Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Erin Archer for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Queen’s Card in exchange for my honest review.

This was a beautifully imaginative start to what could become a truly captivating series. From the opening chapters, I was pulled in by the richly detailed worldbuilding and the creative spin on fairytale elements. The use of tarot magic was unique and intriguing, and I loved spotting nods to classic tales like Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, (though I wouldn’t exactly categorize this as a straightforward retelling.) There’s definite potential in this concept and universe.

The first third of the book felt strong and immersive, but as the story progressed, I found myself skimming more than I wanted to. The pacing became noticeably rushed, especially when it came to the romance. Mira and Bael had the bones of an interesting dynamic, but their emotional connection wasn’t fully fleshed out, making the love story feel a bit more convenient than earned.

There was also a lot going on plot wise for a short novel, and unfortunately, much of it was left under explained. Key aspects of the world, like the royal family’s lineage, the fate of Mira’s parents, and even the foundational rules of the tarot based magic, felt a bit vague or brushed over. I also would have loved more depth when it came to the main character herself. We don’t get too much insight into Mira’s background, personality, or her relationships with anyone, which made it difficult to fully connect with her as a heroine.

That said, the book is a fast read with clear ambition, and I did enjoy the atmosphere and the promise of the larger narrative arc. I truly believe this story would have benefitted from being expanded into a much longer book or even two books, giving the characters and plot room to develop and breathe.

I’m hopeful the future books will take the time to explore more of the lore, the emotional layers, and give us a stronger sense of who these characters are and why we should root for them. I’ll be keeping an eye out for what comes next in the series.

I give it a solid 3.5 stars
Spice Rating; 🌶️ (Some Kissing)

It was an enjoyable read! I love the theme and it somehow felt like a loose retelling of Snow White to me instead of Sleeping Beauty? With the queen and the ravens and the mirror (I like that tho). I really like the tarot card part, although I do wish we get to see them more utilized and see more cards mentioned / used. I do love the characters and want to know more about them in following books. Excited to see where this series would go!

To call The Queen’s Card a Sleeping Beauty retelling might be generous—but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. While it nods to classic fairy tales, from enchanted sleep to magic mirrors à la Snow White, this story charts its own path through a fantasy world that feels both familiar and fresh. The atmosphere is nostalgic, with echoes of beloved tales woven throughout, making it an easy and entertaining read for fans of the genre.

That said, the novel left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. The pacing toward the end felt rushed, and several plot threads dangled unresolved—though perhaps they're reserved for future installments. The Queen’s Card is a unique twist on the fairy tale canon, but I closed the book hoping for just a bit more magic in its conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Night Waltz Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. Just, wow! "The Queen's Card" by Erin Archer is an absolute masterpiece of a fairytale retelling, and I devoured every single page. This book completely captivated me from start to finish, earning a solid 5 out of 5 stars!

What makes this book so incredibly special is its fresh and ingenious twist on the classic Sleeping Beauty tale. It doesn't just rehash the story you know; instead, it flips expectations on their head, focusing on Mira, a royal guard training to be a Keeper, rather than the princess herself. This fresh perspective immediately pulled me in, offering a thrilling new lens through which to view a beloved legend.

And speaking of that twist, it weaves seamlessly into the utterly captivating romance. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Mira and the enigmatic Raven (Bael) is perfectly executed. Their slow-burn chemistry sizzles, growing from intense animosity to a deep, compelling connection that felt incredibly earned. The way their relationship develops against the backdrop of this reimagined fairytale—with the core Sleeping Beauty elements impacting their journey and choices—is simply brilliant. It’s not just a love story; it’s a love story intrinsically tied to the very fabric of the twisted fairytale itself, making it feel fresh and unforgettable.

Erin Archer's writing is immersive, pulling you into a world filled with unique tarot-inspired magic, dangerous secrets, and high stakes. The pacing is fantastic, keeping the tension high and the pages turning effortlessly. Mira's journey of self-discovery and her fight to protect her kingdom are incredibly compelling, and Bael is the perfect morally gray, intriguing love interest you can't help but root for.

If you're a fan of fairytale retellings that dare to be different, crave a truly satisfying enemies-to-lovers slow burn, and want to get lost in a richly imagined fantasy world, then stop what you're doing and pick up "The Queen's Card." It's everything I could want in a romantasy, and I'm already desperate for book two!

I loved this so much! I'm a sucker for fairytale retellings. And you went and added enemies to lovers AND a slow burn romance in with it. I was hooked from the start. I really enjoyed that it wasnt just a sleeping beauty retelling, but that you twisted the characters around, added a cool magic system and also threw in a secret society. It was amazing and addicting from.start to finish. I would love a cool sprayed edges physical copy to display on my trophy shelf!

Solid book, I just didn’t feel like I resonated with the characters. This has the potential to be someone’s favorite book. But it’s just not for me.


Thanks NetGalley for this opportunity!

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc for an honest review. I would say it started out intriguing but I did lose some interest and got bored throughout. Definitely didn’t feel any chemistry from the two main characters who are love interests but I really couldn’t feel it. The story was also ok. Nothing groundbreaking but it was entertaining enough. I don’t think I’ll be continuing this series. I gave it a 2.75 star but rounded up to a 3.

What a fun retelling of a classic fairytale! Even though this fantasy retelling of sleeping beauty was low in spice, it was high in fun. The pacing was great in that in kept my attention going. I admit I stayed up way too late reading. I really like how the author strings us along with little tidbits of info we need to know and doesn't give it all to us in one book. I definitely can't wait for the next one. I also really liked how Mira wasn't the typical FMC in that she stumbles through the book while finding herself and her purpose. It's a great journey watching her grow and confront her previous biases. If you like a good slow burn, enemies that team up to stop an evil queen then this book is for you.

A interesting retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Mira trains hard to be a a keeper of the wards, a special guard. She fights to defend the princess but is captured by the Rave, the second-in-command to the enemy queen.

I love Mira and Raven. Bael is wonderfull too. Terrific characters. The plot is interesting. A fast read for me.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

I was immediately drawn to the Sleeping Beauty retelling and tarot card aspect of this book. However, it just really fell flat for me. There was so much telling, instead of showing and I just couldn’t get engaged with the story.

A great debut from author Erin Archer. The story is interesting and full of the elements of fantasy romance that we all know and love. Mira is a great main character, she is witty and determined and her and Bael were a great duo.

I did find that the world building fell a bit flat for me, it was really well done and detailed at the start but later on there wasn't too much detail about where the characters were going and the various kingdoms. This may be intentional as this is only book 1 in a series.
My favorite scene was when Mira picked a flower from the theater. That part was so well written and gave the best dystopian with cursed magic vibes.

I look forward to Erin's future novels <3