What do you think?
Rate this book
The Aisling Trilogy #2
The Savage Queen: A thrilling and passionate fae romance
Her deadliest enemy, her one true love…
Aisling survived battles and betrayal after her marriage to the king of the fae. Now she is caught between two worlds, with magic flowing in her mortal veins—bound forever to Lir and his people.
She journeys to the frozen north, seeking the origin of her power. In a palace of ice and snow, Aisling falls under the spell of another fae king. Fionn is as cold and beautiful as the wilderness he rules—and he wants to make Aisling his queen.
But her bond with Lir can never be broken. Lir is wild and ruthless, and prophecies say their love will bring devastation. Still, Aisling’s dreams and desires always return to him.
When Lir storms into the ice king’s court to challenge for her hand, Aisling must choose where her heart and her loyalties lie. Loving Lir will turn the whole fae world against her and release unimaginable evil. But rejecting him will tear her apart…
An absolutely irresistible, slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance, The Savage Queen continues 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 Savage Queen was previously published as A Spell Unbinding by A.E. Jürgens.
Aisling survived battles and betrayal after her marriage to the king of the fae. Now she is caught between two worlds, with magic flowing in her mortal veins—bound forever to Lir and his people.
She journeys to the frozen north, seeking the origin of her power. In a palace of ice and snow, Aisling falls under the spell of another fae king. Fionn is as cold and beautiful as the wilderness he rules—and he wants to make Aisling his queen.
But her bond with Lir can never be broken. Lir is wild and ruthless, and prophecies say their love will bring devastation. Still, Aisling’s dreams and desires always return to him.
When Lir storms into the ice king’s court to challenge for her hand, Aisling must choose where her heart and her loyalties lie. Loving Lir will turn the whole fae world against her and release unimaginable evil. But rejecting him will tear her apart…
An absolutely irresistible, slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance, The Savage Queen continues 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 Savage Queen was previously published as A Spell Unbinding by A.E. Jürgens.
464 pages, Paperback
Published February 11, 2025
262 people are currently reading
421 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
January 16, 2025
Wow! When The Mortal Queen ended on a cliffhanger I was stressed. I’m so happy I was able to get this ARC immediately after finishing. There was so much growth within Aisling, Lir, Dagfin that added to their complexity as characters. I never knew where the story was going or which plot twists to expect. We got some new characters like Fionn and Racat and saw a lot more of Aisling’s brothers. This journey was definitely an interesting one! I’m glad that Lir and Aisling’s relationship progressed because I love him BADDD. I loved how their relationship was the complete opposite of Dagfin and Aisling’s and how that was continuously shown throughout the book. Overall, if you can’t tell I’m obsessed and need book 3 NOW!
Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley for the ARC!
January 11, 2025
I was so happy this ARC was released right after the first because I couldn’t wait to keep reading. This book had a lot more growth for all of the characters. I was very happy to see Aisling finally stand up to her brothers and start to embrace her power. While the ending of it wasn’t ideal, I did also enjoy Aisling and Dagfin’s relationship because he was truly doing everything for her, unlike her brothers. I was also very happy to finally have Aisling and Lir’s relationship progress as I felt like that is what was missing from the first book. I was engaged the entire time and new characters like Fionn and Racat added to all the drama. Can’t wait for the next!
Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley for the ARC!
February 14, 2025
ARC read- releases February 14, 2025
Updated with quotes- on release day!!
“Well done, little thief.” “You never cease to impress me.” “I lost control.” “Control, Aisling, is a word meant to bridle your strength. To ensure you never fulfill your potential.”
“So, you want me to win. Perhaps I already have then.” “You’re the key to my prison and no more.” “All I’m hearing is that I’m your salvation, ellwyn.”
“You wish to own me.” “I wish for you to be mine. The two are very different.”
“So, you used me.” “Does that wound you?” Aisling mocked. “On the contrary, ellwyn, you’re becoming irresistible.”
“You’re wicked.” “You say it like you’re surprised.”
“You’d grow trees simply to abate my hunger?” “I’d do anything you asked of me.”
“What do you say, little beast?” “Kneel”
“For a kiss,” Lir said, “I’d damn the world.” “I thought you said you couldn’t lie.” “I can’t.”
“You are my nightmare.” “My torment, my inevitable ruin.” “And my unholy obsession.”
———
Desperate for the truth of what she is, Aisling goes on a journey for the curse-breaker. She cannot escape the thread that is tied between her and the fae king but is faced with the love she was destined for before the treaty. Aisling is torn between two worlds, fae and human- forced to choose. Will it be damnation or surrender?
Holy hell I loved this! I need the third book immediately. This is one of the best enemies-to-lovers slow burns I have ever read. And Ashley Metzler’s writing is absolutely amazing- she paints such a perfect picture of the world she has created and I can’t help but want more.
Not much I can say without spoilers other than I was worried this book would fall victim to “second book syndrome” but it absolutely did not and I think it might have been better than the first. The plot kept me on my toes and I only saw a few of the twists coming lol. Also, the lack of side character depth in the first book is absolutely not the case in the second book.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC- I received this eARC for free and all of my opinions are my own
Updated with quotes- on release day!!
“Well done, little thief.” “You never cease to impress me.” “I lost control.” “Control, Aisling, is a word meant to bridle your strength. To ensure you never fulfill your potential.”
“So, you want me to win. Perhaps I already have then.” “You’re the key to my prison and no more.” “All I’m hearing is that I’m your salvation, ellwyn.”
“You wish to own me.” “I wish for you to be mine. The two are very different.”
“So, you used me.” “Does that wound you?” Aisling mocked. “On the contrary, ellwyn, you’re becoming irresistible.”
“You’re wicked.” “You say it like you’re surprised.”
“You’d grow trees simply to abate my hunger?” “I’d do anything you asked of me.”
“What do you say, little beast?” “Kneel”
“For a kiss,” Lir said, “I’d damn the world.” “I thought you said you couldn’t lie.” “I can’t.”
“You are my nightmare.” “My torment, my inevitable ruin.” “And my unholy obsession.”
———
Desperate for the truth of what she is, Aisling goes on a journey for the curse-breaker. She cannot escape the thread that is tied between her and the fae king but is faced with the love she was destined for before the treaty. Aisling is torn between two worlds, fae and human- forced to choose. Will it be damnation or surrender?
Holy hell I loved this! I need the third book immediately. This is one of the best enemies-to-lovers slow burns I have ever read. And Ashley Metzler’s writing is absolutely amazing- she paints such a perfect picture of the world she has created and I can’t help but want more.
Not much I can say without spoilers other than I was worried this book would fall victim to “second book syndrome” but it absolutely did not and I think it might have been better than the first. The plot kept me on my toes and I only saw a few of the twists coming lol. Also, the lack of side character depth in the first book is absolutely not the case in the second book.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC- I received this eARC for free and all of my opinions are my own
May 27, 2025
I had an idea of what I wanted to say with this review, but I can only let my heart break with one of the characters.
Fionn was, however, a great character to introduce on this quest. Aisling's family need a stern talking to.
I did find this one a lot slower and more difficult to get into than the first book, which I loved. I knew I had heartbreak coming, but this!! This upset me!
I am looking forward to seeing how this adventure ends, but I need time first. Hopefully more Fionn and more Lir!!!
Fionn was, however, a great character to introduce on this quest. Aisling's family need a stern talking to.
I did find this one a lot slower and more difficult to get into than the first book, which I loved. I knew I had heartbreak coming, but this!! This upset me!
I am looking forward to seeing how this adventure ends, but I need time first. Hopefully more Fionn and more Lir!!!
March 15, 2025
Rating - 4.5⭐️
I had high expectations for this one, after loving the Mortal Queen and Ashley did not disappoint. We pretty much pick up straight where book 1 finished, love. Ashley provides a little book 1 recap at the beginning, double love. This book is so poetic and descriptive, triple love, that you are literally there with them. This book had me second guessing everything, I thought I knew the plot twists and then BAM something would happen. I bloody love Lir, the tension between him and Aisling is intense. The absolute slowest of slow burns with the sort of angst and lust you can feel in your very bones.
