc.

What an ending to this series. I knew it would be emotional, but I was still not prepared to be crying as much as I did. The story that’s been brewing since Queen of None all comes together in Queen of Mercy and my goodness, it was just as gut wrenching and tense as I was expand hoping it to be. I LOVED all the different POVs we get, especially Morgen, Hwyfar and Gawain. The friendship between Llachlyn, Galahad and Percival was so wonderful and I loved seeing them all become the legendary versions of themselves. And Arthur. I loved how Arthur was written in this book. The tension is there from page one and does not show away until the very end. I felt like I was either clenching my jaw or shoulders constantly while reading this and it was 100% worth the stress. I’m sad that the story is at its end, but it was a perfect, full circle ending to me. I loved these characters and this world so much. Anna, Hwyfar, Morgen, Gawain and the rest will forever have place in my heart.
CW: mentions of rape and sexual assault, violence, death, religious trauma, homophobia

Thank you to NetGalley and Solaris Books for the digital reader’s copy!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Queen of Mercy by Natania Barron is a mixed first and third person-POV conclusion to the fantasy Queens of Fate trilogy. Morgen le Fey has been on the outskirts of Carelon for years, aware of a prophecy that spells the end of Arthur and it could be their daughter who is the one who destroys him. But not everything is so clear cut as secrets are revealed and major players start coming in.

Of the three Queens of Fate novels, the only one that I felt was a fantasy romance was the second book whereas this one feels like a regular fantasy novel that happens to include romantic couples. The political machinations and all of the build-up from the last two books are far more of a focus and the romance bits we do get take a back seat. I personally don’t have a problem with this and have gotten used to trilogies sold as ‘fantasy romance’ really meaning that only one book is a romance and the others are the aftermath or are centered on other plot details. But if someone was hoping this series would center a different couple every book, that is not what the series is.

Of the characters we saw again from the previous books, I was happiest to see Gawain and Hwyfar, the leads of the last book. We get to see what has happened to them in the time between the end of their book and the start of this one, including their choice not to have children and to hide their marriage from Arthur. They felt fairly consistent with who they were before and have only matured further in that time and become concerned over the future of Carelon.

One of the things that I liked about this series was that it didn’t shy away from the less romantic parts of Athurian lore. Morgen and Arthur are siblings and they have a child together, many of the women were married and had children when they were still children themselves, and some of Merlin’s actions were more like moving chess pieces rather than noble actions. It does get uncomfortable at times, including learning that Morgen was forced into a relationship with Merlin (I’m not sure if that is in Arthurian lore as this is the first I’ve heard of it) but it does introduce different facets and ideas to these concepts, many of which are part of their stories but we don’t highlight as much.

Content warning for mentions of sexual assault and child marriage

I would recommend this to fans of Arthurian lore who want something centered on the female figures and readers of fantasy who like political fantasy

I loved this! A beautiful closure to the trilogy’s loop. I do think this trilogy brought a fresh breath of air into arthurian books/retellings.
Barron’s writing is engaging, drawing you in, seeing the characters with multiple points of view and feeling with them. There is no lack of action, arcane and prophecies, love and loss. Fate and magic weave across generations, now coming together.
The women in this mystical world are connected and can rely on each other. Morgen Le Fay faces her powers and consequences, redeeming herself.
I will miss these characters for sure, especially Hwyfar.
Thank you Solaris and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Oh, such a brilliant, brilliant ending to The Queens of Fate Trilogy.

I think it's been noted somewhere that while you can read the second book, Queen of Fury, as a standalone, you really need to have read both that and Queen of None before you read this one as all the overarching threads and events in those books culminate in this one. (I did a re-read of Queen of None after reading this to remind myself of some key points, since I'd forgotten who Nimue was, lol)

Queen of Mercy begins ten years after Queen of Fury, and everything that Anna Pendragon set into motion in Queen of None is now bearing fruit. The glimpses we had of Morgen le Fay were varied and scattered in the earlier books, her true motives unclear, but here, we finally get to see from her perspective. We struggle with Morgen as she fights to retain her magic and protect Carelon in the wake of the loss of Vyvian du Lac, amidst a struggle for supremacy between the rising Christian faith and the dying old (magic? pagan?) ways of Avillion.

With each successive book, Barron increases the POVs - and here, whilst Morgen is the primary focus, there's a lot going on elsewhere. Morgen's daughter, Llachlyn le Fay, returns to court, along with Galahad - Lanceloch & Anna's son - and Percival - a squire who is purportedly a random king's bastard - and kicks off a quest for a new graal. Gawain & Hwyfar find themselves swept up in court events again in their bid to protect their young cousins, whilst Queen Mawra and Lanceloch scheme against Arthur in the background. It almost seems too much is going on, but Barron weaves it all together so tightly that you don't actually get overwhelmed.

Whilst it's a story of consequences, it's also one of redemption. Morgen faces her past and redeems it, finding peace with all the things that had been done to her and all the things she'd been compelled to do to others. Barron's Arthurian world is a bleak one for noble women, but she also shows how the women close to Arthur (Anna, Hwyfar, Morgen) find ways to shift things in their favour. There's also growing support from their loved ones - Bedevere, Gawain, Coel - as they learn to understand and depend on each other.

