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joanab13's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
taraclare's review against another edition
I very much enjoyed the book. The character were well formed and secondary characters were unique.
jayra's review against another edition
3.0
Camelot retelling with fae twist.
It has potential tho I might say Book 1 is a bit draggy and it only gets interesting in Book 2. Only that I wish there were more character's depths and their development. I just couldn't sense the chemistry between Morgan and her friends, or Morgan with Kaye.
But you know what, I am totally invested in this series.
Thank you NetGalley & publisher for this eARC.
It has potential tho I might say Book 1 is a bit draggy and it only gets interesting in Book 2. Only that I wish there were more character's depths and their development. I just couldn't sense the chemistry between Morgan and her friends, or Morgan with Kaye.
But you know what, I am totally invested in this series.
Thank you NetGalley & publisher for this eARC.
theblondebookreviewer's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you so much Victory Editing and NetGalley for the digital copy of this book.
God I ate this up in like 2 days. It’s like if From Blood and Ash had a Fae love child with a King Arthur retelling. I loved it.
The writing style was super easy to read, and it was pretty fast paced.
I liked the characters and I’m invested in what happens to them.
And the ending?!?
I’m so glad I rushed to put in my NetGalley request for the next 3 books because I need to know what happens next!
God I ate this up in like 2 days. It’s like if From Blood and Ash had a Fae love child with a King Arthur retelling. I loved it.
The writing style was super easy to read, and it was pretty fast paced.
I liked the characters and I’m invested in what happens to them.
And the ending?!?
I’m so glad I rushed to put in my NetGalley request for the next 3 books because I need to know what happens next!
bethanlouux's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 39%, as much as I tried I just could not get into it!
_simplylornie's review against another edition
5.0
*** Thank you to NetGalley and Briar Boleyn for providing me with a reader’s copy of Queen of Roses in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! Wow! Wow!
This is probably my new favorite read of 2023! I will always think about this book and definitely will want to reread!
This was a Camelot retelling with the focus on Morgan Pendragon. And with a Fae twist!! This book was filled with amazing world building, romance, intrigue, and lots and lots of pain and hardship.
First thing I wanted to say is that the reimagining of the original characters is amazing and I could not get enough! Merlin as a female?! Lancelot as a female?! Yes freaking please. What a powerhouse!
I appreciate how each character in this book went through amazing character development, and it further helped this book feel more engaging. Don’t get me wrong, although it is nice to see a FMC grow, if everyone else in the books stays stagnant, it feels weird. Right?? So 10/10 for me there!
The first book follows Morgan as she goes through her life in Camelot as the sister of King Arthur. She relives and lives through the trauma of being a daughter of the terrible and abusive late king and the terrible reign of her young brother Arthur. She mourns the loss of her mother, the first queen, who was fae, and the effects it has in her life in court.
The story does not feel rushed but it also does not feel like it dragged on. Everything that Morgan went through, served a purpose for the main adventure/mission she embarks on.
She is asked by King Arthur to go in search of Excalibur and to bring it back in hopes of “protecting” Camelot. She makes this trek through old fae territory, alongside her companion of sorts, Draven. I would not say their relationship is “enemies to lovers” but it was more of a, “I don’t know you, so I don’t trust you.” There is banter but never cringy or eye roll worthy!
Overall, She is fae/human ish and has her faults but it just makes for a great read. Her learning to love, dealing with heartbreak, family loss and trauma, and abuse, adds to her growth.
The plot twists were amazing and I usually can tell who is not to be trusted and I WAS BLOWN AWAY!
I am so excited to read book 2!
Wow! Wow! Wow!
This is probably my new favorite read of 2023! I will always think about this book and definitely will want to reread!
This was a Camelot retelling with the focus on Morgan Pendragon. And with a Fae twist!! This book was filled with amazing world building, romance, intrigue, and lots and lots of pain and hardship.
First thing I wanted to say is that the reimagining of the original characters is amazing and I could not get enough! Merlin as a female?! Lancelot as a female?! Yes freaking please. What a powerhouse!
I appreciate how each character in this book went through amazing character development, and it further helped this book feel more engaging. Don’t get me wrong, although it is nice to see a FMC grow, if everyone else in the books stays stagnant, it feels weird. Right?? So 10/10 for me there!