Beyond excited (and scared) to read the next book❤️🔥
I had high expectations for this one, after loving the Mortal Queen and Ashley did not disappoint. We pretty much pick up straight where book 1 finished, love. Ashley provides a little book 1 recap at the beginning, double love. This book is so poetic and descriptive, triple love, that you are literally there with them. This book had me second guessing everything, I thought I knew the plot twists and then BAM something would happen. I bloody love Lir, the tension between him and Aisling is intense. The absolute slowest of slow burns with the sort of angst and lust you can feel in your very bones.
Beyond excited (and scared) to read the next book❤️🔥
February 11, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for an ARC of this book 💌 my opinion is my own.
Oh my goodness, I don't know where to start. I'm so happy I got to read this quickly after I finished the first one because that cliffhanger was killer. Once again the scene setting in this book is great, and I truly felt like I was with the character. There was SO much more character development in this book compared to the first one, and I'm so here for it.
I will say, Dagfin isn't my favorite, but I understand her pull to him (even tho I didn't like it lol) Aisling and Lir's relationship development is unique in its own way, but also it had my HOOKED. I didn't know exactly what would happen, and I will say there were like two 'twists' that literally made my jaw drop. I'm so in love with this story, and I've grown attached to so many of the characters.
Once again, the writing is in my opinion very well done. It doesn't feel "immature" if that makes sense. I can sense that the author is well spoken, or at least is able to write like it. I never felt bored, or felt like things were being dragged on. The lows and highs of this book were all entertaining and had me rushing to the next page nonstop.
I truly recommend these books, and I'm sooooo excited for the next one. Ive never pre-ordered anything in my life, but this is the kind of book that I think I might do it. Absolute gem of a book, especially for those who like to escape to a fantastic world within pages and words 🤍
Oh my goodness, I don't know where to start. I'm so happy I got to read this quickly after I finished the first one because that cliffhanger was killer. Once again the scene setting in this book is great, and I truly felt like I was with the character. There was SO much more character development in this book compared to the first one, and I'm so here for it.
I will say, Dagfin isn't my favorite, but I understand her pull to him (even tho I didn't like it lol) Aisling and Lir's relationship development is unique in its own way, but also it had my HOOKED. I didn't know exactly what would happen, and I will say there were like two 'twists' that literally made my jaw drop. I'm so in love with this story, and I've grown attached to so many of the characters.
Once again, the writing is in my opinion very well done. It doesn't feel "immature" if that makes sense. I can sense that the author is well spoken, or at least is able to write like it. I never felt bored, or felt like things were being dragged on. The lows and highs of this book were all entertaining and had me rushing to the next page nonstop.
I truly recommend these books, and I'm sooooo excited for the next one. Ive never pre-ordered anything in my life, but this is the kind of book that I think I might do it. Absolute gem of a book, especially for those who like to escape to a fantastic world within pages and words 🤍
February 20, 2025
4.5 🌟
I am obsessed with this series, I just adore the world so much. The last 15% of this book had me gasping, and I can't wait to dive into book three as soon as it's released.
I am obsessed with this series, I just adore the world so much. The last 15% of this book had me gasping, and I can't wait to dive into book three as soon as it's released.
April 21, 2025
Aisling is back and she is still only touching the surface of her power! 🔥
✅ Enemies to Lovers
✅ Strong FMC
✅ Love Triangle (Square? Hexagon?)
✅ Broody MMC
✅ Unique Magic System
✅ Morally Grey Characters
We pick up in this book immediately where the first book left off, it had been a couple of months between reading book 1 and 2 so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that the first chapter was a book 1 summary to catch us up with where we left off (I wish all books would do this!). Aisling is on the run from both Sidhe and Mortals alike in the bid to find out where she truly comes from and where she fits in and this book has all the action from the very first page.
I loved the inner struggles between good and evil that Aisling goes through in this book, clinging on to the shreds of her mortality whilst desperately trying to hone her power to become a force to be reckoned with after living her life powerless in more ways that one. The romance in this book is super engaging and we finally get a taste of some spice in book 2 which I was looking forward to. There are now three men vying for Aisling and they are all obsessed with her for various reasons (swoon) 😏.
I love the unique magic system in this world too, it is unlike any fae book that I’ve read before, as Aisling tries to hone her magic and reach her true potential. The characters are well fleshed out (I love you Dagfin) and the world building is impressive. My only grumble would be that certain storylines felt slightly rushed and some moments were ‘blink and you’ll miss it’, which is a shame as there were certain scenes that I would have liked to be more fleshed out and savoured.
Overall this is a solid follow up to book 1 and I am once again patiently waiting for the next one 🙏🏻
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC ☺️
✅ Enemies to Lovers
✅ Strong FMC
✅ Love Triangle (Square? Hexagon?)
✅ Broody MMC
✅ Unique Magic System
✅ Morally Grey Characters
We pick up in this book immediately where the first book left off, it had been a couple of months between reading book 1 and 2 so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that the first chapter was a book 1 summary to catch us up with where we left off (I wish all books would do this!). Aisling is on the run from both Sidhe and Mortals alike in the bid to find out where she truly comes from and where she fits in and this book has all the action from the very first page.
I loved the inner struggles between good and evil that Aisling goes through in this book, clinging on to the shreds of her mortality whilst desperately trying to hone her power to become a force to be reckoned with after living her life powerless in more ways that one. The romance in this book is super engaging and we finally get a taste of some spice in book 2 which I was looking forward to. There are now three men vying for Aisling and they are all obsessed with her for various reasons (swoon) 😏.
I love the unique magic system in this world too, it is unlike any fae book that I’ve read before, as Aisling tries to hone her magic and reach her true potential. The characters are well fleshed out (I love you Dagfin) and the world building is impressive. My only grumble would be that certain storylines felt slightly rushed and some moments were ‘blink and you’ll miss it’, which is a shame as there were certain scenes that I would have liked to be more fleshed out and savoured.
Overall this is a solid follow up to book 1 and I am once again patiently waiting for the next one 🙏🏻
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC ☺️
February 14, 2025
4.5🌟 This was so good. I loved The Mortal Queen, so when I was able to start this one almost immediately, it made my day. I really liked the book 1 recap at the beginning. I didn’t need it personally but definitely appreciated the breakdown. The first book also had a lot of flashback quotes and this one toned that down a bit.
It was so good to get back in with the characters and pick back up on the adventures and high stakes. I wasn’t a fan of Dagfin in the first, but he grew on me this go around. Couldn’t stand any of Aisling’s brothers in either. But Lir and Aisling? YES. I was hoping it would continue slow and steady. The whole Oighir part confused me. I wasn’t really sure what Fionn was trying to accomplish and he seemed kind of dumb for being some old fae king. He’s was just a petty little child. The Lady confused me too, but maybe I just missed something and didn’t get the involvement. I can appreciate a book that’s got some challenges and “games; it seems a little overdone, but they didn’t drag on and on so that was fine.
Overall, really excited with this one and can’t wait for book 3!
Thanks to NetGalley and Second Sky for this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!
Publication Date: 02/14/2025
It was so good to get back in with the characters and pick back up on the adventures and high stakes. I wasn’t a fan of Dagfin in the first, but he grew on me this go around. Couldn’t stand any of Aisling’s brothers in either. But Lir and Aisling? YES. I was hoping it would continue slow and steady. The whole Oighir part confused me. I wasn’t really sure what Fionn was trying to accomplish and he seemed kind of dumb for being some old fae king. He’s was just a petty little child. The Lady confused me too, but maybe I just missed something and didn’t get the involvement. I can appreciate a book that’s got some challenges and “games; it seems a little overdone, but they didn’t drag on and on so that was fine.
Overall, really excited with this one and can’t wait for book 3!
Thanks to NetGalley and Second Sky for this eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!
Publication Date: 02/14/2025
February 21, 2025
’You are my nightmare. My torment, my inevitable ruin. And my unholy obsession.’
THIS TRILOGY HAS ME IN SUCH A CHOKEHOLD I CANNOT 🧎🏻♀️🧎🏻♀️
The yearning. SO. GOOD.
The writing.. impeccable.
LIR 😮💨 Goddamn.
THIS TRILOGY HAS ME IN SUCH A CHOKEHOLD I CANNOT 🧎🏻♀️🧎🏻♀️
The yearning. SO. GOOD.
The writing.. impeccable.
LIR 😮💨 Goddamn.
May 30, 2025
this is THE yearning i’m talking about when i say i want a slow burn. this world and magic system is all consuming. the second i open the book its immediately playing like a movie in my mind. the writing is everything. the second book topping the first is how things should be. LOVED that we got multiple pov’s this time!! i can’t wait for the next in the series.
