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The Aisling Trilogy #1
The Mortal Queen
Married to the savage fae king…
When Aisling hears that her father has promised her in marriage to the king of the fae, a cold terror washes over her. This marriage means peace for her people, but certain death for Aisling.
Everyone knows that the fae are monsters. That they murder and steal for sport. But when Aisling meets her new husband, he is not at all the beast she expected.
Lir is alluring, wild, and dangerously perfect. She is determined to hate him, but his sharp tongue and fierce loyalty to his people spark an attraction she cannot control.
He draws Aisling into a realm of deadly enchantments and mythical beasts. But she finds that the fae have monsters of their own—creatures of ancient evil that grow stronger by the day.
When Aisling finds herself fighting at Lir’s side, something new stirs inside something more than desire; something magical and untamed, ready to break free. She must learn to control her passion and her power, or watch as the mortal and fae worlds are torn apart.
An absolutely irresistible, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, The Mortal Queen will take you on an action-packed adventure in a world of fae and magic. With unforgettable characters, searing chemistry, action and shocking twists, it’s perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black and Callie Hart.
The Mortal Queen was previously published as Breath of the New Creature by A.E. Jürgens.
When Aisling hears that her father has promised her in marriage to the king of the fae, a cold terror washes over her. This marriage means peace for her people, but certain death for Aisling.
Everyone knows that the fae are monsters. That they murder and steal for sport. But when Aisling meets her new husband, he is not at all the beast she expected.
Lir is alluring, wild, and dangerously perfect. She is determined to hate him, but his sharp tongue and fierce loyalty to his people spark an attraction she cannot control.
He draws Aisling into a realm of deadly enchantments and mythical beasts. But she finds that the fae have monsters of their own—creatures of ancient evil that grow stronger by the day.
When Aisling finds herself fighting at Lir’s side, something new stirs inside something more than desire; something magical and untamed, ready to break free. She must learn to control her passion and her power, or watch as the mortal and fae worlds are torn apart.
An absolutely irresistible, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, The Mortal Queen will take you on an action-packed adventure in a world of fae and magic. With unforgettable characters, searing chemistry, action and shocking twists, it’s perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black and Callie Hart.
The Mortal Queen was previously published as Breath of the New Creature by A.E. Jürgens.
451 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2022
653 people are currently reading
2021 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Metzler
3 books36 followersAshley Metzler is a writer and illustrator known for her high fantasy trilogy, Aisling. Influenced by folklore, mythology, and Yeats, their work captures the magic of immersive storytelling.
Ashley graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in English Literature. She’s lived in over nine different countries and five continents, not including those she explores between the pages of books or the letters on her keyboard.
Ashley graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in English Literature. She’s lived in over nine different countries and five continents, not including those she explores between the pages of books or the letters on her keyboard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 376 reviews
February 28, 2025
36% in and I need a paperback. I want to try it again ASAP !!
I think this is probably pretty good, BUT it's very wordy and when reading multiple scenes I found myself wanting the author to get to the point. I felt the same way about The Cruel Prince series and ended up loving that entire series - but I needed physical copies.
Will pick this back up!
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Check out the new Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel!!
I think this is probably pretty good, BUT it's very wordy and when reading multiple scenes I found myself wanting the author to get to the point. I felt the same way about The Cruel Prince series and ended up loving that entire series - but I needed physical copies.
Will pick this back up!
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Check out the new Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel!!
February 8, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
Super magical read. Lots of familiar tropes and themes here...fae x humans, prophecies & curses, fated mates, an arranged marriage, enemies-to-allies-kinda lovers-to....?...honestly I don't really know but that cliffhanger has me EXTREMELY interested to find out! Aisling's adventure squad at the end made up of her gaggle of brothers and Fin going into the next book....well, I definitely can't wait to see what they get into. Did someone sayyy...cough...book 2 potential love triangle...cough cough...!?!?! 😏
This book in and of itself was a slow burn - steady, methodical pacing the whole way through with a super climactic payoff. This could, however, feel slow to you if you are used to reading action-packed fantasy.
The writing here is rich in detail and depth. The world building gave me a mysterious and ethereal vibe.
While the descriptive prose was immersive, the narrator's reflections sometimes overpowered the actual conversations happening between characters. Because of this, dialogue exchanges lost their natural rhythm at times, and I found myself backtracking to remember what had just been said. A more streamlined approach to internal thoughts would have helped maintain the tension and clarity of character interactions.
The "romance" here is more of a fated mates alliance. Yes, Aisling and Lir build a connection along the way, and there's a heavy emphasis on Aisling coming to terms with being lied to her entire life about the fae. She has crazy, deep rooted prejudices that influenced her attitude quite heavily, to the point that I didn't start to like her character until about the halfway point.
I didn't find myself having cartoon-eyes at Lir. It could be because their dynamic felt more like a friendship for 90% of the book, but damn that "I'll hunt you down" at the end really has me rethinking how he's going to show up in book 2. This series still has a lot left to give and I need it to crank up a notch on the drama and passion for the next installment!
✔️ Fae x Humans
✔️ Prophecies & Curses
✔️ Arranged Marriage
✔️ Enemies-to-Allies-to-kinda lovers vibes
✔️ Heavy Xenophobia
✔️ Fae King MMC, Human FMC
✔️ Part of a Trilogy
❌ No steam or spice (but there is slow building Romance)
************
✨ARC Preread
Who doesn't love fae and an arranged marriage, am I right?? Also, interesting that this is apparently a republishing of Aisling: Breath of the New Creature?
ARC Review (ARC provided by Second Sky & NetGalley)
Super magical read. Lots of familiar tropes and themes here...fae x humans, prophecies & curses, fated mates, an arranged marriage, enemies-to-allies-kinda lovers-to....?...honestly I don't really know but that cliffhanger has me EXTREMELY interested to find out! Aisling's adventure squad at the end made up of her gaggle of brothers and Fin going into the next book....well, I definitely can't wait to see what they get into. Did someone sayyy...cough...book 2 potential love triangle...cough cough...!?!?! 😏
This book in and of itself was a slow burn - steady, methodical pacing the whole way through with a super climactic payoff. This could, however, feel slow to you if you are used to reading action-packed fantasy.
The writing here is rich in detail and depth. The world building gave me a mysterious and ethereal vibe.
While the descriptive prose was immersive, the narrator's reflections sometimes overpowered the actual conversations happening between characters. Because of this, dialogue exchanges lost their natural rhythm at times, and I found myself backtracking to remember what had just been said. A more streamlined approach to internal thoughts would have helped maintain the tension and clarity of character interactions.
The "romance" here is more of a fated mates alliance. Yes, Aisling and Lir build a connection along the way, and there's a heavy emphasis on Aisling coming to terms with being lied to her entire life about the fae. She has crazy, deep rooted prejudices that influenced her attitude quite heavily, to the point that I didn't start to like her character until about the halfway point.
I didn't find myself having cartoon-eyes at Lir. It could be because their dynamic felt more like a friendship for 90% of the book, but damn that "I'll hunt you down" at the end really has me rethinking how he's going to show up in book 2. This series still has a lot left to give and I need it to crank up a notch on the drama and passion for the next installment!
✔️ Fae x Humans
✔️ Prophecies & Curses
✔️ Arranged Marriage
✔️ Enemies-to-Allies-to-kinda lovers vibes
✔️ Heavy Xenophobia
✔️ Fae King MMC, Human FMC
✔️ Part of a Trilogy
❌ No steam or spice (but there is slow building Romance)
************
✨ARC Preread
Who doesn't love fae and an arranged marriage, am I right?? Also, interesting that this is apparently a republishing of Aisling: Breath of the New Creature?
ARC Review (ARC provided by Second Sky & NetGalley)
February 13, 2025
RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL DEBAJO - spanish review down below
First of all, huge thanks to NetGalley and Second Sky for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was so excited to read this book—marriage of convenience? Enemies to lovers? Fae x human? Slow burn? High fantasy?
It had all the tropes I love, and the first few pages had me hooked.
