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mj_86's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal death, Physical abuse, and Slavery
single_star101's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I started this book because I was 100% influenced by the authors social media presence and also love to support Canadian authors. This book has so much potential - but it is really clear that this was the first book the author has published. My abbreviated review is that this book has many flaws BUT it is worth reading because as the series progresses the writing makes the characters have more depth and autonomy. I am glad that I finished the book with enough curiosity about what was going on with the characters to read book two. There was so much growth in the writing! I plan on reading the entire series.
Now for a more in depth review. Don't worry there wont be any spoilers. This books takes the characters from the King Arthur legend and takes them on a wild adventure. I love the places it goes and the plot is well thought out. It was easy to see as a reader what the author wanted me to feel. I loved the twists. Unfortunately the writing of the thing that happened lacked depth and it felt like you were just watching things happen and didn't add depth the characters relationships.
When the book ended it felt like I was in the middle of a book. The FMC Morgan had spent the entire book having things happen to her and it ended with her feeling like a forever victim and not a character that overcomes. My personal opinion is that if you take the first and second book in the series and smoosh them together you have a more complete story arch and the relationships have more depth. But more on that in my review of book two!
Now for a more in depth review. Don't worry there wont be any spoilers. This books takes the characters from the King Arthur legend and takes them on a wild adventure. I love the places it goes and the plot is well thought out. It was easy to see as a reader what the author wanted me to feel. I loved the twists. Unfortunately the writing of the thing that happened lacked depth and it felt like you were just watching things happen and didn't add depth the characters relationships.
When the book ended it felt like I was in the middle of a book. The FMC Morgan had spent the entire book having things happen to her and it ended with her feeling like a forever victim and not a character that overcomes. My personal opinion is that if you take the first and second book in the series and smoosh them together you have a more complete story arch and the relationships have more depth. But more on that in my review of book two!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault
dxmxus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
While this is definitely a slower paced book, primarily focusing on world building and plot development, the characters are easy to connect with. Definitely a difficult book to put down, however, there are moments where the main character seems almost too naive. Readers see through much of the foreshadowing well before the character realizes the warning signs.
I fully plan on finishing the series, however, I hope the next books focus more on character development as the MC feels somewhat flat and unwilling to learn unless absolutely forced into it.
I fully plan on finishing the series, however, I hope the next books focus more on character development as the MC feels somewhat flat and unwilling to learn unless absolutely forced into it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Murder, and Sexual harassment
phangirl's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
C - 7; A - 8; W - 6; P - 5; I - 4; L - 3; E - 1.
34/70 (49%)
I really liked the concepts in this book. It really felt like it had do much potential but imo it fell flat in every way. The writing and pacing were decent at the start, but about 60% in the grammar started to drop off and the pacing slowed down a lot for me.
when I finished the book I was so angry about the Morgan's complete lack of agency that I couldn't s op thinking about rhe book. There is literally no point in which Morgan makes an active choice or takes any action. Eg not drinking the potion (Draven threw it away), leaving (Draven made that happen), killing Florian (self preservation but is debatable), loving/liking Vesper (he enchanted her), etc.
It's not for me. The plot and 'character development' were predictable (and I almost never make predictions while reading), which is so disappointing!
34/70 (49%)
I really liked the concepts in this book. It really felt like it had do much potential but imo it fell flat in every way. The writing and pacing were decent at the start, but about 60% in the grammar started to drop off and the pacing slowed down a lot for me.
It's not for me. The plot and 'character development' were predictable (and I almost never make predictions while reading), which is so disappointing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and War
Minor: Body horror, Child death, Drug use, Pedophilia, Slavery, Kidnapping, Cannibalism, and War
jrice17's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you to NetGalley and Starwater Press for the advanced reader's copy of this book!
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Queen of Roses. I am by no means an expert in the Arthurian legends, but I appreciated the use of the characters and lore from the stories. So going in most people will have a general idea of characters and items to expect to hear about in the book.
The story was a little slow and repetitive in the middle, but sometimes slower pacing is needed to have explosive scenes in other parts of the book. And those last few chapters of the book were NOT what I was expecting. After reading through the end of the book I had to know more about the world, Morgan (our FMC), and Draven (knight), and continue reading the series.
I really appreciate that the two most stereotypical views of Fae and Faeries is portrayed in the book. We get both the extremely human/classically beautiful as well as the human/animal hybrid interpretations of the Fae. In many Fae inspired books I have read, it seems that the author chooses one or the other, but not both. I hope this dynamic is explored more in the next books in the series.
I can't wait to continue reading this series!
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Queen of Roses. I am by no means an expert in the Arthurian legends, but I appreciated the use of the characters and lore from the stories. So going in most people will have a general idea of characters and items to expect to hear about in the book.
The story was a little slow and repetitive in the middle, but sometimes slower pacing is needed to have explosive scenes in other parts of the book. And those last few chapters of the book were NOT what I was expecting. After reading through the end of the book I had to know more about the world, Morgan (our FMC), and Draven (knight), and continue reading the series.
I really appreciate that the two most stereotypical views of Fae and Faeries is portrayed in the book. We get both the extremely human/classically beautiful as well as the human/animal hybrid interpretations of the Fae. In many Fae inspired books I have read, it seems that the author chooses one or the other, but not both. I hope this dynamic is explored more in the next books in the series.
I can't wait to continue reading this series!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Stalking, and Fire/Fire injury
erinnicolecreads's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thank you to Starwater Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
While I thought this book had some good potential, I often found myself running into things that made it difficult to fully delve myself into the story. The pacing felt off, either to slow or too fast/time skips, the plot wasn’t very consistent throughout the story, twists were easily predicted, at times I was wondering what the point of the plot was, and the characters often fell flat. There was also a lack of world building, which often left me feeling confused. Despite all of these things, I do see the potential in the story and can see it progressing in a better manner as the series continues.
While I thought this book had some good potential, I often found myself running into things that made it difficult to fully delve myself into the story. The pacing felt off, either to slow or too fast/time skips, the plot wasn’t very consistent throughout the story, twists were easily predicted, at times I was wondering what the point of the plot was, and the characters often fell flat. There was also a lack of world building, which often left me feeling confused. Despite all of these things, I do see the potential in the story and can see it progressing in a better manner as the series continues.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
erinreadstoomuch's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Pleasantly surprised with this alternative holy grail/excalibur story! Very excited to continue on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, and War
Minor: Child death and Slavery
linda_1863's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Author placed listing of Trigger Warnings at the end of book. Story is a retelling of Camelot/ Excalibur/ King Arthur and the rest of the characters slightly altered. Some characters are now female. The MFC is the older sister of Arthur who was born to a Fae mother. Her father forces her to drink a potion every other night. When her father dies and Arthur becomes King his true colors come out and he increases the abuse she has endured since her mother's death. Arthur demands she takes on the task of locating Excalibur. The trip is long and challenging. The things she is forced to endure.
Was this a worthwhile read? Yes. I would suggest you flip to the Trigger Warning page before beginning just to prepare yourself. It really doesn't ruin anything for the reader. It may actually save some people from trauma that may set in.
Was this a worthwhile read? Yes. I would suggest you flip to the Trigger Warning page before beginning just to prepare yourself. It really doesn't ruin anything for the reader. It may actually save some people from trauma that may set in.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Stalking
Minor: Animal death and Death of parent
page_keeper's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Murder
manaledi's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Very strandard quest fantasy. Not as dark as the title makes it seem. Not really sure what's Arthurian other than the names. Not bad but not particularly memorable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and War