June 15, 2025
I didn’t have high hopes for the first 70%—the pacing dragged and I felt like I was wading through snowdrifts of exposition—but thank the stars I pushed through, because that last 30%? OH. MY. GOD. Worth every page.
March 1, 2025
Aisling survived battles and betrayal after her marriage to the king of the fae. Now she is caught between two worlds, with magic flowing in her mortal veins—bound forever to Lir and his people.
She journeys to the frozen north, seeking the origin of her power. In a palace of ice and snow, Aisling falls under the spell of another fae king. Fionn is as cold and beautiful as the wilderness he rules—and he wants to make Aisling his queen.
But her bond with Lir can never be broken. Lir is wild and ruthless, and prophecies say their love will bring devastation. Still, Aisling’s dreams and desires always return to him.
When Lir storms into the ice king’s court to challenge for her hand, Aisling must choose where her heart and her loyalties lie. Loving Lir will turn the whole fae world against her and release unimaginable evil. But rejecting him will tear her apart…
She journeys to the frozen north, seeking the origin of her power. In a palace of ice and snow, Aisling falls under the spell of another fae king. Fionn is as cold and beautiful as the wilderness he rules—and he wants to make Aisling his queen.
But her bond with Lir can never be broken. Lir is wild and ruthless, and prophecies say their love will bring devastation. Still, Aisling’s dreams and desires always return to him.
When Lir storms into the ice king’s court to challenge for her hand, Aisling must choose where her heart and her loyalties lie. Loving Lir will turn the whole fae world against her and release unimaginable evil. But rejecting him will tear her apart…
March 3, 2025
Book 2 didnt match the vibe and feels of everything gained in book 1.
I'm not sure what happened here, FMC feels like a whole new person with barely any connection from what the reader felt from book 1.
Lir is so unappealing in this book, Dagfin was written so much more sympathetically so much more attractive to page turn on.
confused. I wanted some strengthening in chemistry between Lir and Aisling- I still feel empty handed.
Knowing this was Plot driven, I was still really missing character depth and traits to connect too.
I will reread the whole series when it's complete and have a reconsideration of this review.
Jasmin E Reads
I'm not sure what happened here, FMC feels like a whole new person with barely any connection from what the reader felt from book 1.
Lir is so unappealing in this book, Dagfin was written so much more sympathetically so much more attractive to page turn on.
confused. I wanted some strengthening in chemistry between Lir and Aisling- I still feel empty handed.
Knowing this was Plot driven, I was still really missing character depth and traits to connect too.
I will reread the whole series when it's complete and have a reconsideration of this review.
Jasmin E Reads
July 17, 2025
Like the first book, I really enjoyed reading this one. Yes, it felt like a second book at times (Fionn, ugh--and Dagfin, too), but overall it was great. I feel like the story is progressing and Aisling is coming into herself more--whether that's good or bad is yet to be seen. I really have no idea what to expect from the third (last?) book, but I'm glad I've got a copy of it from NetGalley.
While I really love the imagery and the overall feel of this series, I'm going a little crazy with the extreme lack of editing. I read the first book as an ARC from NetGalley, so I gave it the benefit of the doubt and didn't hold any of that stuff against it. However, this second book has all the same problems as the first: an overabundance of sentence fragments (Ashley Metzler, you give Sarah J. Maas a run for her money in this department), incorrect word usage, wrong pronoun choice (subject/object), overuse of "So" (plus a comma" as a sentence opener, and so much more. Honestly, I found myself wondering if Ms. Metzler even has an editor. (And if she does, that person should be replaced. Sorry, but it's true.)
Did I still enjoy the book? Yes, I did. Would I have enjoyed it more if it had gone through a vigorous polishing phase? Absolutely.
How it ends:
Language: None that I can recall
Drugs & alcohol: None
Violence: Fantasy violence, duels, etc.
Physical intimacy: A few kisses, some sensual dancing, one open-door sex scene
LGBT: None
While I really love the imagery and the overall feel of this series, I'm going a little crazy with the extreme lack of editing. I read the first book as an ARC from NetGalley, so I gave it the benefit of the doubt and didn't hold any of that stuff against it. However, this second book has all the same problems as the first: an overabundance of sentence fragments (Ashley Metzler, you give Sarah J. Maas a run for her money in this department), incorrect word usage, wrong pronoun choice (subject/object), overuse of "So" (plus a comma" as a sentence opener, and so much more. Honestly, I found myself wondering if Ms. Metzler even has an editor. (And if she does, that person should be replaced. Sorry, but it's true.)
Did I still enjoy the book? Yes, I did. Would I have enjoyed it more if it had gone through a vigorous polishing phase? Absolutely.
How it ends:
Language: None that I can recall
Drugs & alcohol: None
Violence: Fantasy violence, duels, etc.
Physical intimacy: A few kisses, some sensual dancing, one open-door sex scene
LGBT: None
March 10, 2025
Okay… so when does the 3rd book come out?! I need it immediately!
I love everything about this trilogy so far. The world building is continuous throughout the books, the slow burn romance is incredibly well done, the prose is descriptive, and the story is well paced.
—
🌲Trilogy
🏔️Slowburn romance
🌲Self-discovery journey
🏔️Forced proximity
🌲Enemies to lovers
🏔️Morally grey MMC*
🌲Fantasy
🏔️Celtic lore
🌲Fae
🏔️Seelie
🌲Anthropomorphism
🏔️Magic
🌲Prophecy
—
Thank you Second Sky and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review! 📚
Publishers release date 2/14/2025
I love everything about this trilogy so far. The world building is continuous throughout the books, the slow burn romance is incredibly well done, the prose is descriptive, and the story is well paced.
—
🌲Trilogy
🏔️Slowburn romance
🌲Self-discovery journey
🏔️Forced proximity
🌲Enemies to lovers
🏔️Morally grey MMC*
🌲Fantasy
🏔️Celtic lore
🌲Fae
🏔️Seelie
🌲Anthropomorphism
🏔️Magic
🌲Prophecy
—
Thank you Second Sky and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review! 📚
Publishers release date 2/14/2025
February 4, 2025
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Fated Mates, Love Triangle
Spice Level: 0
Steam Level: 2
After a deep betrayal and leaving behind the Fae King Lir in a desperate escape, Aisling sets out on a quest to the Northern continent in hopes that she’ll learn why she – a human – is able to wield magic. During her journey, she and her unfortunate companions face more Unseelie dangers and are eventually captured by the Winter fae king, Fionn. While Fionn is equal parts charming and beautiful, he proves to have ulterior motives with his own form of fae trickery up his sleeve. As such, Aisling is forced to battle again for her independence and from being under another royal’s control, this time with the help from a very disgruntled Lir and his faithful guard. We are also introduced to some new characters (villains and historical figures alike) and given more history, which added to the story’s depth.
Things I liked: I was grateful that the second book picks up only a few weeks from the cliffhanger of book one and the course direction in the story was a nice change of pace. I also appreciated the addition of multiple POVs. While I wasn’t captivated by this book until about the 90% mark, which says a lot about the rating I gave it, the ending was the best part. By this time, we’ve learned enough about Aisling, Lir, more about the history of how humans came to be, more about the relationship between Aisling and Dagfin (pre-Lir), and Aisling’s tense relationship with her brothers. Again, the author does an excellent job at continuing the elaborate world building and describing immersive scenes throughout the story. I was relieved to see that Aisling was beginning to show some intellectual development and character growth, unfortunately it turned out that such changes in her personality were not for the better (which I’ll detail in a bit.)
Things I Disliked: I found a few errors where it seemed that the book was missing digital pages (location 3748, Dagfin’s POV there’s a paragraph that was incomplete without punctuation, then the next page moved into a new paragraph which felt like a few lines were missing.) There were also some overused phrasing/syntax that became less poignant as they were repeated throughout Book 2. Our main character’s personality arc was aggravating. In Book 1, Aisling goes from being an innocent, misguided princess to a willfully ignorant, self-centered and petty Queen-to-Be; then instead of learning from her mistakes as the consequences rear their ugly heads, she acts superior to humans and fae alike, as she displays more of a power-hungry attitude, bringing her right back to being selfish and stubborn to her own detriment. Even by Location 3748 Galad says it all, “We?…It has never been a ‘we,’ mo Lura. Your lips have only ever known ‘I’.”