The plot was intriguing: the human princess of the North is forced to marry the fae prince to prevent a war between their species and maintain peace. As she moves into his castle and learns about their customs, the mysterious danger lurking in the fae's forest both worries and fascinates her.
The writing was rich and detailed, something I had been missing in my recent fantasy reads. The world-building was exquisite, making the setting feel incredibly immersive and real.
However, at some point, it became too much—the descriptions were so extensive that the actual scenes stopped flowing, and I even found myself getting lost in details that ultimately didn’t matter. The same thing happened with the narration: it became repetitive, not just in word choice but also in structure. By the end, every chapter felt just like the previous one, except with new characters introduced with barely any context.
I couldn’t connect with the characters, partly due to how disconnected I felt from the story because of these issues. While the world was over-described, the characters lacked depth—even the protagonists. And although it’s a slow burn (a VERY slow one), I couldn't even believe there was any real romance developing. The few romantic scenes felt forced and, again, repetitive.
I hate to say it, but by the halfway point, I was bored. No matter how much I tried to push through, I just couldn’t get back into the story—I wasn’t invested in what was happening, and reading on felt like a chore. I've decided to put it down for now. If it were a standalone, I might have pushed through to see how it ends, but since it's the first in a trilogy, I just don’t see myself caring enough to continue.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL:
Antes de nada, muchas gracias a Netgalley y a Second Sky por la copia avanzada a cambio de una reseña honesta:
Estaba deseando leer este libro, ¿matrimonio de conveniencia?¿enemies to lovers?¿fae x humana?¿Slow burn?¿High Fantasy?
Tiene todos los clichés que adoro, y durante las primeras páginas me mantuvo cautivada.
La trama tenía su enganche: la princesa humana del Norte se ve obligada a casarse con el príncipe fae para frenar la guerra entre especies y preservar la paz. Cuando se muda a su castillo y a descubrir sus costumbres, el mágico peligro que acecha a los faes en el bosque empieza tanto a preocuparla, como a atraerla.
Tiene una narrativa profunda y detallada, algo que echaba de menos en mis últimas lecturas de fantasía. La descripción del mundo era exquisita y permitía sentir el ambiente como si fuera real.
Mi problema vino cuando llegó un punto que era demasiado… describía tanto el escenario que la escena en sí no fluía, e incluso llegaba a perderme al leer tantos detalles que finalmente no tenían importancia alguna. Lo mismo me pasaba con el narrador: se volvió repetitivo, ya no sólo con las mismas palabras una y otra vez, sino con el mismo patrón. Al final, cada capítulo me parecía igual que el anterior excepto que añadía nuevos personajes sin apenas contexto.
No me he sentido conectada a los personajes, en parte por la desconexión de la historia que me provocó lo anterior mencionado. Mientras que hay una sobre-descripción, no hay profundidad en la personalidad de los personajes, ni siquiera de los protagonistas. A pesar de que es un slow burn y ciertamente va muy lento, hasta donde he llegado no podría ni siquiera creer que hubiera un romance como tal. Sus pocas escenas se me hacían muy forzadas, y de nuevo, redundantes.
Me da lástima decir que me aburrí llegados a la mitad, y por mucho que intenté avanzar no conseguí volver a conectar con la trama, no me sentía atraída hacia lo que pasaba y me resultaba muy pesado continuar. He decidido abandonarlo por ahora, si fuera un libro autoconclusivo intentaría darle la oportunidad de ver qué sucede al final, pero es una trilogía y siento que independientemente de lo que pase, no me interesará mucho leer la continuación.
First of all, huge thanks to NetGalley and Second Sky for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was so excited to read this book—marriage of convenience? Enemies to lovers? Fae x human? Slow burn? High fantasy?
It had all the tropes I love, and the first few pages had me hooked.
The plot was intriguing: the human princess of the North is forced to marry the fae prince to prevent a war between their species and maintain peace. As she moves into his castle and learns about their customs, the mysterious danger lurking in the fae's forest both worries and fascinates her.
The writing was rich and detailed, something I had been missing in my recent fantasy reads. The world-building was exquisite, making the setting feel incredibly immersive and real.
However, at some point, it became too much—the descriptions were so extensive that the actual scenes stopped flowing, and I even found myself getting lost in details that ultimately didn’t matter. The same thing happened with the narration: it became repetitive, not just in word choice but also in structure. By the end, every chapter felt just like the previous one, except with new characters introduced with barely any context.
I couldn’t connect with the characters, partly due to how disconnected I felt from the story because of these issues. While the world was over-described, the characters lacked depth—even the protagonists. And although it’s a slow burn (a VERY slow one), I couldn't even believe there was any real romance developing. The few romantic scenes felt forced and, again, repetitive.
I hate to say it, but by the halfway point, I was bored. No matter how much I tried to push through, I just couldn’t get back into the story—I wasn’t invested in what was happening, and reading on felt like a chore. I've decided to put it down for now. If it were a standalone, I might have pushed through to see how it ends, but since it's the first in a trilogy, I just don’t see myself caring enough to continue.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL:
Antes de nada, muchas gracias a Netgalley y a Second Sky por la copia avanzada a cambio de una reseña honesta:
Estaba deseando leer este libro, ¿matrimonio de conveniencia?¿enemies to lovers?¿fae x humana?¿Slow burn?¿High Fantasy?
Tiene todos los clichés que adoro, y durante las primeras páginas me mantuvo cautivada.
La trama tenía su enganche: la princesa humana del Norte se ve obligada a casarse con el príncipe fae para frenar la guerra entre especies y preservar la paz. Cuando se muda a su castillo y a descubrir sus costumbres, el mágico peligro que acecha a los faes en el bosque empieza tanto a preocuparla, como a atraerla.
Tiene una narrativa profunda y detallada, algo que echaba de menos en mis últimas lecturas de fantasía. La descripción del mundo era exquisita y permitía sentir el ambiente como si fuera real.
Mi problema vino cuando llegó un punto que era demasiado… describía tanto el escenario que la escena en sí no fluía, e incluso llegaba a perderme al leer tantos detalles que finalmente no tenían importancia alguna. Lo mismo me pasaba con el narrador: se volvió repetitivo, ya no sólo con las mismas palabras una y otra vez, sino con el mismo patrón. Al final, cada capítulo me parecía igual que el anterior excepto que añadía nuevos personajes sin apenas contexto.
No me he sentido conectada a los personajes, en parte por la desconexión de la historia que me provocó lo anterior mencionado. Mientras que hay una sobre-descripción, no hay profundidad en la personalidad de los personajes, ni siquiera de los protagonistas. A pesar de que es un slow burn y ciertamente va muy lento, hasta donde he llegado no podría ni siquiera creer que hubiera un romance como tal. Sus pocas escenas se me hacían muy forzadas, y de nuevo, redundantes.
Me da lástima decir que me aburrí llegados a la mitad, y por mucho que intenté avanzar no conseguí volver a conectar con la trama, no me sentía atraída hacia lo que pasaba y me resultaba muy pesado continuar. He decidido abandonarlo por ahora, si fuera un libro autoconclusivo intentaría darle la oportunidad de ver qué sucede al final, pero es una trilogía y siento que independientemente de lo que pase, no me interesará mucho leer la continuación.
February 13, 2025
2.5 -2.75 Stars
Aisling is betrothed to Lir, the king of fae. Throughout her life, she has been warned that the fae are tricksters and cannot be trusted. However, as she spends time among them, she discovers a deeper truth.
I found the premise captivating, featuring many beloved tropes. However, I think it would be great to see a bit more depth in the storyline and character development, especially for Lir. Overall, it has a solid foundation, but I'd love to see the characters get more development and a faster flow to keep things moving.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Metzler, and Bookouture for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Aisling is betrothed to Lir, the king of fae. Throughout her life, she has been warned that the fae are tricksters and cannot be trusted. However, as she spends time among them, she discovers a deeper truth.
I found the premise captivating, featuring many beloved tropes. However, I think it would be great to see a bit more depth in the storyline and character development, especially for Lir. Overall, it has a solid foundation, but I'd love to see the characters get more development and a faster flow to keep things moving.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Metzler, and Bookouture for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
February 9, 2025
Previously self pub author of Aisling: Breath of the New Creature has been picked up by a traditional publisher!!!!!
