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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
Enjoyable if not a bit predictable along with some inconsistencies. Interested to see where this series could go
Loved how this is inspired by the tale of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. This was great start to the series and I'm excited to read the next book!
Thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an eARC!
I actually really enjoyed this book and was definitely ready to move onto book 2 once I finished it. I could be partially biased, because I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers, fae. I think the characters could have been developed more. There was some insta-love that I really wasn’t a fan of. It seemed very undeveloped and all over the place. The plot twists weren’t that shocking in my opinion, and I could pretty much guess what was gonna happen. However, I’m interested to see how things develop in book 2.
I actually really enjoyed this book and was definitely ready to move onto book 2 once I finished it. I could be partially biased, because I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers, fae. I think the characters could have been developed more. There was some insta-love that I really wasn’t a fan of. It seemed very undeveloped and all over the place. The plot twists weren’t that shocking in my opinion, and I could pretty much guess what was gonna happen. However, I’m interested to see how things develop in book 2.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5 ⭐️ First, I want to thank NetGalley, Briar Boleyn, and the publisher for an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The following are all personal opinions.
Beware spoilers below.
Let me begin by saying I’m all about Arthurian retellings. Had a phase where I was quite obsessed, to be honest, so I was super excited to find out this was a retelling. That being said, it is very, very loosely based on Arthurian legend. I think some of the additions threw me off a little bit, while others I really liked.
I enjoyed the fae aspect, and I was enthusiastic about Arthur being a little do*che-canoe, and Lancelet and Merlin being women, but Morgan, the main character, was a little underwhelming in some ways. Kind of having a pity-me party, though deservedly.
The beginning was slow, and it took me a little while to fully get into the book and invested in any character. However, I was thoroughly engaged by maybe 1/3 of the way through.
Some things were predictable - fall for a guy who is handsome but duplicitous, slowly realize you kinda like the big tough dude who has a soft heart (but obviously did some legitimately bad sh*t). I didn’t mind the predictability very much; I enjoyed the Vesper
Beware spoilers below.
Let me begin by saying I’m all about Arthurian retellings. Had a phase where I was quite obsessed, to be honest, so I was super excited to find out this was a retelling. That being said, it is very, very loosely based on Arthurian legend. I think some of the additions threw me off a little bit, while others I really liked.
I enjoyed the fae aspect, and I was enthusiastic about Arthur being a little do*che-canoe, and Lancelet and Merlin being women, but Morgan, the main character, was a little underwhelming in some ways. Kind of having a pity-me party, though deservedly.
The beginning was slow, and it took me a little while to fully get into the book and invested in any character. However, I was thoroughly engaged by maybe 1/3 of the way through.
Some things were predictable - fall for a guy who is handsome but duplicitous, slowly realize you kinda like the big tough dude who has a soft heart (but obviously did some legitimately bad sh*t). I didn’t mind the predictability very much; I enjoyed the Vesper
Love love love this book and starting book 2 right after this review!!
This is an Arthurian retelling, but with a twist. The way this authors changes up the characters from the stories we know so well gives a fresh take on it that I really enjoyed. It was a whole new story on its own and I devoured it!! This story has so much world building without making me feel overwhelmed and I felt I was there the entire time. Draven was my favorite the moment he walked and then the moment he Who did this to you, you just knew he was the one! My favorite part of this book was reading about Morgan and learning who she is and the strength she finds within herself. And then that ending omg I have to go now to read to know what happens next!!!
This is an Arthurian retelling, but with a twist. The way this authors changes up the characters from the stories we know so well gives a fresh take on it that I really enjoyed. It was a whole new story on its own and I devoured it!! This story has so much world building without making me feel overwhelmed and I felt I was there the entire time. Draven was my favorite the moment he walked and then the moment he Who did this to you, you just knew he was the one! My favorite part of this book was reading about Morgan and learning who she is and the strength she finds within herself. And then that ending omg I have to go now to read to know what happens next!!!
Thank you to author Briar Boleyn, publisher Starwater Press, and NetGalley for the ARC read of Queen of Roses, the first book in the Blood of a Fae series.
The book began slowly for me. World-building aside, I needed consistent mental redirection with the reuse of famous character names. This kept me from immediately falling in love with this story, but it didn't stop me from finding it intriguing enough to plunge in.
I love an excellent Arthurian-era plot: hero quest fantasy with slow-burn character development. I loved how strong Morgan's character seemed initially, learning to be a knight and defending herself. I adore her innocence and her loving heart. As the Fae elements began to mix into the setting and characters' lives expertly, I relished this retelling (of sorts) more and more until I found halfway through that I could not put it down. Once Morgan's travel adventures began, I cheered her on. Now that the plot, as it were, has thickened toward the end of the book, I cannot wait to continue to read on in book two to find out what happens throughout this new intrigue with Morgan. I have many questions, and I hope to have more answers after book two.