Overall, by the end of book two, I found Aisling to be rude and completely unlikeable. There were moments that I honestly wanted to cheer for Peitho; who’d shamefully been demoted to just a jealous ex of Lir’s, rather than the powerful Fae Princess and warrior that should’ve been highlighted more. Lir still does not seem to be invested in the relationship he aggressively pursues, as much as he’s seeking the enhanced power he gleans from being in a relationship with Aisling, his caera. This gives off alarm bells at any healthy union between the two and was off-putting at best.
I was truly frustrated throughout the first, and now second book. The pacing wasn’t just slow – it dragged, kicking and screaming. I fell asleep several times and, given that the main characters were not ones I cared for, it took me much longer to read than any other book I’ve ever read. Even our MFC is correct and/or hasn't learned a thing from her mistakes when by Location 4265 it says, "One half of Aisling grew sick with guilt. The other half convinced herself Lir's actions were self-serving. Protecting the host that amplified his power and nothing more." Given that it's equally unclear to the reader where Lir and Aisling stand at this late stage in a story, I don't believe I'll be able to tolerate hoping for improvements by book 3.
Despite these challenges, I refused to DNF (because I’m not a quitter and..) because I had hopes that my favorite characters (who were actually Dagfin, Gilrel & Galad) would force Aisling to change her ways. Sadly, we just didn’t get enough of Galad and Gilrel in Book 2 because Aisling was off on her side-quest, and
By end of Book 2, our main characters STILL distrust one another, and the toxic “romantic tension” between Aisling & Lir was such a slow-burn and felt so forced that it fell flat. And while the cliffhanger of book 2 was certainly intriguing, the lack of likable main characters offer little chance of me reading book 3. I will, however, continue to follow this author because I believe that her writing, world building, and scene descriptions are exceptionally high quality and my scores are more about my dislike of the main characters, than that of the author's story-writing skills. It was merely a miss on my preference of character personalities.
Spice Level: 0
Steam Level: 2
After a deep betrayal and leaving behind the Fae King Lir in a desperate escape, Aisling sets out on a quest to the Northern continent in hopes that she’ll learn why she – a human – is able to wield magic. During her journey, she and her unfortunate companions face more Unseelie dangers and are eventually captured by the Winter fae king, Fionn. While Fionn is equal parts charming and beautiful, he proves to have ulterior motives with his own form of fae trickery up his sleeve. As such, Aisling is forced to battle again for her independence and from being under another royal’s control, this time with the help from a very disgruntled Lir and his faithful guard. We are also introduced to some new characters (villains and historical figures alike) and given more history, which added to the story’s depth.
Things I liked: I was grateful that the second book picks up only a few weeks from the cliffhanger of book one and the course direction in the story was a nice change of pace. I also appreciated the addition of multiple POVs. While I wasn’t captivated by this book until about the 90% mark, which says a lot about the rating I gave it, the ending was the best part. By this time, we’ve learned enough about Aisling, Lir, more about the history of how humans came to be, more about the relationship between Aisling and Dagfin (pre-Lir), and Aisling’s tense relationship with her brothers. Again, the author does an excellent job at continuing the elaborate world building and describing immersive scenes throughout the story. I was relieved to see that Aisling was beginning to show some intellectual development and character growth, unfortunately it turned out that such changes in her personality were not for the better (which I’ll detail in a bit.)
Things I Disliked: I found a few errors where it seemed that the book was missing digital pages (location 3748, Dagfin’s POV there’s a paragraph that was incomplete without punctuation, then the next page moved into a new paragraph which felt like a few lines were missing.) There were also some overused phrasing/syntax that became less poignant as they were repeated throughout Book 2. Our main character’s personality arc was aggravating. In Book 1, Aisling goes from being an innocent, misguided princess to a willfully ignorant, self-centered and petty Queen-to-Be; then instead of learning from her mistakes as the consequences rear their ugly heads, she acts superior to humans and fae alike, as she displays more of a power-hungry attitude, bringing her right back to being selfish and stubborn to her own detriment. Even by Location 3748 Galad says it all, “We?…It has never been a ‘we,’ mo Lura. Your lips have only ever known ‘I’.”
Overall, by the end of book two, I found Aisling to be rude and completely unlikeable. There were moments that I honestly wanted to cheer for Peitho; who’d shamefully been demoted to just a jealous ex of Lir’s, rather than the powerful Fae Princess and warrior that should’ve been highlighted more. Lir still does not seem to be invested in the relationship he aggressively pursues, as much as he’s seeking the enhanced power he gleans from being in a relationship with Aisling, his caera. This gives off alarm bells at any healthy union between the two and was off-putting at best.
I was truly frustrated throughout the first, and now second book. The pacing wasn’t just slow – it dragged, kicking and screaming. I fell asleep several times and, given that the main characters were not ones I cared for, it took me much longer to read than any other book I’ve ever read. Even our MFC is correct and/or hasn't learned a thing from her mistakes when by Location 4265 it says, "One half of Aisling grew sick with guilt. The other half convinced herself Lir's actions were self-serving. Protecting the host that amplified his power and nothing more." Given that it's equally unclear to the reader where Lir and Aisling stand at this late stage in a story, I don't believe I'll be able to tolerate hoping for improvements by book 3.
Despite these challenges, I refused to DNF (because I’m not a quitter and..) because I had hopes that my favorite characters (who were actually Dagfin, Gilrel & Galad) would force Aisling to change her ways. Sadly, we just didn’t get enough of Galad and Gilrel in Book 2 because Aisling was off on her side-quest, and
By end of Book 2, our main characters STILL distrust one another, and the toxic “romantic tension” between Aisling & Lir was such a slow-burn and felt so forced that it fell flat. And while the cliffhanger of book 2 was certainly intriguing, the lack of likable main characters offer little chance of me reading book 3. I will, however, continue to follow this author because I believe that her writing, world building, and scene descriptions are exceptionally high quality and my scores are more about my dislike of the main characters, than that of the author's story-writing skills. It was merely a miss on my preference of character personalities.
January 30, 2025
The Savage Queen
By Ashley Metzler
This is the second book in the Aisling trilogy and starts off a few weeks after the events of book one. It follows Aisling as she deals with the consequences of her escape from both the fae and mortals in order to travel to the mythical Logfren's rise where she hopes answers about what her newfound powers and her purpose lies.
Okay so book one ended on such a cliffhanger that I raced to read book 2 but I personally feel that this book fell short of it's predecessor and I'll get into the reasons. But I feel like I want to split this review into the first 3/4 and the last quarter of the book.
Firstly the world building and the rich and immersive storytelling and descriptions maintained from book 1. However the character Arc's is where I felt this book took a turn. The main character Aisling suffered a drastic personality change in this book , where as in book one she was a selfless , caring princess, In this book she became one of those insufferable female leads where just because she has power , she believes she's the only one that can be right. She was rude and honestly she wanted to kill some of the mortals for no other reason then the fact that they were mortals. .
I also feel like there should be other strong female leads in this book because at the moment there's only Peitho and she's tragically been reduced to jealous ex.
In terms of the other character's , I absolutely adored Dagfin, he was the best part of this book together with Fionn. I felt that he really saw Aisling and treasured her despite her power and influence, he just wanted the person. And all the sacrifices he made for her and the words he said to her , I was literally like girl what are you doing?!? please pick him!! The new character Fionn was also hilarious, I know he was a bad guy but it was totally justified and he really picked up the story. With regards to Lir, I enjoyed that we got his POV in this book but for me personally I don't enjoy the romance between him and Aisling (He gives me Tamlin vibes). And the fact that every second character doesn't want their relationship and even the main characters themselves were against it for most of the book, as a reader I was just exhausted with the back and forth. (Also I despised the character Ina , she was so selfish and cruel and she wasn't punished enough in my opinion.)
Now to the last quarter of the book . This part of the book was epic fantasy and I wish the entire book was like this. It gave you a range of emotions and included suspense, plot twists, action, betrayal , everything else.
Overall this was an interesting read and I just hope that the there's more character development in the next book.
*** Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers of this book for an Arc in exchange for an honest review based on a personal reading experience ***
By Ashley Metzler
This is the second book in the Aisling trilogy and starts off a few weeks after the events of book one. It follows Aisling as she deals with the consequences of her escape from both the fae and mortals in order to travel to the mythical Logfren's rise where she hopes answers about what her newfound powers and her purpose lies.