The Mortal Queen = Aisling Book 1 with a brand new look!
Aisling review:
The first half was a bit slow but enjoyable, and the build up of this enchanting and beautiful world was worth every page. I sat down to read tonight at 55% next thing I knew the book was ending and I’m upset. Upset I’m leaving this world for now. Upset I have mortal needs of sleep. Upset that I cannot live in the world that was so incredibly crafted.
I thought I knew magic and faerie lands… this author proved me wrong. I knew nothing until I read the majesty she spun here. Every song, color, taste, smell was crafted exclusively for my consumption and made me believe I was there. I was witness to this story of a human girl who was forced to marry a fae king. Learn about his life and people among the forest. Care for the animals who speak and fight along side their seelie friends. Experience monsters, gods, and magic alike.
You may think you know where this story is going. I can assure you, you do not.
5 stars isn’t enough!
The Mortal Queen = Aisling Book 1 with a brand new look!
Aisling review:
The first half was a bit slow but enjoyable, and the build up of this enchanting and beautiful world was worth every page. I sat down to read tonight at 55% next thing I knew the book was ending and I’m upset. Upset I’m leaving this world for now. Upset I have mortal needs of sleep. Upset that I cannot live in the world that was so incredibly crafted.
I thought I knew magic and faerie lands… this author proved me wrong. I knew nothing until I read the majesty she spun here. Every song, color, taste, smell was crafted exclusively for my consumption and made me believe I was there. I was witness to this story of a human girl who was forced to marry a fae king. Learn about his life and people among the forest. Care for the animals who speak and fight along side their seelie friends. Experience monsters, gods, and magic alike.
You may think you know where this story is going. I can assure you, you do not.
5 stars isn’t enough!
January 2, 2025
2.5-3/5.0
This one puts me in a bit of a bind, as I am thankful for having received an Advance Review Copy, but I did not end up liking it as much as I hoped to.
The setting of the Mortal Queen is placed surrounding a political alliance, bound through two individuals in marriage, a mortal princess and a fae king. Aisling, the mortal, is taken away to the fae kingdom, introduced to a world behind her castle’s walls and the enormous hills of lies her entire existence has based upon thus far. Her husband, Lir, king of the fae, guides her, but also doesn’t really?
I must admit, that I was not a fan of the main characters. Aisling grew to be very tiresome, really quick. Lir still lacks depth after almost 500 pages of reading. Not an ideal way to keep me hooked for the rest of the series, I’m afraid.
Part of it lies in the choice of words that was soooo much on the nose and annoyed me to no end, 333 mentions of “the mortal queen” made me rightfully suspicious. Always having to read either the mortal queen or the fae king got old really quick and kept a distance to the characters I didn’t enjoy.
There were parts in the book, where I felt like the narration slipped up a little, using the mortal word for the fae instead of the fae one when it was only fae talking, characters changing their mind more quickly than the wind does direction.
This also is a true slow-burn, there’s nothing much happening for a majority of the book, which left me as reader unprepared for bigger twists and a bit disappointed by a rushed ending to this instalment. Maybe this was also based for me in a lack of affection for the main characters, but I just didn’t care much at the end.
One thing I really disliked was the everpresent repetitition of every single piece of advice companions from the past or present gave the female main character. I mean, I know the advice by heart now, with how many times I had to read it and I've got a feeling it made up a quarter of the book's word count. Too on the nose, truly.
It’s certainly not horribly written, not at all, but there were stretches of dragging nothingness, then rushed plot and underdeveloped characters. This doesn’t leave me much choice but to rate it between 2.5 and 3, maybe leaning towards three stars.
I'm convinced that for a book to be truly successful in a series, it needs to be able to stand on its own without the other books. This is unfortunately not the case here, I'm left with more questions than answer and no desire to find out.
This one puts me in a bit of a bind, as I am thankful for having received an Advance Review Copy, but I did not end up liking it as much as I hoped to.
The setting of the Mortal Queen is placed surrounding a political alliance, bound through two individuals in marriage, a mortal princess and a fae king. Aisling, the mortal, is taken away to the fae kingdom, introduced to a world behind her castle’s walls and the enormous hills of lies her entire existence has based upon thus far. Her husband, Lir, king of the fae, guides her, but also doesn’t really?
I must admit, that I was not a fan of the main characters. Aisling grew to be very tiresome, really quick. Lir still lacks depth after almost 500 pages of reading. Not an ideal way to keep me hooked for the rest of the series, I’m afraid.
Part of it lies in the choice of words that was soooo much on the nose and annoyed me to no end, 333 mentions of “the mortal queen” made me rightfully suspicious. Always having to read either the mortal queen or the fae king got old really quick and kept a distance to the characters I didn’t enjoy.
There were parts in the book, where I felt like the narration slipped up a little, using the mortal word for the fae instead of the fae one when it was only fae talking, characters changing their mind more quickly than the wind does direction.
This also is a true slow-burn, there’s nothing much happening for a majority of the book, which left me as reader unprepared for bigger twists and a bit disappointed by a rushed ending to this instalment. Maybe this was also based for me in a lack of affection for the main characters, but I just didn’t care much at the end.
One thing I really disliked was the everpresent repetitition of every single piece of advice companions from the past or present gave the female main character. I mean, I know the advice by heart now, with how many times I had to read it and I've got a feeling it made up a quarter of the book's word count. Too on the nose, truly.
It’s certainly not horribly written, not at all, but there were stretches of dragging nothingness, then rushed plot and underdeveloped characters. This doesn’t leave me much choice but to rate it between 2.5 and 3, maybe leaning towards three stars.
I'm convinced that for a book to be truly successful in a series, it needs to be able to stand on its own without the other books. This is unfortunately not the case here, I'm left with more questions than answer and no desire to find out.
February 6, 2025
Ensorcelled from the very first chapter! ❤️
I devoured the fluid prose of this unique take on a fantasy world and am now obsessed with both this world and these characters. The world building was descriptive and well paced (no info dump) sprinkled with nodes to Celtic lore. The slow burn romance was incredibly slow, with no spice, and phenomenal tension making the development and change in the relationship from enemies to lovers feel earned. Each character was unique and held their own voice helping the reader to not get lost in the volume of characters.
I loved the self discovery journey that Aisling went on, struggling to separate what she has been told her whole life from what she was learning in this new world, and decide for herself what to believe. Lir is a compelling character. I can see him being painted as morally grey at times, however, most times he is simply unapologetic about what he is willing to do to protect his people and his kingdom and is unwilling to hide or color his actions to appear as something they are not the way others do.
This book is going on my favorites list and I cannot wait for the next book!
—
🌲Debut novel
🏔️Trilogy - 1st book
🌲Morally grey MMC
🏔️Slowburn romance
🌲Self-discovery journey
🏔️Forced proximity
🌲Enemies to lovers
🏔️Lies & betrayal
🌲Fantasy
🏔️Celtic lore
🌲Fae
🏔️Unseelie
🌲Anthropomorphism
🏔️Magic
🌲Prophecy
🏔️No spice
🌲Single POV
🏔️Republishing
—
Story by Ashley Metzler: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration by Samantha Norbury: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
—
Thank you Second Sky, Bookouture Audio & NetGalley for this complimentary ARC & ALC - all thoughts are my own! 📚 (Is it too soon to request the sequel?!)
Publishers release date 2/14/2025
I devoured the fluid prose of this unique take on a fantasy world and am now obsessed with both this world and these characters. The world building was descriptive and well paced (no info dump) sprinkled with nodes to Celtic lore. The slow burn romance was incredibly slow, with no spice, and phenomenal tension making the development and change in the relationship from enemies to lovers feel earned. Each character was unique and held their own voice helping the reader to not get lost in the volume of characters.
