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Cover of Queen of Roses

Queen of Roses

by Briar Boleyn

🥛clean·spoiler·Blood of a Fae #1

Why Read This?

A dark and original Arthurian retelling where Morgan Le Fay is the protagonist. The slow-burn enemies-to-lovers tension between Morgan and Kairos is electric even without spice. Rich worldbuilding and a killer cliffhanger that will send you straight to book two.

Synopsis

A doomed love, a dangerous mission, and a kingdom on the brink of war... A cast-off princess… Born into a life of duty and sacrifice, Morgan Pendragon’s destiny has never been her own. Rumored to carry the tainted blood of the fae in her veins, her birthright is stolen from her when she is a mere child. Growing up in the shadow of her brother the king, she has been promised to the goddesses when she comes of age. So, when her brother commands that she seek out a fae weapon of legendary power, Morgan seizes the chance to break free from the chains of her fate. A dangerous temptation… As she travels, Morgan finds herself drawn into a strange group of outcasts, led by a dark and enigmatic warrior whose sharp wit and fierce beauty set her heart ablaze. But while Morgan struggles to reconcile her desires with her duty, she and her new comrades discover dangers that await them beyond anything in their wildest nightmares. A slumbering kingdom awoken by blood… Believed to have vanished generations ago, a fae kingdom dreaded by mortals is ascending once more, bound to reclaim what was lost by violence and bloodshed. As the fae world, with its intricate web of lies and mysteries, is slowly revealed to Morgan, she is led to the terrible realization that the secrets she carries in her blood make her a greater threat than she could ever have imagined. The first in an action-packed new series brimming with magic, danger, and spellbinding slow-burn romance, Queen of Roses is perfect for fans of Holly Black, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Sarah J. Maas.

At a Glance

3.88 ★ Goodreads
Spice Level🥛clean
Endingspoiler
PairingM/F
Romance Pacingslow burn
Energyhigh

Top Tropes

enemies to loversslow burnforced proximityonly one bedbodyguard / protector

Mood

darkadventurousintensepoliticalepic

Book Details

Goodreads Rating

3.88 ★

Page Count

361 pages

Published

2023

Primary Genre

Fantasy Romance

Pairing

M/F

POV

First Person

Romance Pacing

Slow Burn

Cliffhanger

spoiler

Audiobook

Available

Yes

Format

Standard

Narrator

Zara Hampton-Brown

Tropes

RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

Mood

Writing Style

rich and immersive prose with political intrigue

Story Pacing

medium

Emotional Weight

heavy

Energy Required

high

Vibes

Arthurian legend reimaginedfae heritage secretsdangerous quest for Excaliburenemies circling closerfound family on the road

Characters

FMC Archetype

hidden power heroineoutcast princessreluctant warrior

MMC Archetype

morally gray protectormysterious warriorbrooding guardian

Relationship Dynamics

antagonistic to protectiveguard and princess dynamicmutual respect earned through adversitypush and pull tension
domestic abusesexual assault (referenced)deathviolencechild death (off page)physical abuse from parenthomophobiamisogynyexecutionbeheadingvictim blaming
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World & Setting

World Type

high fantasy

Primary Setting

A dark Arthurian kingdom — castles, wild roads, and fae-haunted forests

Fantasy Creatures

Representation

queer side charactersfae as marginalized group allegory

Reading Context

Emotional Payoff

Best Time of Year

any time

When & Where to Read

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