Okay so book one ended on such a cliffhanger that I raced to read book 2 but I personally feel that this book fell short of it's predecessor and I'll get into the reasons. But I feel like I want to split this review into the first 3/4 and the last quarter of the book.
Firstly the world building and the rich and immersive storytelling and descriptions maintained from book 1. However the character Arc's is where I felt this book took a turn. The main character Aisling suffered a drastic personality change in this book , where as in book one she was a selfless , caring princess, In this book she became one of those insufferable female leads where just because she has power , she believes she's the only one that can be right. She was rude and honestly she wanted to kill some of the mortals for no other reason then the fact that they were mortals. .
I also feel like there should be other strong female leads in this book because at the moment there's only Peitho and she's tragically been reduced to jealous ex.
In terms of the other character's , I absolutely adored Dagfin, he was the best part of this book together with Fionn. I felt that he really saw Aisling and treasured her despite her power and influence, he just wanted the person. And all the sacrifices he made for her and the words he said to her , I was literally like girl what are you doing?!? please pick him!! The new character Fionn was also hilarious, I know he was a bad guy but it was totally justified and he really picked up the story. With regards to Lir, I enjoyed that we got his POV in this book but for me personally I don't enjoy the romance between him and Aisling (He gives me Tamlin vibes). And the fact that every second character doesn't want their relationship and even the main characters themselves were against it for most of the book, as a reader I was just exhausted with the back and forth. (Also I despised the character Ina , she was so selfish and cruel and she wasn't punished enough in my opinion.)
Now to the last quarter of the book . This part of the book was epic fantasy and I wish the entire book was like this. It gave you a range of emotions and included suspense, plot twists, action, betrayal , everything else.
Overall this was an interesting read and I just hope that the there's more character development in the next book.
*** Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers of this book for an Arc in exchange for an honest review based on a personal reading experience ***
May 24, 2025
Book review: 4/5 ⭐️
Genre: YA romantasy
Themes: enemies uniting, contract marriage, super slow burn, power
📖 Read if you like: The Hurricane Wars, Kingdom of the Wicked, Emily Wilde
This was an action packed sequel that introduced us to new characters and new parts of the fae realm. Once again all the creatures connected to nature and magic, the immortals that take the form of animals, dryads or courtly fae was richly imagined. It was interesting to get more of the mortal perspective as Aisling’s brothers and Dagfin set out on a quest for the curse-breaker in parallel with the fae king. Aisling no longer fits in with her mortal kin and as seen as other no matter where she goes or what she does.
Once again Aisling’s allegiances and choices made at the end of book 1 continued to baffle me in this sequel. Her brothers remained metrics of human cruelty and their attitude towards both Aisling and the fae were polarizing. These brothers would do little to protect her, and yet she turns her back on those that would have. On the whole, Aisling became rather unlikeable as a character. Power hungry and self-centred, she seems fine to sacrifice any of those that helped and cherished her for answers and power. Her focus is on “I”, not “we” or “us”, nor any groups of belonging. I enjoyed that this was pointed out in the narrative and made for complex dynamics between the characters. Adding Dagfin to the crew was unusual given the power disparity and pandering to a betrayer, but also created that tug of war between the past and present, a hope for a future that no longer exists.
I was sad that Lir was missing from the first third of this book, because his is the dark and magnetic character I read fantasy for. He still remains somewhat of a mystery, but getting his perspective was much needed and learning more of fae history provided additional world building and motivation. His battle of duty and a blooming bond continue to be at odds, though I am not quite sure I understand his allegiance to Aisling given that all her behaviour is far from befitting her new role as queen.
Still I am very much enjoying this series and the creative world it brings to life. All the supporting cast continues to dazzle and I like that there are no instantaneous bonds or shifts in loyalty. Both the plot and characters developed with equal craft. Even if I didn’t like one of the central characters, I think she was given authenticity for her position. And most of the relationships were given some breadth of understanding. While the character development may have been slower, the plot was at a rocket pace, which made it one that was difficult to put down.
🎧 There was something I didn’t like about this narrator, but it was primarily when she narrated Aisling, so perhaps it was also linked to my feelings on this character. It was also the sharp ‘s’ she generally uses, which is a lot given that a central character is named Aisling. That being said she seamlessly went through male and female characters and I loved the voices for the male characters and all the side characters, so I think this is a talented narrator, but I will be reading that last book in this series.
Genre: YA romantasy
Themes: enemies uniting, contract marriage, super slow burn, power
📖 Read if you like: The Hurricane Wars, Kingdom of the Wicked, Emily Wilde
This was an action packed sequel that introduced us to new characters and new parts of the fae realm. Once again all the creatures connected to nature and magic, the immortals that take the form of animals, dryads or courtly fae was richly imagined. It was interesting to get more of the mortal perspective as Aisling’s brothers and Dagfin set out on a quest for the curse-breaker in parallel with the fae king. Aisling no longer fits in with her mortal kin and as seen as other no matter where she goes or what she does.
Once again Aisling’s allegiances and choices made at the end of book 1 continued to baffle me in this sequel. Her brothers remained metrics of human cruelty and their attitude towards both Aisling and the fae were polarizing. These brothers would do little to protect her, and yet she turns her back on those that would have. On the whole, Aisling became rather unlikeable as a character. Power hungry and self-centred, she seems fine to sacrifice any of those that helped and cherished her for answers and power. Her focus is on “I”, not “we” or “us”, nor any groups of belonging. I enjoyed that this was pointed out in the narrative and made for complex dynamics between the characters. Adding Dagfin to the crew was unusual given the power disparity and pandering to a betrayer, but also created that tug of war between the past and present, a hope for a future that no longer exists.
I was sad that Lir was missing from the first third of this book, because his is the dark and magnetic character I read fantasy for. He still remains somewhat of a mystery, but getting his perspective was much needed and learning more of fae history provided additional world building and motivation. His battle of duty and a blooming bond continue to be at odds, though I am not quite sure I understand his allegiance to Aisling given that all her behaviour is far from befitting her new role as queen.
Still I am very much enjoying this series and the creative world it brings to life. All the supporting cast continues to dazzle and I like that there are no instantaneous bonds or shifts in loyalty. Both the plot and characters developed with equal craft. Even if I didn’t like one of the central characters, I think she was given authenticity for her position. And most of the relationships were given some breadth of understanding. While the character development may have been slower, the plot was at a rocket pace, which made it one that was difficult to put down.
🎧 There was something I didn’t like about this narrator, but it was primarily when she narrated Aisling, so perhaps it was also linked to my feelings on this character. It was also the sharp ‘s’ she generally uses, which is a lot given that a central character is named Aisling. That being said she seamlessly went through male and female characters and I loved the voices for the male characters and all the side characters, so I think this is a talented narrator, but I will be reading that last book in this series.
March 16, 2025
I will start this review off with the things that I did enjoy. I still love the rich and beautiful world Ashley has created, I love the magic and the lore. This book was a lot faster paced than book one, and it kept me pretty engaged and wanting to find out what would happen next. I enjoyed seeing Aisling grow more with her power, and seeing her finally stand up to her family and choose what she wanted for herself for once.
What I struggled with in this book was still the dynamic / pacing of Ash and Lir’s relationship. They are constantly drawn to one another and bound by fate. They are each other’s caera, which means “soulmate” to the Sidhe, and not just any two can be caera, this is chosen by The Forge. While this is true for Ash and Lir, there is also the prophecy hanging over their heads that their union will bring ruin to themselves and everyone around them, and then there’s the fact that they are natural enemies. But with the distance between them throughout the whole first book, the push and pull, the hatred they had for one another, I thought that we would have progressed past that in book two and see their relationship evolve more. And I don’t feel that it did. Up until almost the end, Lir was still saying how he would end Ash’s life once she served her purpose, which she overheard. And then a few chapters later they are completing their true binding. You can tell they care about each other, but they are both so hellbent on pretending they’re using each other for power and their bond is nothing more than that, that there wasn’t much progression to their relationship other than building tension, and when the true binding finally did happen, I felt disconnected from it. We get a small scene of them somewhat acting like a couple in the epilogue, but even though it took two whole books to get there, it somehow felt rushed.