The first book follows Morgan as she goes through her life in Camelot as the sister of King Arthur. She relives and lives through the trauma of being a daughter of the terrible and abusive late king and the terrible reign of her young brother Arthur. She mourns the loss of her mother, the first queen, who was fae, and the effects it has in her life in court.
The story does not feel rushed but it also does not feel like it dragged on. Everything that Morgan went through, served a purpose for the main adventure/mission she embarks on.
She is asked by King Arthur to go in search of Excalibur and to bring it back in hopes of “protecting” Camelot. She makes this trek through old fae territory, alongside her companion of sorts, Draven. I would not say their relationship is “enemies to lovers” but it was more of a, “I don’t know you, so I don’t trust you.” There is banter but never cringy or eye roll worthy!
Overall, She is fae/human ish and has her faults but it just makes for a great read. Her learning to love, dealing with heartbreak, family loss and trauma, and abuse, adds to her growth.
The plot twists were amazing and I usually can tell who is not to be trusted and I WAS BLOWN AWAY!
I am so excited to read book 2!
kelseywoodburn's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
ashtonwashton's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kreela's review against another edition
5.0
Morgan Le Fay is such a well-known figure I needed to refresh what is known about her. There are so many different versions of the myths, the earliest of which depicts her as a flying healer in 1150. “Another popular theory on Morgan's Celtic origins is that she is based upon the Irish battle-goddess Morrigan. There is, however, little textual evidence to support this theory” (https://d.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/theme/morgan).
Why do I mention this? Because here Morgan was not a conniving sorceress. Although Arthur’s sister, originally she was the heir, but their father declared her tainted and dedicated to the temple. Understandably, she was not dedicated to her religion as Gawaine was, but Merlin tried to teach her the magic and rituals. Morgan tried to take some control of her life by training hard as a Guard, and after an especially torturous session with the stalker Florian, she somehow found endless energy to spar over 6 hours. Unless this was a show of her magical talents that she supposedly didn’t have, I could not hold back my disbelief! 6 hours at full speed? I know marathon runners can do this, but still…
Aside from that instance, reading about a princess who is bullied, reputed to be cursed to live an old woman, is refreshing. With all her fighting prowess on the field, she still was unable to protect herself against Florian’s advances.
Arthur is absolutely racist against the fae, unfair to his citizens, and utterly focused on cementing his command.
“Under Perun’s law, deviancy was dealt with harshly.” He decided to send Morgan to look for Excalibur, while he went on a trip to their closest, rich allie with [hostage] Kaye. Why Kaye? Kaye, her younger brother, was sweet and precocious, and was forced to watch Arthur’s punishments. Thus, Kaye preferred to follow Morgan around. She was a better role model.
Enter a new and mysterious king’s guard: Draven. The most infuriating hick that Morgan ever met, mostly because he did not couch his words in floral language. He kept showing up to protect her, which only made her more infuriated. She needed to gain control over her life.
“Sometimes when I laid awake at night, I counted how many people had died because I existed.
It was not as soothing as counting sheep may have been.”
Charged by Arthur to find the elusive Excalibur, for only she can find it (must be her fae blood), she is strapped with both Draven and the loathsome White , who is loyal to Florian’s house and a stickler for orders. First order: an increase in her daily medicine, which already made her weak and ill. She was never meant to succeed.
My favorite scene, though, occurred in Thieves’ Town when they stopped for healing and a real bed for once. Draven was incapacitated by fever just as a mercenary group descended upon the inn, and the 3 Musketeers-like action was so fun!
The Romance:
“A princess might almost think you cared.”
I really like the interaction between Morgan and Draven. She was a bleeding heart; he was a gruff, silent type. If he pined for her, he would never admit it. She never did admit her attraction, either.
But in Book 2 inside, a third companion appeared and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Of course he was a traveling bard, cook, and weaponsmith. His half-fae looks also attracted Morgan’s attention. He made breakfast for them. He sang. And Draven liked it not a bit.
“Fine,” Drave said darkly. “Since you won’t leave when asked and as my only other option is to kill you, which I know she won’t like...”
“Your sister?”
“My companion,” Draven growled.
Oookay. Now who’s possessive?
Steam: 2 scenes
Love Triangle
Betrayals
Epic Fantasy
Single POV
This was so good, filled with action, romance, plot twists, and a little splash of old-fashioned quest through dangerous lands of fantasy.