I loved the self discovery journey that Aisling went on, struggling to separate what she has been told her whole life from what she was learning in this new world, and decide for herself what to believe. Lir is a compelling character. I can see him being painted as morally grey at times, however, most times he is simply unapologetic about what he is willing to do to protect his people and his kingdom and is unwilling to hide or color his actions to appear as something they are not the way others do.
This book is going on my favorites list and I cannot wait for the next book!
—
🌲Debut novel
🏔️Trilogy - 1st book
🌲Morally grey MMC
🏔️Slowburn romance
🌲Self-discovery journey
🏔️Forced proximity
🌲Enemies to lovers
🏔️Lies & betrayal
🌲Fantasy
🏔️Celtic lore
🌲Fae
🏔️Unseelie
🌲Anthropomorphism
🏔️Magic
🌲Prophecy
🏔️No spice
🌲Single POV
🏔️Republishing
—
Story by Ashley Metzler: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration by Samantha Norbury: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
—
Thank you Second Sky, Bookouture Audio & NetGalley for this complimentary ARC & ALC - all thoughts are my own! 📚 (Is it too soon to request the sequel?!)
Publishers release date 2/14/2025
February 8, 2025
This had an amazing premise to it that immediately sucked me up in the beginning.
The storyline captured my interest and I wanted to know more about this world. But I got way more than I asked for.
This book had a tendency to over describe the scenery, people, behaviors in the FMC internal monologue. It felt like I was constantly stuck in her head with no way out. It felt long, drawn out and eventually I started tuning out the narrator out. Then I started running into situations where there was something happening in the story that was actually interesting but no clue why because I wasn't listening.
The FMC is consistently referred to "The Mortal Queen" or "The Queen" to a point it was really considered redundant.
I felt no connection to the Fae King to the point, I really don't know his name. I just know he exist and that he is considered the love interest in this story. I didn't get much of a emotional connection with him. You do see moments where he seems like he cares of our FMC. But I wanted just a little more to be invested.
Because of the over description, there was a lot of characters being introduced with names and full on descriptions and backgrounds being introduced. With so many characters coming into the story, it was easy to get lost of who was who in the story and why they are important.
Like I said, the premise had promise and probably could have used a little editing down to make the story flow a little better. I only got through 42% when I decided the book wasn't for me and DNF'd it.
Advance Review Copy generously provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The storyline captured my interest and I wanted to know more about this world. But I got way more than I asked for.
This book had a tendency to over describe the scenery, people, behaviors in the FMC internal monologue. It felt like I was constantly stuck in her head with no way out. It felt long, drawn out and eventually I started tuning out the narrator out. Then I started running into situations where there was something happening in the story that was actually interesting but no clue why because I wasn't listening.
The FMC is consistently referred to "The Mortal Queen" or "The Queen" to a point it was really considered redundant.
I felt no connection to the Fae King to the point, I really don't know his name. I just know he exist and that he is considered the love interest in this story. I didn't get much of a emotional connection with him. You do see moments where he seems like he cares of our FMC. But I wanted just a little more to be invested.
Because of the over description, there was a lot of characters being introduced with names and full on descriptions and backgrounds being introduced. With so many characters coming into the story, it was easy to get lost of who was who in the story and why they are important.
Like I said, the premise had promise and probably could have used a little editing down to make the story flow a little better. I only got through 42% when I decided the book wasn't for me and DNF'd it.
Advance Review Copy generously provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
dnf
February 18, 2025DNF at 24%
This book had SO much potential. Seeing it go up in flames right before my eyes is heartbreaking. The story as a whole had me hooked. It's everything that I want in a book and more. It's supposed to be right up my alley but so much of it didn't work for me.
The writing style was interesting and tried very hard to be eloquent but actually came off as pretentious. Some parts were so out there that they would periodically pull me out of the story because I would start questioning what I had just read. I've also read multiple books written in the third person in the past that worked for me. This one, however, did not.
The heroine was incredibly annoying and judgmental. She would always come out of left field with these nuggets of utter bullcrap from her father that did nothing for the story. She's always mentioning her brothers and how they felt about the fae. How one of them studies fae culture and therefore must know MORE THAN THE ACTUAL FAE DO ABOUT FAE CULTURE THEREFORE THE FAE MUST BE WRONG IF IT CONTRADICTS HER BROTHER'S TEACHINGS. I wanted to scream. I can understand to a certain degree her fear and hesitance towards being with the fae considering the circumstances, but at some point, she has to get it in her head that she married a fae. Fae culture is now her only way forward. All the negative rhetoric she keeps preaching about in her head needs to be open to being updated because it no longer meshes with the reality right in front of her. Also, the human way of life she keeps prattling on about seems rather dumb with so many social rules that do absolutely nothing for anyone except keep her family in power.
I would love to talk about the hero. It's too bad I can't. Why, you ask? Well, you see, in the 24% that I read THE FMC AND THE MMC HAVE YET TO HAVE A FULL MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION. I don't know how I'm supposed to root for someone or feel the chemistry IF THEY ARE NEVER IN THE SAME ROOM AND CONVERSING WITH EACH OTHER. Let's be honest, the MMC is basically avoiding her like the plague. He's only around her when he needs to be. His guards have more meaningful conversations with her than him. I don't think the chemistry was ever in the room with us if I'm being frank.
The most annoying part about all of this is that the world the author attempted to create seemed to be very detailed, thought out, and interesting. However, with these main characters leading the story I don't want to touch this book with a ten-foot pole. With the way the FMC goes on about the humans I lowkey want them to get what's coming to them because they seem like horrible people.
This book had SO much potential. Seeing it go up in flames right before my eyes is heartbreaking. The story as a whole had me hooked. It's everything that I want in a book and more. It's supposed to be right up my alley but so much of it didn't work for me.
The writing style was interesting and tried very hard to be eloquent but actually came off as pretentious. Some parts were so out there that they would periodically pull me out of the story because I would start questioning what I had just read. I've also read multiple books written in the third person in the past that worked for me. This one, however, did not.
The heroine was incredibly annoying and judgmental. She would always come out of left field with these nuggets of utter bullcrap from her father that did nothing for the story. She's always mentioning her brothers and how they felt about the fae. How one of them studies fae culture and therefore must know MORE THAN THE ACTUAL FAE DO ABOUT FAE CULTURE THEREFORE THE FAE MUST BE WRONG IF IT CONTRADICTS HER BROTHER'S TEACHINGS. I wanted to scream. I can understand to a certain degree her fear and hesitance towards being with the fae considering the circumstances, but at some point, she has to get it in her head that she married a fae. Fae culture is now her only way forward. All the negative rhetoric she keeps preaching about in her head needs to be open to being updated because it no longer meshes with the reality right in front of her. Also, the human way of life she keeps prattling on about seems rather dumb with so many social rules that do absolutely nothing for anyone except keep her family in power.
I would love to talk about the hero. It's too bad I can't. Why, you ask? Well, you see, in the 24% that I read THE FMC AND THE MMC HAVE YET TO HAVE A FULL MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION. I don't know how I'm supposed to root for someone or feel the chemistry IF THEY ARE NEVER IN THE SAME ROOM AND CONVERSING WITH EACH OTHER. Let's be honest, the MMC is basically avoiding her like the plague. He's only around her when he needs to be. His guards have more meaningful conversations with her than him. I don't think the chemistry was ever in the room with us if I'm being frank.
The most annoying part about all of this is that the world the author attempted to create seemed to be very detailed, thought out, and interesting. However, with these main characters leading the story I don't want to touch this book with a ten-foot pole. With the way the FMC goes on about the humans I lowkey want them to get what's coming to them because they seem like horrible people.