I don’t love a love triangle, but despite that, I did like Dagfin’s character - though he had his flaws. I feel like the scene at the end, when the Sidhe are cheering for Ash and are suddenly in support of her, doesn’t feel genuine. It feels their change of heart was only because they know she is bound to Racat and is Ina’s weapon. I also felt like after how close Ash got to Galad and Gilrel in book one and how their friendship suffered when Ash ran away at the end, it was never resolved. Maybe that will come in the next book though! And then there’s Peitho, I’m really not sure what her purpose is other than trying to come between Lir and Ash. And then there’s Ash not only turning against her family (rightfully so), but all mortals? That felt weird to me.
I know that sounds like a lot of complaining, I was just hoping for more with book two and was left feeling a bit unsatisfied. However, I did still enjoy the book despite my struggles with it and I will be reading the final installment because I am invested enough and want to see how this ends!
What I struggled with in this book was still the dynamic / pacing of Ash and Lir’s relationship. They are constantly drawn to one another and bound by fate. They are each other’s caera, which means “soulmate” to the Sidhe, and not just any two can be caera, this is chosen by The Forge. While this is true for Ash and Lir, there is also the prophecy hanging over their heads that their union will bring ruin to themselves and everyone around them, and then there’s the fact that they are natural enemies. But with the distance between them throughout the whole first book, the push and pull, the hatred they had for one another, I thought that we would have progressed past that in book two and see their relationship evolve more. And I don’t feel that it did. Up until almost the end, Lir was still saying how he would end Ash’s life once she served her purpose, which she overheard. And then a few chapters later they are completing their true binding. You can tell they care about each other, but they are both so hellbent on pretending they’re using each other for power and their bond is nothing more than that, that there wasn’t much progression to their relationship other than building tension, and when the true binding finally did happen, I felt disconnected from it. We get a small scene of them somewhat acting like a couple in the epilogue, but even though it took two whole books to get there, it somehow felt rushed.
I don’t love a love triangle, but despite that, I did like Dagfin’s character - though he had his flaws. I feel like the scene at the end, when the Sidhe are cheering for Ash and are suddenly in support of her, doesn’t feel genuine. It feels their change of heart was only because they know she is bound to Racat and is Ina’s weapon. I also felt like after how close Ash got to Galad and Gilrel in book one and how their friendship suffered when Ash ran away at the end, it was never resolved. Maybe that will come in the next book though! And then there’s Peitho, I’m really not sure what her purpose is other than trying to come between Lir and Ash. And then there’s Ash not only turning against her family (rightfully so), but all mortals? That felt weird to me.
I know that sounds like a lot of complaining, I was just hoping for more with book two and was left feeling a bit unsatisfied. However, I did still enjoy the book despite my struggles with it and I will be reading the final installment because I am invested enough and want to see how this ends!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2025
The Savage Queen picks up right where The Mortal Queen left off, with Aisling racing towards the Curse Breaker fabled to hide in Lofgen’s Rise. She is accompanied by her brothers and Dagfin, who have their reasons for wanting to keep tabs on Aisling, and must reach her destination before Lir’s court.
What I love about this series:
The Characters: Each character is complex and flawed, yet they still have redeeming qualities and fight for what they believe in. In this book, Aisling has come into her power and is finding her place among the Sidhe and Mortals. I am obsessed with how strong-willed and fierce she is and how she refuses to let any of the men in her life choose her destiny. She is such a queen!!
We also get more backstory on Lir as he begins to open up to Aisling. They both have to take risks with each other and with the battles they face in the story, which adds vulnerability to their character arcs, and I want to see so much more!
Peitho also grew on me a lot throughout the book, and I look forward to seeing where the next story takes her!
The Romance: I love a good slow burn, and the tension between Aisling and Lir takes off when they finally meet again. They toe the line for the majority of the book since wanting the other will only lead to their prophesied demise. And it hurts so good!!
We have a bit of a love triangle with Dagfin, who would follow Aisling to the ends of the world to protect her, but my bets have always been on Lir. There is something about a feral love interest who would destroy the world for her!
The Setting: Every single part of Aisling’s journey takes her to new enchanting places with breathtaking scenery. I could not get enough of the new places explored as Aisling’s search brings her to dangerous realms. Even the icy Oighir was fascinating!
This entire book made me feel every emotion! I was stressing, then smiling, then crying! This should be the standard for fantasy books. It has everything I could hope for: mystical beasts, heartbreak and desire, complex enemies, and enchanting lore!
Thank you to Netgalley and Second Sky for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
What I love about this series:
The Characters: Each character is complex and flawed, yet they still have redeeming qualities and fight for what they believe in. In this book, Aisling has come into her power and is finding her place among the Sidhe and Mortals. I am obsessed with how strong-willed and fierce she is and how she refuses to let any of the men in her life choose her destiny. She is such a queen!!
We also get more backstory on Lir as he begins to open up to Aisling. They both have to take risks with each other and with the battles they face in the story, which adds vulnerability to their character arcs, and I want to see so much more!
Peitho also grew on me a lot throughout the book, and I look forward to seeing where the next story takes her!
The Romance: I love a good slow burn, and the tension between Aisling and Lir takes off when they finally meet again. They toe the line for the majority of the book since wanting the other will only lead to their prophesied demise. And it hurts so good!!
We have a bit of a love triangle with Dagfin, who would follow Aisling to the ends of the world to protect her, but my bets have always been on Lir. There is something about a feral love interest who would destroy the world for her!
The Setting: Every single part of Aisling’s journey takes her to new enchanting places with breathtaking scenery. I could not get enough of the new places explored as Aisling’s search brings her to dangerous realms. Even the icy Oighir was fascinating!
This entire book made me feel every emotion! I was stressing, then smiling, then crying! This should be the standard for fantasy books. It has everything I could hope for: mystical beasts, heartbreak and desire, complex enemies, and enchanting lore!
Thank you to Netgalley and Second Sky for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
February 6, 2025
Overall rating: 3.5⭐️
I have been very excited about reading this book ever since i finished The Mortal Queen, and was so excited to read the second book in this story.
The sequel takes place shortly after the ending and cliffhanger of The Mortal Queen, and we jump straight into action. This book was alot more action-filled than the first one, and i was here for it. The plot is evolving, and i truly enjoyed the balance between romance and plot. However, because the book was very plot-driven, i feel like the characters and their relations fell a bit into the background. The relationships and characters definitely progressed, but i wish we could have gone even deeper!
The magic-system and the world-building in this book was great! Ashley has found the perfect balance between driving a plot forward, but at the same time evolving and explaining the world and magic-system at a natural pace. I also really appreciate the glossary in the book, as someone who is not familiar with Celtic Folklore and mythology, this really helped along the way.
The writing is elegant and formal, and as someone who is not that used to this type of writing, it took some time getting used to, and I did have to reread things a couple of times here and there to fully understand everything. However, this is probably a personal case, and I think the more you read high-fantasy books, the more you get used to the writing style
I absolutely love Aisling! She's a strong, determined and intelligent FMC who is straight-forward, honest, and knows what she wants. And the ending of the book was really good! I definitely did not see the plot-twists coming (or my tears), and the turn of events left me with a lot of questions about the plot and the future of the characters.
Thank you so much to Second Sky, NetGalley and the author Ashley Metzler for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! <3
I have been very excited about reading this book ever since i finished The Mortal Queen, and was so excited to read the second book in this story.
The sequel takes place shortly after the ending and cliffhanger of The Mortal Queen, and we jump straight into action. This book was alot more action-filled than the first one, and i was here for it. The plot is evolving, and i truly enjoyed the balance between romance and plot. However, because the book was very plot-driven, i feel like the characters and their relations fell a bit into the background. The relationships and characters definitely progressed, but i wish we could have gone even deeper!
The magic-system and the world-building in this book was great! Ashley has found the perfect balance between driving a plot forward, but at the same time evolving and explaining the world and magic-system at a natural pace. I also really appreciate the glossary in the book, as someone who is not familiar with Celtic Folklore and mythology, this really helped along the way.
The writing is elegant and formal, and as someone who is not that used to this type of writing, it took some time getting used to, and I did have to reread things a couple of times here and there to fully understand everything. However, this is probably a personal case, and I think the more you read high-fantasy books, the more you get used to the writing style
I absolutely love Aisling! She's a strong, determined and intelligent FMC who is straight-forward, honest, and knows what she wants. And the ending of the book was really good! I definitely did not see the plot-twists coming (or my tears), and the turn of events left me with a lot of questions about the plot and the future of the characters.