Four and a half stars from me.
The book began slowly for me. World-building aside, I needed consistent mental redirection with the reuse of famous character names. This kept me from immediately falling in love with this story, but it didn't stop me from finding it intriguing enough to plunge in.
I love an excellent Arthurian-era plot: hero quest fantasy with slow-burn character development. I loved how strong Morgan's character seemed initially, learning to be a knight and defending herself. I adore her innocence and her loving heart. As the Fae elements began to mix into the setting and characters' lives expertly, I relished this retelling (of sorts) more and more until I found halfway through that I could not put it down. Once Morgan's travel adventures began, I cheered her on. Now that the plot, as it were, has thickened toward the end of the book, I cannot wait to continue to read on in book two to find out what happens throughout this new intrigue with Morgan. I have many questions, and I hope to have more answers after book two.
Four and a half stars from me.
Tale as old as time.
Holy cow, I was not prepared for this book. At first I was t sure if I was going to like it, but boy howdy was I wrong. There are so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Briar Boleyn is a fantastic storyteller. I think this is the first book I have read of hers but I am going to be reading all of them from here on out. I am excited to start the next one!
The only reason I have this book 4 stars is because it takes a while to get into it (a few chapters) and sometimes the FMC feels a little whiny.
Holy cow, I was not prepared for this book. At first I was t sure if I was going to like it, but boy howdy was I wrong. There are so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Briar Boleyn is a fantastic storyteller. I think this is the first book I have read of hers but I am going to be reading all of them from here on out. I am excited to start the next one!
The only reason I have this book 4 stars is because it takes a while to get into it (a few chapters) and sometimes the FMC feels a little whiny.
It’s like the La Croix of storytelling. You can tell what flavor the author was going for, but every sip is just nonsensical fluff that’s only satisfying when it’s over.
I don’t know who’s more of a non-practicing intellectual, the FMC or me for confusing optimism for masochism continuing to read after in the first 30% of the book she eagerly follows a man into a dark alley, drinks an open container that tastes funny after her door is left ajar, and is so aggressively abused that the perpetrator carves his name into her, incriminating himself, to which she says nothing to no one about it.
This is all while wading through incessant exhaustive repetitive dialogue including but not limited to the extensive theology and politics without any action or excitement as an incentive to learn these things at all.
The brooding “who hurt you” character is brought in and then handled in such a haphazard way that the trope loses the intended effect until it gets bludgeoned to death by adding a different love interest entirely.
It even takes over halfway through the book for there to even be forced proximity of which the FMC is shocked it will be with the brooding MMC after a lengthy conversation building up to it like it’s a surprise, as if that’s not why we’re still suffering through being pulled along on the thin thread of hope that at least that will be worth it. It’s not.
The magic? Just absolutely infuriating. The way so much detail is put into something like what a plaza looks like that they’re only passing through once but an integral part of the character development is written as if a vague second thought whispered on the wind.
I can’t even get into the fae children massacre where the FMC admires how adeptly the MMC decapitates the children.
I just kept thinking it couldn’t get worse, and kept being proven wrong.
I don’t know who’s more of a non-practicing intellectual, the FMC or me for confusing optimism for masochism continuing to read after in the first 30% of the book she eagerly follows a man into a dark alley, drinks an open container that tastes funny after her door is left ajar, and is so aggressively abused that the perpetrator carves his name into her, incriminating himself, to which she says nothing to no one about it.
This is all while wading through incessant exhaustive repetitive dialogue including but not limited to the extensive theology and politics without any action or excitement as an incentive to learn these things at all.
The brooding “who hurt you” character is brought in and then handled in such a haphazard way that the trope loses the intended effect until it gets bludgeoned to death by adding a different love interest entirely.
It even takes over halfway through the book for there to even be forced proximity of which the FMC is shocked it will be with the brooding MMC after a lengthy conversation building up to it like it’s a surprise, as if that’s not why we’re still suffering through being pulled along on the thin thread of hope that at least that will be worth it. It’s not.
The magic? Just absolutely infuriating. The way so much detail is put into something like what a plaza looks like that they’re only passing through once but an integral part of the character development is written as if a vague second thought whispered on the wind.
I can’t even get into the fae children massacre where the FMC admires how adeptly the MMC decapitates the children.
I just kept thinking it couldn’t get worse, and kept being proven wrong.