February 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Ashley Metzler, and Bookouture Audio | Second Sky Books for the early access audiobook of The Mortal Queen, beautifully narrated by the incredibly talented Samantha Norbury! 🎧🌟
Now, let’s dive into this enchanting tale! 🌈
🌸 Synopsis
For as long as Aisling can remember, the fae and mortals have been locked in a bitter war. To protect her realm, she has made the ultimate sacrifice: marrying the savage fae king in a desperate bid for peace. But instead of an evil monster, she finds Lir – a king who is alluring, wild, and dangerously perfect. As the wedding approaches, Aisling grapples with her fate while navigating a world filled with magical beasts and deadly enchantments. However, with a brewing connection that feels more than physical, Aisling must ask herself: can she trust Lir, or will her heart's desires set their worlds ablaze? 🔥💔
🎡 My Thoughts
To be honest, this book had its moments. While the slow burn was excruciating at times, and honestly, sometimes felt like I was waiting for a kettle to boil, there was just enough enchantment to keep me flipping those virtual pages! 😂 Because let's be real, when it comes to fantasy, I typically crave a little more spice and romance! 🌶️💖
But here’s the thing: even without that sizzling romance I usually adore, The Mortal Queen still offered a unique and enjoyable experience. 💫 The first person vs. third person narrative switch made it a little tricky to settle into the flow, but once I adapted, I was fully immersed in Aisling's journey.
And can we just take a moment to acknowledge the comparison to authors like Sarah J. Maas? 🙊 That felt like a tall order! While I see the potential for this trilogy to resonate with many YA fantasy readers, it might not quite reach those heights just yet. 🚀
Nonetheless, I do recommend this book to all the fantasy lovers out there who thrive on tales of self-sacrifice, mysterious fae, and blooming transformations. If romance isn’t your top priority, you’ll find the complexities of Aisling's character arc and the moral dilemmas captivating enough! 🌌✨
Overall, I’d rate this a solid 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (rounded up from 3.75) for its engaging storytelling and fascinating characters, even if it didn’t quite meet all my preferences in the romance department. 💔
🌟 Final Thoughts
In conclusion, The Mortal Queen is worth a listen, especially for those who favor fantasy with a hint of enchantment rather than a steamy love affair. 🧙♀️💞 I can genuinely see this series becoming a favorite among readers who love young adult fantasy. Grab your headphones, and dive into Aisling's world – it just might surprise you! 🎧✨
Happy reading (or listening)! 📖💖
Now, let’s dive into this enchanting tale! 🌈
🌸 Synopsis
For as long as Aisling can remember, the fae and mortals have been locked in a bitter war. To protect her realm, she has made the ultimate sacrifice: marrying the savage fae king in a desperate bid for peace. But instead of an evil monster, she finds Lir – a king who is alluring, wild, and dangerously perfect. As the wedding approaches, Aisling grapples with her fate while navigating a world filled with magical beasts and deadly enchantments. However, with a brewing connection that feels more than physical, Aisling must ask herself: can she trust Lir, or will her heart's desires set their worlds ablaze? 🔥💔
🎡 My Thoughts
To be honest, this book had its moments. While the slow burn was excruciating at times, and honestly, sometimes felt like I was waiting for a kettle to boil, there was just enough enchantment to keep me flipping those virtual pages! 😂 Because let's be real, when it comes to fantasy, I typically crave a little more spice and romance! 🌶️💖
But here’s the thing: even without that sizzling romance I usually adore, The Mortal Queen still offered a unique and enjoyable experience. 💫 The first person vs. third person narrative switch made it a little tricky to settle into the flow, but once I adapted, I was fully immersed in Aisling's journey.
And can we just take a moment to acknowledge the comparison to authors like Sarah J. Maas? 🙊 That felt like a tall order! While I see the potential for this trilogy to resonate with many YA fantasy readers, it might not quite reach those heights just yet. 🚀
Nonetheless, I do recommend this book to all the fantasy lovers out there who thrive on tales of self-sacrifice, mysterious fae, and blooming transformations. If romance isn’t your top priority, you’ll find the complexities of Aisling's character arc and the moral dilemmas captivating enough! 🌌✨
Overall, I’d rate this a solid 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (rounded up from 3.75) for its engaging storytelling and fascinating characters, even if it didn’t quite meet all my preferences in the romance department. 💔
🌟 Final Thoughts
In conclusion, The Mortal Queen is worth a listen, especially for those who favor fantasy with a hint of enchantment rather than a steamy love affair. 🧙♀️💞 I can genuinely see this series becoming a favorite among readers who love young adult fantasy. Grab your headphones, and dive into Aisling's world – it just might surprise you! 🎧✨
Happy reading (or listening)! 📖💖
February 14, 2025
Rating - 4.5⭐️
Wow. I have never read something like this before, I am still speechless.
So in this book we follow Aisling, she gets maid to the Fae king, in order to form an alliance between her kind, the mortals and the fae. She has been told many things about the Fae and their King, Lir, but she finds out some truths that she could have never expected. The more time she spends with the fae out in the wildlife, the more at home she feels, and it awakens something in her..something she could never expected. But who are her loyalties too…will she destroy the world or light it up? And what is this bond with her new husband…?
Wow, first I’m so happy to read a Romantasy that is more fantasy based. The world building in this was beautiful, almost poetic. I felt like I was right there with them. I wouldn’t call it quite high fantasy, but definitely higher than most I have read recently. Omg the slow burn…..I could not cope. The amount of magical creatures and monsters in this book made me so happy and I could really see this becoming a movie! The twists?!?!? I cannot wait to continue this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Second sky books for this ARC!
Wow. I have never read something like this before, I am still speechless.
So in this book we follow Aisling, she gets maid to the Fae king, in order to form an alliance between her kind, the mortals and the fae. She has been told many things about the Fae and their King, Lir, but she finds out some truths that she could have never expected. The more time she spends with the fae out in the wildlife, the more at home she feels, and it awakens something in her..something she could never expected. But who are her loyalties too…will she destroy the world or light it up? And what is this bond with her new husband…?
Wow, first I’m so happy to read a Romantasy that is more fantasy based. The world building in this was beautiful, almost poetic. I felt like I was right there with them. I wouldn’t call it quite high fantasy, but definitely higher than most I have read recently. Omg the slow burn…..I could not cope. The amount of magical creatures and monsters in this book made me so happy and I could really see this becoming a movie! The twists?!?!? I cannot wait to continue this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Second sky books for this ARC!
February 17, 2025
Intense. Enticing. Ethereal.
The world building is fantastic. It truly engrossed me into the story and transported me in a way that kept me engaged in its entirety. The writing is excellent and descriptive and the characters are so likable.
The pacing is on the slower side but builds to a climax that pays off well. I’m such a stickler for the pacing of the book and from the start I knew this was going to be a slow burn, but it’s written in a way that is not boring. I will say however, the dialogue got lost and the actions and small details overshadowed it. I found myself needing to revert back to certain parts in order to remind myself on what was said.
However, with that being said. I enjoyed the romantasy elements and I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of steam and spice. It’s been increasingly difficult to find a romantasy without spice, so reading this book was a nice and unexpected experience.
I would like to extend my gratitude to NetGalley, Second Sky and Ashley Metzler for the Advance Reader Copy of The Mortal Queen in exchange for my honest review.
The world building is fantastic. It truly engrossed me into the story and transported me in a way that kept me engaged in its entirety. The writing is excellent and descriptive and the characters are so likable.
The pacing is on the slower side but builds to a climax that pays off well. I’m such a stickler for the pacing of the book and from the start I knew this was going to be a slow burn, but it’s written in a way that is not boring. I will say however, the dialogue got lost and the actions and small details overshadowed it. I found myself needing to revert back to certain parts in order to remind myself on what was said.
However, with that being said. I enjoyed the romantasy elements and I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of steam and spice. It’s been increasingly difficult to find a romantasy without spice, so reading this book was a nice and unexpected experience.
I would like to extend my gratitude to NetGalley, Second Sky and Ashley Metzler for the Advance Reader Copy of The Mortal Queen in exchange for my honest review.