Thank you so much to Second Sky, NetGalley and the author Ashley Metzler for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! <3
February 11, 2025
3⭐️3🌶️
Fantasy Romance
Multi POV
Dual timeline
Celtic/irish Mythology
Unique Magic System
Sentient Magic
Fae
Magical Beasts
Love triangle
The recap at the beginning was a great touch! While I read books 1 and 2 together, I think it’s especially helpful for readers who aren’t binge-reading the series. I do wish the glossary and pronunciation guide had been placed at the front of the book, though.
The worldbuilding in this series is exceptional. I’m really excited about the overall arc of the series and how the characters’ decisions impact the lore and mythology of this world.
There were moments where the writing felt disjointed, and I found myself having to reread paragraphs two or three times to fully understand where the characters were or what was happening. In some cases, I had to just suspend my disbelief and accept the disconnect to keep moving forward. These moments needed more editing—this happened at least four times throughout.
Another thing I noticed was the loss of the detailed descriptions of the mythological beasts that were present in the first book. The creatures introduced in this one felt much more ambiguous, and I was disappointed that the vivid descriptions we saw earlier weren’t carried through.
I did feel the characters underwent some drastic changes. Their personalities shifted to the point where they didn’t seem like the same characters from book 1, which threw me off. As a reader, I struggle when I no longer connect with the main character, and unfortunately, this shift made it harder for me to stay engaged. But, I am enjoying the side characters!
Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky Books for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
The Mortal Queen- 4⭐️1.5🌶️
The Savage Queen- 3⭐️3🌶️
Fantasy Romance
Multi POV
Dual timeline
Celtic/irish Mythology
Unique Magic System
Sentient Magic
Fae
Magical Beasts
Love triangle
The recap at the beginning was a great touch! While I read books 1 and 2 together, I think it’s especially helpful for readers who aren’t binge-reading the series. I do wish the glossary and pronunciation guide had been placed at the front of the book, though.
The worldbuilding in this series is exceptional. I’m really excited about the overall arc of the series and how the characters’ decisions impact the lore and mythology of this world.
There were moments where the writing felt disjointed, and I found myself having to reread paragraphs two or three times to fully understand where the characters were or what was happening. In some cases, I had to just suspend my disbelief and accept the disconnect to keep moving forward. These moments needed more editing—this happened at least four times throughout.
Another thing I noticed was the loss of the detailed descriptions of the mythological beasts that were present in the first book. The creatures introduced in this one felt much more ambiguous, and I was disappointed that the vivid descriptions we saw earlier weren’t carried through.
I did feel the characters underwent some drastic changes. Their personalities shifted to the point where they didn’t seem like the same characters from book 1, which threw me off. As a reader, I struggle when I no longer connect with the main character, and unfortunately, this shift made it harder for me to stay engaged. But, I am enjoying the side characters!
Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky Books for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
The Mortal Queen- 4⭐️1.5🌶️
The Savage Queen- 3⭐️3🌶️
January 12, 2025
The Savage Queen picks up where the previous book left off and it had me hooked from beginning to end. Aisling is on the run with Dagfin, Fergus, Iarbonel, Annind and Starn as they make their way to Lofgren's Rise for very different reasons. Aisling should be safe traveling with her brothers and Dagfin, but things are very different, and she's now seen as the enemy even by those she once called family. Aisling is determined to find the answers to who and what she has become, and the journey seems to have more problems than it does answers. Everyone is either determined to kill her or use her, and Lir is determined to chase her down until she is once again in his arms. The real reason as to why he wants her so desperately remains to be seen, but he is not the only one. Fionn has always wanted what belongs to Lir and Aisling is just the icing on the cake. There are enemies at every corner, and everyone is making power plays, however, the biggest player hasn't even started the party yet, but when she does, she does with a vengeance and a broken heart. This story has suspense, mystery, power plays, enemies, allies, friendships, love, romance, steamy scenes, threats, deaths and a cliffhanger ending that will have you wondering if your ally is really your ally or just another power-hungry player in the scheme of things. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series to find out what happens next with Lir, Aisling, The Lady, Danu, Fionn, the mortals, Racat and the others in the other world because I have a feeling that we haven't seen the last of someone that was lost and I'm excited to find out if I'm right.
February 2, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for this ARC and giving me the opportunity to review book two of ‘The Aisling Trilogy’ by the talented Ashley Metzler.
Ashley Metzler has done it again! She has delivered yet another thrilling instalment with ‘Savage Queen’, which is books two in the Aisling Trilogy. Book one was AMAZING, but this book gives a deeper look into Aisling’s life, especially her relationship with her brothers, Dagfin and the enigmatic and fiercely protective, Lir, with whom she seems to have a love hate relationship.
This books picks up from where the story ended in book one, with Aisling escaping her brothers and Lir, but is soon found by Dagfin and her brothers. The start of this book focuses on Aisling’s interactions with her brothers and Dagfin mostly, however, once Lir reappears, the narrative reaches a whole new level of intrigue. The undeniable chemistry between Aisling and Lir reignites and their flirtations are delightful. The romantic tension is palpable, and their reunion is simply delicious and brimming with passion and longing. I only wish there had been even more of their binding exchanges.
One aspect I didn’t enjoy was the love triangle element. While Dagfin was devoted to Aisling, it was clear from the start that her heart belonged to Lir. Dagfin’s pursuit of her felt futile, and while I sympathized with him, his death left a bittersweet note.
The story is well-paced, and the character dynamics are rich and compelling. Overall, ‘Savage Queen’ is a captivating read that will appeal to you if you love intense romantic fantasy with strong character development and chemistry.
Ashley Metzler has done it again! She has delivered yet another thrilling instalment with ‘Savage Queen’, which is books two in the Aisling Trilogy. Book one was AMAZING, but this book gives a deeper look into Aisling’s life, especially her relationship with her brothers, Dagfin and the enigmatic and fiercely protective, Lir, with whom she seems to have a love hate relationship.
This books picks up from where the story ended in book one, with Aisling escaping her brothers and Lir, but is soon found by Dagfin and her brothers. The start of this book focuses on Aisling’s interactions with her brothers and Dagfin mostly, however, once Lir reappears, the narrative reaches a whole new level of intrigue. The undeniable chemistry between Aisling and Lir reignites and their flirtations are delightful. The romantic tension is palpable, and their reunion is simply delicious and brimming with passion and longing. I only wish there had been even more of their binding exchanges.
One aspect I didn’t enjoy was the love triangle element. While Dagfin was devoted to Aisling, it was clear from the start that her heart belonged to Lir. Dagfin’s pursuit of her felt futile, and while I sympathized with him, his death left a bittersweet note.
The story is well-paced, and the character dynamics are rich and compelling. Overall, ‘Savage Queen’ is a captivating read that will appeal to you if you love intense romantic fantasy with strong character development and chemistry.
February 1, 2025
This one was even better than the first one! I was so grateful to have been able to pick this up immediately after finishing the first one! It picks up right where we left off, with our characters all in a race to gain "the curse breaker". Aisling is grappling with the who/what she is and working to better understand her powers, but she is surrounded by those that would keep her from that knowledge. Torn between her family, who don't want her to use her power, and Lir, who wants her to be whatever she wishes to be. However, we now know that ALL of these beings in Aisling's life have more reasons than just her happiness.
Again, I was blown away at the beauty and depth of this world. How Ashley (the author) has woven the surroundings to give every piece of it a sentience, from the trees in the forest to the ice in the lakes just adds to the immersion. The introduction of another Fae prince also brings a depth to the world and the "struggle" that exists there, expanding the paths the story could take! Also meeting a number of other "villains" and the trials they posed to Aisling/Lir really allowed me to see just how well matched they are, despite the places they do have to work on together!
I loved the resolution in this book, and that we finally get to see each of them choosing for themselves! I also really loved the setup for book three and am super excited to explore this next part of the realm and see just what our main characters have up their sleeves!!
Massive thank you to the team at Second Sky and the author Ashley Metzler for the eARC via NetGalley!
Again, I was blown away at the beauty and depth of this world. How Ashley (the author) has woven the surroundings to give every piece of it a sentience, from the trees in the forest to the ice in the lakes just adds to the immersion. The introduction of another Fae prince also brings a depth to the world and the "struggle" that exists there, expanding the paths the story could take! Also meeting a number of other "villains" and the trials they posed to Aisling/Lir really allowed me to see just how well matched they are, despite the places they do have to work on together!