And because I'm always interested in representations of faith in novels, Barron presents a growing Christianity which is corrupt in its grasping for power, with adherents who are in it mostly for what they can get. Not much is said about the source of magic - its representation of good and evil is primarily based on what it is used for - though it's set against Christianity as a clash of religions/gods. In the midst of this, there is a beautiful passage from Galahad that encapsulates a true, pure encounter with God perfectly, at least in my mind. Barron mentions something in her afterword about her struggles with Christianity, so make of that what you will.

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
Pub Date: 09/03/25 🚨

I was so excited to receive an ARC of the third and final installment in this incredible trilogy—and it did not disappoint! As someone who hadn’t read any Arthurian legend-based books before this series, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Natania Barron’s writing completely pulled me in. Her storytelling is rich, engaging, and fast-paced from start to finish.

This final book ties the trilogy together with action, emotion, and depth. It can absolutely stand on its own—so you don’t have to read the first two to enjoy it—but I highly recommend starting from the beginning. The journey is worth it, and the world Barron has created is layered and fascinating.

Whether you're a fantasy lover, curious about Arthurian lore, or just in the mood for a strong, well-paced read, this book (and the whole series!) is one to check out.

I’m sad to say goodbye to these characters, but so glad I got to experience the adventure. Looking forward to whatever Natania writes next!

Thank you to Netgalley, Rebellion Publishing, and Solaris Books for this ARC

This was such a satisfying ending to the trilogy. I really couldn't have asked for more. As with the previous two books, the point of views and narrators are seamlessly weaved together, there are enough twists and turns in the plot to keep you on the edge of your seat, and I simply have not read any other fantasy series in recent times that makes such high stakes feels so incredibly intimate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Natania for providing an ARC to review.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first 2 books in this trilogy and am so excited to have seen its conclusion!
Natania has a beautifully addictive way of writing so you will never be disappointed with the quality of the stories you read from her.

Whilst I am not a fan of time hopping (into the past or the future), I do understand the need for it here and it wasn't toooooo far ahead so I guess I'll just stop complaining now.

I have read a lot of Arthurian legend based books and I did enjoy Natania's take on the mythology and lore as well as her writing style, but it just didn't feel very original in some ways.
You do need to read book 1 and 2 before this one, and while you don't have to be overly familiar with Arthurian legend, it will definitely help you to keep up with the vibe of the story.

While I gave this book 3 stars, I would give the entire trilogy 4 stars overall and do recommend you give it a go if you are into Arthurian legend and folklore!

I LOVED THIS.

Natania Barron is one of my favorite authors because I love how she tells a story. Every series has been different, and I like that I am learning about so many different mythologies because while I've dabbled in some King Arthur stories, I don't know these characters. Morgen Le Fay was the only one I had ever heard of, and even then, I only knew that she was supposed to be some villain who allied with Merlin at some point?

This book ties the rest of the series up in a bow, and you do need to read the other books first. Anna's little manipulations from Queen of None are finally relevant now, and this book takes place 10 years after the end of Queen of Fury.

Vyvian du Lac has died, and the world has changed. Decades have passed since Merlin's manipulations and death, Christianity has come in, and magical Carelon is dying. Morgen Le Fay is tired, and she knows that the old prophesy of King Arthur's downfall will soon come true, now that all the magic Vyvian used to maintain is now gone.

The children of the old manipulations are now teenagers:
- Anna's baby switch of the newborn crown prince
- Merlin's magic which led to Morgen bearing her half-brother Arthur's child

So Morgen gets trapped in a forest and has to find her powers to get out. Best friends Lachlan Le Fay, the squire Percival, and Galahad have a shared dream of a graal, kicking off a new Arthurian quest. Queen Mawra and Lanceloch are having an affair. The kids bring Gawain and Hwyfar back to court after their 10 year honeymoon (and time hiding from King Arthur who did NOT approve the marriage). And a very old prophesy said that Arthur's downfall would be his firstborn child. So many threads of fate are finally converging, the old generation is dying, and the new generation will soon take its place.

This is the book that made this trilogy really feel like a series. Before, I had been a little confused how everything was connected. I had assumed that we were just getting a bunch of different feminist retellings of different women from Arthurian legend. But now I see that the legend is all about Arthur and the magical women of his family. This isn't just a Morgen story. This isn't about Morgen dying or killing Arthur or whatever I had expected. This is about the woman who exchanged the babies in Book 1 finally seeing what she has wrought two decades later. Nimue may have killed Merlin, but no one is truly free from him.

Nothing will ever beat my love for These Marvelous Beasts, but this book made this series a close second for me. I love how Barron tells myths.

Thank you to Netgalley and Solaris for this ARC. I already preordered a copy, and I can't wait to lend it to a friend (and make them a Natania Barron fan).

This series has been amazing! If you love King Arthur retellings then you will love this book! The fantasy is great and the story was fast paced.

Okay I loved the other books from this author so when I saw this on good reads I applied and crossed my fingers and I’m so lucky to have got it!! God this book was so good it took me some time to read as I wanted to wait for a day I had completely free and uninterrupted and that’s exactly what you should do too as you’ll be speeding through this book!!