February 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the author Ashley Metzler for allowing me to review the arc for The Mortal Queen as an audiobook♥️✨
I honestly loved the audiobook so much it flowed so well and the narrator did such an amazing job at bringing a different vibe and feeling to each character by voicing them in such a way that made me clearly distinct each character very well 🫶🏻
Aisling’s character had a really impressive evolution as she started as being very shy and afraid to speak her mind as a result to her upbringing but as we follow her story we can see her thriving as The Mortal Queen and becoming a better version of herself ❤️🔥 Lir was the perfect mix between a brooding and mysterious character who was also caring for his people and slowly for Aisling as well and tending to her needs and being there for her 🤭
I highly enjoyed the slow burn of the story as the romance feels like it happens in the background and we focus more on the story and the world. Also the description of the world was super interesting and it felt whimsical and nature focused which was really nice
Overall I really loved the flow of the story through the audiobook and I would highly recommend this story as it has potential to become something bigger and extremely wonderful ♥️✨
I honestly loved the audiobook so much it flowed so well and the narrator did such an amazing job at bringing a different vibe and feeling to each character by voicing them in such a way that made me clearly distinct each character very well 🫶🏻
Aisling’s character had a really impressive evolution as she started as being very shy and afraid to speak her mind as a result to her upbringing but as we follow her story we can see her thriving as The Mortal Queen and becoming a better version of herself ❤️🔥 Lir was the perfect mix between a brooding and mysterious character who was also caring for his people and slowly for Aisling as well and tending to her needs and being there for her 🤭
I highly enjoyed the slow burn of the story as the romance feels like it happens in the background and we focus more on the story and the world. Also the description of the world was super interesting and it felt whimsical and nature focused which was really nice
Overall I really loved the flow of the story through the audiobook and I would highly recommend this story as it has potential to become something bigger and extremely wonderful ♥️✨
June 12, 2025
4.5🌟
A fantasy book hasn’t wrecked me like this in ages. I am feral. I am unwell. I am obsessed.
A fantasy book hasn’t wrecked me like this in ages. I am feral. I am unwell. I am obsessed.
January 5, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! While there were elements of this I really enjoyed, like the world-building and character development, it was absolutely drowned by the amount of inner-dialogue and scenes that went nowhere. You could drive a truck between the conversation call and responses, someone saying something and not receiving a response until three pages later because there was a random tangent in-between. Repeat info, scenes where nothing happens, and some grammar issues (like using words incorrectly that I googled just to make sure I was right in their meaning) made this feel unresolved. Could definitely use another round of editing!
This is also sold as a romantic story, yet the two barely spend any time together and there is exactly one kiss the whole time. No declarations, no great reactions to reunions or saving lives, nothing. I kept patiently waiting for something to happen between Lir and Aisling, and nada. There was some good tension, but without any true growth or much time spent together it wasn’t enough to make me root for them.
🌶️: 0/5
This is also sold as a romantic story, yet the two barely spend any time together and there is exactly one kiss the whole time. No declarations, no great reactions to reunions or saving lives, nothing. I kept patiently waiting for something to happen between Lir and Aisling, and nada. There was some good tension, but without any true growth or much time spent together it wasn’t enough to make me root for them.
🌶️: 0/5
January 28, 2025
While an excellent premise, the execution was a disappointment for me.
Aisling is the mortal queen (not that you could miss it since the author uses the phrase no less than 333 times), and her people have been at war with the fae for centuries. A tentative peace is forged by her marriage to the fae king, Lir, and she sets off to live among her people’s ancient enemy.
See? A solid premise, and a different approach to the human girl/fae king trope. Unfortunately, I couldn’t care at all because I was too distracted by the writing. First, it’s endlessly repetitive. Once a word or phrase is introduced, you can be sure it will resurface again and again. Plus, we are treated to word-for-word repeats of flashback quotes spoken to the FMC a dozen times.
There is also an odd habit of rattling off long lists of names or items. On several occasions, four or five character names were listed in multiple sentences within the same paragraph. Probably my biggest gripe, though, is the frequent misuse of words, sometimes causing the meaning of a sentence to be reversed.
The book reads like it’s been translated to English from another language, badly, by a computer program. I’m certainly not saying that’s what happened, but if English is the author’s first language, they demonstrate a disregard for the rules of basic sentence structure and the definitions of words that is frankly shocking in a writer.
Underdeveloped characters, a nonexistent romance, and uneven pacing rounded out the experience. It’s a shame, because the author had a unique and interesting idea, and perhaps if less effort had been spent on the attempt to create flowery language, it could have been great.
*I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Aisling is the mortal queen (not that you could miss it since the author uses the phrase no less than 333 times), and her people have been at war with the fae for centuries. A tentative peace is forged by her marriage to the fae king, Lir, and she sets off to live among her people’s ancient enemy.
See? A solid premise, and a different approach to the human girl/fae king trope. Unfortunately, I couldn’t care at all because I was too distracted by the writing. First, it’s endlessly repetitive. Once a word or phrase is introduced, you can be sure it will resurface again and again. Plus, we are treated to word-for-word repeats of flashback quotes spoken to the FMC a dozen times.
There is also an odd habit of rattling off long lists of names or items. On several occasions, four or five character names were listed in multiple sentences within the same paragraph. Probably my biggest gripe, though, is the frequent misuse of words, sometimes causing the meaning of a sentence to be reversed.
The book reads like it’s been translated to English from another language, badly, by a computer program. I’m certainly not saying that’s what happened, but if English is the author’s first language, they demonstrate a disregard for the rules of basic sentence structure and the definitions of words that is frankly shocking in a writer.
Underdeveloped characters, a nonexistent romance, and uneven pacing rounded out the experience. It’s a shame, because the author had a unique and interesting idea, and perhaps if less effort had been spent on the attempt to create flowery language, it could have been great.
*I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
January 6, 2025
This is definitely for the fans of JRR Tolkien style of writing and not ACOTAR or fourth wing.
There is world building and character building.
This is not a romance or an action packed book, it’s an epic fantasy.
You’re gonna immerse yourself in the world and get to know the main character and her history. It’s written in third person with a focus on her.
It’s a slow burn romance so don’t come looking for spice.
This is definitely a book you are either gonna love or hate depending on the above factors but it’s not a book for those that want instant gratification.
The FMC is a fish out of water and she is gonna piss you off with her willful ignorance but once she sees the truth, she fights. She is almost tortured with her choices of what to do.
Even though this is a fantasy, she is very realistic. You can almost see yourself, just a normal person thrown into a world you don’t understand and don’t trust. But then you find out the world you do understand and do trust, it’s all a lie.
How would you react? Is it worth saving? Who should decide anyway?
There is world building and character building.
This is not a romance or an action packed book, it’s an epic fantasy.
You’re gonna immerse yourself in the world and get to know the main character and her history. It’s written in third person with a focus on her.
It’s a slow burn romance so don’t come looking for spice.
This is definitely a book you are either gonna love or hate depending on the above factors but it’s not a book for those that want instant gratification.
The FMC is a fish out of water and she is gonna piss you off with her willful ignorance but once she sees the truth, she fights. She is almost tortured with her choices of what to do.
Even though this is a fantasy, she is very realistic. You can almost see yourself, just a normal person thrown into a world you don’t understand and don’t trust. But then you find out the world you do understand and do trust, it’s all a lie.
How would you react? Is it worth saving? Who should decide anyway?
January 22, 2025
4.75 🌟
A romantasy, heavy on the fantasy 👏🏻
Give me book two right now, I am so immersed and raring to go. If you need me, you'll find me trying to tame a stag to ride through the forest.
I feel like I have lived and 'breathed' 😉 this adventure as the world building, and the descriptive writing was incredibly well done.
This world is vast, and I feel like it's only going to get more mind-blowing as we head into the next book of this trilogy. The magic, the characters, so many creatures and beings, can I find some magpies to come plait my hair please.
Discovery and adventure are at the forefront of this story, and I am here for it. The romance level in the story is believable, and I can't wait to see how things go in the second instalment.
I would have loved a pronunciation guide/small glossary.
Thank you to Second Sky for my ARC, I've had a magical time ❤️🔥🖤
A romantasy, heavy on the fantasy 👏🏻
Give me book two right now, I am so immersed and raring to go. If you need me, you'll find me trying to tame a stag to ride through the forest.
I feel like I have lived and 'breathed' 😉 this adventure as the world building, and the descriptive writing was incredibly well done.
This world is vast, and I feel like it's only going to get more mind-blowing as we head into the next book of this trilogy. The magic, the characters, so many creatures and beings, can I find some magpies to come plait my hair please.