I loved the resolution in this book, and that we finally get to see each of them choosing for themselves! I also really loved the setup for book three and am super excited to explore this next part of the realm and see just what our main characters have up their sleeves!!
Massive thank you to the team at Second Sky and the author Ashley Metzler for the eARC via NetGalley!
February 27, 2025
4.25 Stars
I absolutely loved this book and enjoyed it even more than the first one, which I already really liked. Aisling truly shone in this installment—she’s such a badass and has really grown into herself in this book especially when it comes to her brothers. I also found myself liking Lir a lot more in this book. The story is packed with action from start to finish, making it an exciting read.
I have to take a moment to appreciate the book 1 recap at the beginning. I’ve never seen that done before and, while I didn’t personally need it, it was a thoughtful and helpful touch. The first book featured quite a few flashback quotes, and I appreciated that this one toned those down, letting the story flow more smoothly.
While book one was great, this sequel goes deeper into Aisling’s life, especially her relationships with her brothers, Dagfin and Lir. Dagfin’s character really grew on me in this book, and I loved getting to see more of him. As for Lir, his love-hate dynamic with Aisling was fascinating.
The romantic tension throughout the book was palpable, simmering just below the surface, and I absolutely loved it. While the love triangle seems to have a clear winner (I’m not complaining). Lir’s influence on Aisling, helping her see things from a different perspective, and Dagfin keeping her conscience in check created such rich character dynamics.
The ending was wild, full of twists and reveals that left me eagerly anticipating the third book in the trilogy. This series has truly surprised me in the best way, and I can’t wait to see how everything unfolds.
I absolutely loved this book and enjoyed it even more than the first one, which I already really liked. Aisling truly shone in this installment—she’s such a badass and has really grown into herself in this book especially when it comes to her brothers. I also found myself liking Lir a lot more in this book. The story is packed with action from start to finish, making it an exciting read.
I have to take a moment to appreciate the book 1 recap at the beginning. I’ve never seen that done before and, while I didn’t personally need it, it was a thoughtful and helpful touch. The first book featured quite a few flashback quotes, and I appreciated that this one toned those down, letting the story flow more smoothly.
While book one was great, this sequel goes deeper into Aisling’s life, especially her relationships with her brothers, Dagfin and Lir. Dagfin’s character really grew on me in this book, and I loved getting to see more of him. As for Lir, his love-hate dynamic with Aisling was fascinating.
The romantic tension throughout the book was palpable, simmering just below the surface, and I absolutely loved it. While the love triangle seems to have a clear winner (I’m not complaining). Lir’s influence on Aisling, helping her see things from a different perspective, and Dagfin keeping her conscience in check created such rich character dynamics.
The ending was wild, full of twists and reveals that left me eagerly anticipating the third book in the trilogy. This series has truly surprised me in the best way, and I can’t wait to see how everything unfolds.
January 18, 2025
My heart has been ripped apart and I am begging for more.
That ending… just phenomenal once again.
Simply saying I enjoyed Ashley Metzler’s writing would be an understatement. I have been enthralled. She is detailed in her descriptions, immersing us into the world she has created.
Picking up right where the first book ends…
Aisling continues her journey of self discovery. The story leaves off with her now racing against friends and foes to seek out the answers to her burning questions and the so called Curse Breaker that may turn the world they know upside down.
Her growth undeniably relatable. She is hungry for truth, for strength and power. She does not give up her power for anyone. Instead, she seeks it out. She plays with her power, learning and growing with it. Yet, there are times she is hesitant, unsure and influenced by some of those around her.
Her dynamic with Lir expands. Their slow burn further igniting.
There is also , Dagfin, devoted to Aisling, kind hearted and courageous. His character absolutely one of my favorites.
The two of them pulling Aisling to either side of herself - pushing her to choose between them and who she wishes to be.
There are many twists and turns to this epic fantasy. My heart was ripped out, stitched together and again in the end destroyed.
I don’t want to spoil the story - I can go on for days.
All I can say is this is a must read.
January 19, 2025
"Speak her name again, and next time, I won't miss."
There were so many lines in this book that made me say "Yes!"
The slow burn is burning. Gah...This book had me wanting to yell at Lir and Aisling so many times. The characters have so much tension and the passion is simmering throughout the entire book. I love it!
I love how Lir makes Aisling rethink things from a different perspective and how Dagfin helps keep Aisling's conscience good. The tension between Lir and his brother was brutal and I was here for it. This is a true enemies-to-lovers with stabbing! Will I read the next book, yes! I need to know how this world ends and what happens between Lir and Aisling.
For the not so good, this book was more difficult for me to get through than book one. The writing didn't seem as refined and there were a few times I had to reread to understand what was going on. I also was missing the reminders of what happened in the previous book at the beginning of this story. It all came back to me as I was reading, but the beginning was hard to get into as it fully jumped back into the story. The spicy scene also could use a bit of refining. I wanted to love their moment, but there were a few things that threw me. The best example, when exactly did Lir's pants come off?!
For those who love banter, slow burn, enemies to lovers, a dash of spice, battles, and family betrayals; this is your book.
There were so many lines in this book that made me say "Yes!"
The slow burn is burning. Gah...This book had me wanting to yell at Lir and Aisling so many times. The characters have so much tension and the passion is simmering throughout the entire book. I love it!
I love how Lir makes Aisling rethink things from a different perspective and how Dagfin helps keep Aisling's conscience good. The tension between Lir and his brother was brutal and I was here for it. This is a true enemies-to-lovers with stabbing! Will I read the next book, yes! I need to know how this world ends and what happens between Lir and Aisling.
For the not so good, this book was more difficult for me to get through than book one. The writing didn't seem as refined and there were a few times I had to reread to understand what was going on. I also was missing the reminders of what happened in the previous book at the beginning of this story. It all came back to me as I was reading, but the beginning was hard to get into as it fully jumped back into the story. The spicy scene also could use a bit of refining. I wanted to love their moment, but there were a few things that threw me. The best example, when exactly did Lir's pants come off?!
For those who love banter, slow burn, enemies to lovers, a dash of spice, battles, and family betrayals; this is your book.
January 26, 2025
Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
5/5 stars! The second book in this trilogy picks up right where the cliffhanger leaves us in book one. I cannot speak highly enough of the authors writing. The words on each page flow just beautifully together with just the perfect combination of words. As we follow Aisling's journey north with her brothers and Dagfin, Aisling finds herself even more stuck between two her two lives, mortal vs. fae. Poor Dagfin, I want to love him, he is a fantastic guy but the shadow fae men just sucker me in. However, I can say my heart absolutely broke for him as he battled for Aisling, and I love him even if I do not love him for Aisling. Who I do love for Aisling, however, is Lir.... and we as the readers clearly see he is obsessed with Aisling, but I appreciate what the author has done with their relationship. Lir and Aisling both struggle with their own needs and plans but time and time again find themselves looking to one another. PLEASE GIVE THEM A HAPPY EVER AFTER. More on Aisling, what a bad b*tch. I mean really.... she went from this helpless little princess to absolute decimating the ground around her. Love it for her and love the evolution of her character. Without spoilers, Fionn can die... in fact I hope he is already dead. I cannot wait for the third book in this series. The cliffhanger has me in shambles.
5/5 stars! The second book in this trilogy picks up right where the cliffhanger leaves us in book one. I cannot speak highly enough of the authors writing. The words on each page flow just beautifully together with just the perfect combination of words. As we follow Aisling's journey north with her brothers and Dagfin, Aisling finds herself even more stuck between two her two lives, mortal vs. fae. Poor Dagfin, I want to love him, he is a fantastic guy but the shadow fae men just sucker me in. However, I can say my heart absolutely broke for him as he battled for Aisling, and I love him even if I do not love him for Aisling. Who I do love for Aisling, however, is Lir.... and we as the readers clearly see he is obsessed with Aisling, but I appreciate what the author has done with their relationship. Lir and Aisling both struggle with their own needs and plans but time and time again find themselves looking to one another. PLEASE GIVE THEM A HAPPY EVER AFTER. More on Aisling, what a bad b*tch. I mean really.... she went from this helpless little princess to absolute decimating the ground around her. Love it for her and love the evolution of her character. Without spoilers, Fionn can die... in fact I hope he is already dead. I cannot wait for the third book in this series. The cliffhanger has me in shambles.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews