Series Name: Blood of Fae, # 1
Review By Veronica
Queen of Roses is a dark and epic fantasy adventure.
Favourite Quote:
He was coming.
In my mind, his voice rang out over and over, shouting my name. His voice was more powerful than the sea. More primordial than the stars. My name was on his lips as he promised unspeakable darkness to any one who came between us.
Goodreads 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.
This book was a miss for me. It shouldn’t have been. I love fantasies, and when I heard that this series was perfect for those bookworms who loved Fourth Wing and ACOTR, I thought this was going to be my next obsession. Unfortunately, that was not the case. And I think my struggles with this book are centred around the fact that this is a reimaging of the tales of King Arthur. I’m not saying that the author has done a terrible job at breathing new life into these classic tales; I’m just not a huge fan of King Arthur. I also don’t think that this series has enough similar qualities to compare it or say it resembles Fourth Wing or ACTOR. But that is just my opinion. Now, as I have said many times before, not every book is for every reader, and this book was not meant for me. There are good things about this book, and I will talk about them below so you can make your own decision about whether you want to read this book/series.
The author really knows how to hook her readers in. The prologue and first chapter of this book instantly caught my attention and made me want more. It’s not too often that a book can hook me in that fast and strong. Same with the ending, you are left on such a cliffhanger that you can’t help but want to know what is going to happen next. The writing and pacing of this book is pretty good. There are moments when I found this book lagged a bit, but overall, everything moves along at a steady pace. The world-building is good, and if you love King Arthur and his world, then I think you will enjoy this world that the author has created. This book swings into the sub-genre of Romantasy, which means it is a fantasy with a strong romantic element. I didn’t mind the romance because I do enjoy a forbidden, enemies-to-lovers darker romance. This is also considered a “new adult” book, meaning you get more spicy scenes. The characters are decent. I didn’t really connect with any of them. But I think that has more to do with me not liking the whole King Arthur reimaging.
Thank you, Starwater Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