Discovery and adventure are at the forefront of this story, and I am here for it. The romance level in the story is believable, and I can't wait to see how things go in the second instalment.
I would have loved a pronunciation guide/small glossary.
Thank you to Second Sky for my ARC, I've had a magical time ❤️🔥🖤
February 3, 2025
The mortal queen is an electrifying fantasy novel with a propulsive fast-paced storyline and filled with buried secrets, deadly threats, tangled curses and magic.
Aisling is suddenly ordered to be in an union with the ruthless fae king. Fae and mortals need to forge a peace. And this arranged marriage might just be that. However Aisling is scared but she won't show it because fae gained satisfaction and fed on her fear. Crawling and creeping she turned it to her survival but what awaited her was far from what she had anticipated.
There are creatures who apparently lurk in the forests, colossal magic and wicked beasts whom she has never heard of. A desperate storm is brewing and Aisling is tethering on the blurred line of survival and her destiny.
I really loved this book. It's far better than what has been advertised as fantasy nowadays. There's an engaging story and fetching twists and turns. The romance is although not a main aspect but was weaved in seamlessly. The kingdom and political bets and pursuits of betrayal, the double edged sharped knife of believing who she was and who was about to become. Her reality is shattered into mere shards as she truly sees everything. Rooted in spinned lies and ploys, Aisling would navigate a path of magic and unfamiliarity. The fae king has definitely made it to my favourites.
I would highly recommend this book to fantasy readers.
Aisling is suddenly ordered to be in an union with the ruthless fae king. Fae and mortals need to forge a peace. And this arranged marriage might just be that. However Aisling is scared but she won't show it because fae gained satisfaction and fed on her fear. Crawling and creeping she turned it to her survival but what awaited her was far from what she had anticipated.
There are creatures who apparently lurk in the forests, colossal magic and wicked beasts whom she has never heard of. A desperate storm is brewing and Aisling is tethering on the blurred line of survival and her destiny.
I really loved this book. It's far better than what has been advertised as fantasy nowadays. There's an engaging story and fetching twists and turns. The romance is although not a main aspect but was weaved in seamlessly. The kingdom and political bets and pursuits of betrayal, the double edged sharped knife of believing who she was and who was about to become. Her reality is shattered into mere shards as she truly sees everything. Rooted in spinned lies and ploys, Aisling would navigate a path of magic and unfamiliarity. The fae king has definitely made it to my favourites.
I would highly recommend this book to fantasy readers.
January 24, 2025
Wow I am in love with this book!! I haven't been this into a story for a long time but this had everything I want and need in a 5 star plus read.
Political arranged marriage between a human and a fae is such a good trope and the author did an amazing job with it.
I adored the writing style, such a beautiful and descriptive way to tell a story. The world building was perfect in my opinion, the author gave us details in everything that it created such a rich world and magic system.
This book is definitely a slow burn which is not usually my favourite but it worked so well for Aisling and Lir. There was so much tension I was desperate to keep reading. Lir is 100% a new book boyfriend and this is definitely a new favourite read for me.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.
Political arranged marriage between a human and a fae is such a good trope and the author did an amazing job with it.
I adored the writing style, such a beautiful and descriptive way to tell a story. The world building was perfect in my opinion, the author gave us details in everything that it created such a rich world and magic system.
This book is definitely a slow burn which is not usually my favourite but it worked so well for Aisling and Lir. There was so much tension I was desperate to keep reading. Lir is 100% a new book boyfriend and this is definitely a new favourite read for me.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.
February 4, 2025
Wow just wow
This hooked me from the first chapter, although I listened to this slower then j normally would due to work. I was so excited when I got an extra 5 mins just to listen to a bit more.
Aisling is a mortal princess promised to the king of the fae Lir.
Asking finds out she’s been told lies her whole life about the fae and releases not all is what she thought it was.
Lie after being once married before realises his mother’s prophecy is tied to Aisling.
This is an extremely slow burn and I loved it. There isn’t a great deal of chemistry yet more curiosity.
They are an arranged marriage so it isn’t going to hit yet and I love that Ashley managed to show that in reality you don’t full that hard that quick.
This finished on a Cliff hanger and I’m gutted because I. Need the next audio book!
Thank you netgalley, Ashley metzler and bookouture audio for the audio arc in exchange for an honest review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This hooked me from the first chapter, although I listened to this slower then j normally would due to work. I was so excited when I got an extra 5 mins just to listen to a bit more.
Aisling is a mortal princess promised to the king of the fae Lir.
Asking finds out she’s been told lies her whole life about the fae and releases not all is what she thought it was.
Lie after being once married before realises his mother’s prophecy is tied to Aisling.
This is an extremely slow burn and I loved it. There isn’t a great deal of chemistry yet more curiosity.
They are an arranged marriage so it isn’t going to hit yet and I love that Ashley managed to show that in reality you don’t full that hard that quick.
This finished on a Cliff hanger and I’m gutted because I. Need the next audio book!
Thank you netgalley, Ashley metzler and bookouture audio for the audio arc in exchange for an honest review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 1, 2025
— ARC review ! 🪶
★ 4.5 rounded up
This book was full of surprises for me. It had been a long time since I last read a fantasy book, and I'm glad I got the opportunity to read this story. From the beginning, the book catches the reader's attention, and as the story progressed, I found myself wanting to read more and more. The world building is easily digestible; each detail is revealed at just the right moment. After that ending, I'm really eager to read the following book. Ashley Metzler has a unique way with words, so I'm looking forward to seeing how the story continues. The only thing I would change is adding more details of the places the characters visit.
I also need to add that the characters lived up to my expectations. Aisling went through her self-discovery journey, which thankfully wasn't overshadowed by the romance. On the other hand, we have Lir, probably my favourite character of the book. I would really like to know what his side of the story is, everything he thinks and the reasons behind his actions. However, I am glad it isn't included because I feel that most of the mystery in the story would vanish if we got his point of view. Additionally, the way the slow-burn romance is written is absolutely captivating, and I think it was really well executed.
Thanks to NetGalley, Second Sky, and Ashley Metzler for providing me an advanced copy!
★ 4.5 rounded up
This book was full of surprises for me. It had been a long time since I last read a fantasy book, and I'm glad I got the opportunity to read this story. From the beginning, the book catches the reader's attention, and as the story progressed, I found myself wanting to read more and more. The world building is easily digestible; each detail is revealed at just the right moment. After that ending, I'm really eager to read the following book. Ashley Metzler has a unique way with words, so I'm looking forward to seeing how the story continues. The only thing I would change is adding more details of the places the characters visit.
I also need to add that the characters lived up to my expectations. Aisling went through her self-discovery journey, which thankfully wasn't overshadowed by the romance. On the other hand, we have Lir, probably my favourite character of the book. I would really like to know what his side of the story is, everything he thinks and the reasons behind his actions. However, I am glad it isn't included because I feel that most of the mystery in the story would vanish if we got his point of view. Additionally, the way the slow-burn romance is written is absolutely captivating, and I think it was really well executed.
Thanks to NetGalley, Second Sky, and Ashley Metzler for providing me an advanced copy!
June 18, 2025
This is a 4.5 ⭐ for me. It would have been a 5 star book if it wasn't for the title phrase "the mortal queen" being used 331 times (I keyword searched!) in place of a pronoun or the FMC's name. The story is really good and the characters are super interesting but continually reusing the title phrase became very distracting for me in a way that took away from the plot.
February 6, 2025
Rounded to 4 stars! Loved the world building, unveiling of hidden secrets and characters throughout. At times it was hard to grasp all of the descriptive scenes and the numerous characters but overall the plot was engaging! Married off to the enemy -or so she thought 😶
This book took slow burn to a whole new level. Wish we had more of Aisling and Lir. However, I was very surprised with the ending. I love a good cliffhanger !!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing an advanced audiobook copy 🤎
PUB DATE: February 14th, 2025
This book took slow burn to a whole new level. Wish we had more of Aisling and Lir. However, I was very surprised with the ending. I love a good cliffhanger !!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing an advanced audiobook copy 🤎
PUB DATE: February 14th, 2025
February 19, 2025
A love unmatched, a reckless, ruinous love capable of destroying kingdoms and plaguing the Earth. A harbinger of great upheaval and certain death.
This was such an amazing fantasy book! It was beautifully written, great pacing and an epic, intriguing plot. There are elements very typical of a fantasy book, such as magical creatures, fae, political conflict and war as well as the sweetest slooooowww burn romance(?) to top it off.
The romance in this is extremely subtle, more in the style of fated-enemies/mates. There is no spice, only touches of yearning. And that just makes me SO much better.
This is a very plot-centric book, with a captivating world that is so addictive I found it difficult to put the book down. I loved it so much, and I just adore the writing style; it’s so charming and other-worldly.
Will be reading book two immediately!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Second Sky and the author, Ashley Metzler for this e-ARC.
This was such an amazing fantasy book! It was beautifully written, great pacing and an epic, intriguing plot. There are elements very typical of a fantasy book, such as magical creatures, fae, political conflict and war as well as the sweetest slooooowww burn romance(?) to top it off.
The romance in this is extremely subtle, more in the style of fated-enemies/mates. There is no spice, only touches of yearning. And that just makes me SO much better.
This is a very plot-centric book, with a captivating world that is so addictive I found it difficult to put the book down. I loved it so much, and I just adore the writing style; it’s so charming and other-worldly.
Will be reading book two immediately!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Second Sky and the author, Ashley Metzler for this e-ARC.
March 20, 2025
5⭐️ IF BRING BACK YEARNING WAS A BOOK!!!!
I loved this book.
I loved this world, it was so different, so many things I had never seen before in a book and so fun to read about! Lets just say this is not a typicall fae world.
The writing was so beautiful, surely my favorite part of this read. This was so well written, I adored it. Everything this author wrote had a purpose, there are no parts of this book I wanted to skim through but countless times I reread passages over and over and highlighted/noted. It does not feel like a: "I need to reach a certain amount of words"book, It was just genuine beautiful words and sentences and it made for an enchanting read. Wow.
The characters were also very intteresting (their names were beautiful), I wish we would have had more of a backstory on them but Im hoping the next books give us more of their lore, I am so curious! The FMC has so many layers and feels very real to me and I can not wait to see her story with the MMC!
This book stands out to me and I will remember it ALWAYS, its originality will always make me recommend it to someone who needs something captivating and different in a world of books with similar fae romantasy tropes.
To sum this up, this book was so beautifully ✨different✨ and felt equivalent to drinking a cold glass of water after a long run, sooooo very needed and refreshing.
I will say this book leans more fantasy than Romance due to the aforementioned yearning but in my opinion that makes it 1000x better!
-Thank yout to Netgalley, Ashley Metzler and SecondSky publishing for the eArc of this book, I had a blast and can not wait to start the second book!
I loved this book.
I loved this world, it was so different, so many things I had never seen before in a book and so fun to read about! Lets just say this is not a typicall fae world.
The writing was so beautiful, surely my favorite part of this read. This was so well written, I adored it. Everything this author wrote had a purpose, there are no parts of this book I wanted to skim through but countless times I reread passages over and over and highlighted/noted. It does not feel like a: "I need to reach a certain amount of words"book, It was just genuine beautiful words and sentences and it made for an enchanting read. Wow.
The characters were also very intteresting (their names were beautiful), I wish we would have had more of a backstory on them but Im hoping the next books give us more of their lore, I am so curious! The FMC has so many layers and feels very real to me and I can not wait to see her story with the MMC!
This book stands out to me and I will remember it ALWAYS, its originality will always make me recommend it to someone who needs something captivating and different in a world of books with similar fae romantasy tropes.
To sum this up, this book was so beautifully ✨different✨ and felt equivalent to drinking a cold glass of water after a long run, sooooo very needed and refreshing.
I will say this book leans more fantasy than Romance due to the aforementioned yearning but in my opinion that makes it 1000x better!
-Thank yout to Netgalley, Ashley Metzler and SecondSky publishing for the eArc of this book, I had a blast and can not wait to start the second book!
March 17, 2025
I want to start of by saying how grateful I am to have received this as an arc from Netgalley - LOVE YOU GUYS!!
I absolutely loved this one!! It was so well thought out:
- Plot = 5 stars, so interesting and unique
- Characters = 5 stars, believable, lovable - my favourite ever!
- Pacing = Great, slowed in some places but overall, steady and fast!
- Setting = magical, mystical, marvellous. SO AMAZING!!
- Everything else = GREAT!
I would definitely recommend this to any reader who is looking for a beautiful, well-written and engaging story!
I absolutely loved this one!! It was so well thought out:
- Plot = 5 stars, so interesting and unique
- Characters = 5 stars, believable, lovable - my favourite ever!
- Pacing = Great, slowed in some places but overall, steady and fast!
- Setting = magical, mystical, marvellous. SO AMAZING!!
- Everything else = GREAT!
I would definitely recommend this to any reader who is looking for a beautiful, well-written and engaging story!
January 1, 2025
This is definitely for the fans of JRR Tolkien style of writing and not ACOTAR or fourth wing.
There is world building and character building.
This is not a romance or an action packed book, it’s an epic fantasy.
You’re gonna immerse yourself in the world and get to know the main character and her history. It’s written in third person with a focus on her.
It’s a slow burn romance so don’t come looking for spice.
This is definitely a book you are either gonna love or hate depending on the above factors but it’s not a book for those that want instant gratification.
The FMC is a fish out of water and she is gonna piss you off with her willful ignorance but once she sees the truth, she fights. She is almost torture with her choices and what to do.
Even though this is a fantasy, she is very realistic. You can almost see yourself, just a normal person thrown into a world you don’t understand and don’t trust. But then you find out the world you do understand and do trust, it’s all a lie.
How would you react? Is it worth saving? Who should decide anyway?
There is world building and character building.
This is not a romance or an action packed book, it’s an epic fantasy.
You’re gonna immerse yourself in the world and get to know the main character and her history. It’s written in third person with a focus on her.
It’s a slow burn romance so don’t come looking for spice.
This is definitely a book you are either gonna love or hate depending on the above factors but it’s not a book for those that want instant gratification.
The FMC is a fish out of water and she is gonna piss you off with her willful ignorance but once she sees the truth, she fights. She is almost torture with her choices and what to do.
Even though this is a fantasy, she is very realistic. You can almost see yourself, just a normal person thrown into a world you don’t understand and don’t trust. But then you find out the world you do understand and do trust, it’s all a lie.
How would you react? Is it worth saving? Who should decide anyway?
February 6, 2025
DNF@10% - while the synopsis was good, i found the execution questionable. it felt like the author was trying to reach a word count and decided to add a bunch of synonyms. it was a bit redundant and getting too tedious for me.
⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
⤷ thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2025
4.75
Well what can I say, I've really enjoyed this one. I cannot wait for people to read this when it's out. I do recommend people to read it. It is descriptive. You do learn about the world as the main female character learns it as the book goes on but I love that about a book. it does mean that it's descriptive throughout. The world of the Fae/Sidhe is a place I'd love to live, as for the mortals well they're just like the greed in our world. So this book also has a moral message to all.
As for Lir the fae king, well he just might be a new book boyfriend, menacing, but will do anything for his subjects oh and the best slow burn ever
Thank you Second Sky publishing, Noelle and the author for the chance of reading this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Well what can I say, I've really enjoyed this one. I cannot wait for people to read this when it's out. I do recommend people to read it. It is descriptive. You do learn about the world as the main female character learns it as the book goes on but I love that about a book. it does mean that it's descriptive throughout. The world of the Fae/Sidhe is a place I'd love to live, as for the mortals well they're just like the greed in our world. So this book also has a moral message to all.
As for Lir the fae king, well he just might be a new book boyfriend, menacing, but will do anything for his subjects oh and the best slow burn ever
Thank you Second Sky publishing, Noelle and the author for the chance of reading this ARC in exchange for an honest review
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