The Dead Queen

by Briar Knightly

This gothic, enemies-to-lovers fantasy series is perfect for fans of Rachel Gillig, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Holly Black, and Sarah J. Maas.

A reluctant heir. A deadly secret. A wolf who prowls the shadows of the Fox King’s court.

Sienna wants nothing to do with the throne she stands to inherit, but a royal summons drags her away from the war-ravaged borderlands, back into the Fox King’s court. Now she’s trapped in a palace haunted by her grandmother’s mysterious death, and engaged to a man she didn’t choose … even if her charming fiancé is a knight she once loved.

When one of the Dead Queen’s Wolves is caught spying in the Fox King’s court, Sienna begins to suspect the truth of the war is far darker than she imagined. To uncover buried secrets, she must trust the Wolf and help him escape north, where the ancient Dead Queen reigns over more than the living.

As corpse wolves stalk the borders and rebellion brews, whispers rise of old fae magic and kingdoms long fallen. Sienna must decide if the Wolf at her side is a monster or something much more dangerous.

Because in the north, secrets won’t stay buried. And neither will the dead.

If you love the breathtaking romance of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas or the gothic fantasy of The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig, step into this dark fairytale retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, where the line between predator and protector is as thin as a knife’s blade.

This is book one in the Thrones of Ruin series.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Magic, Fantasy Romance, Fae

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2025

Reviews

[Adrianna Heaney-velu]

“The Dead Queen,” by Briar Knightly

I felt like this plot stands out from other healing magic Fae books I’ve read. I loved the arranged marriage and second chance complication that was going on, and the mystery behind it. I loved the unlikely allies plot and the back and forth of figuring out which side truly was in the wrong. I liked the characters but wish I got to know Tristan better) hopefully in book 2 I will). I loved the gothic atmosphere mixed in with the fantasy. 4out of 5 stars, so good.

-Nurse/ Healing Magic
-Arranged Marriage
-Unlikely Allies
-Murder Mystery
-Second Chance
-Court Intrigue
-Forbidden Magic
-Slowburn
-Gothic
-Zombies/Undead

Thank you for the ARC, Booksprout.

[whitneys_litventure]

5⭐Utterly Captivating and Hauntingly Beautiful
This was an author gifted read, and I am genuinely shocked this book is not getting more hype. I was so impressed that I immediately asked about book two, and I’m incredibly grateful she sent me a copy because after that ending, I knew it was a must read.

It is the kind of fantasy that completely reminds me why I love the genre. The atmosphere is gothic, gritty, and almost dreamlike, with this constant feeling that something horrible is waiting just out of sight. The deeper I got into the story, the less I wanted to leave this world.

Knightly’s writing was one of my favorite things about the book. The prose is beautiful without feeling overly complicated, and there is this haunting quality to the descriptions that fits the story perfectly. The world feels ancient, dangerous, and steeped in history that you are only beginning to understand.

And can we PLEASE talk about the Fae?

These are not pretty humans with pointed ears and a slightly questionable moral compass. They are terrifying, unpredictable, cruel tricksters who actually feel like creatures you should be afraid of. I loved that the book leaned into the darker folklore side of the Fae rather than romanticizing them into something harmless. Holly Black fans will love this.

There is also a seriously unsettling survival element involving a vicious Fae imprisoned beneath the castle who is fed blonde women... Every scene connected to that dungeon had this horrible sense of dread hanging over it, and it added so much tension to an already dark story.

The characters were just as strong. Nobody feels completely good or completely bad, and I loved how much grief, responsibility, ambition, and power complicated their choices. Even the side characters felt important rather than simply existing to move the main character’s story forward.

There are dangerous alliances, court secrets, prophecies, shifting loyalties, and enough uncertainty that I was constantly questioning who could actually be trusted.

And the ending?! Absolutely devastating. I knew something had to happen, but I was still nowhere near emotionally prepared for where the book left us.

I am honestly shocked this book is not being talked about more. Gothic fantasy, dark Fae, brutal dungeon survival, morally gray characters, dark court politics, emotional damage, forbidden tension, dead queens, and gorgeous writing.

These covers are absolutely stunning, and the story inside deserves just as much attention. If you love finding hidden gems, support an indie author and give this series a read!

[Samantha Millican]

Book one in the Thrones of Ruin series, The Dead Queen is a dark fantasy romance with an enemies to lovers arc, and a gothic Red Riding Hood vibe. Sienna is brought back to the Fox King’s court by a royal summons. Still battling grief after the mysterious death of her grandmother. Secrets, lies, and betrayals in a world where nothing is as it seems. With a plot twist you won’t soon forget! The world building and the complexity of its characters was phenomenal. If this is Kightly’s debut as an author, I can’t wait to see what else she comes out with. Truly captivating read!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amber]

Royalty / Fallen Throne
Haunted Heroines e
Dead but Not Gone
Court Intrigue & Betrayal
Forbidden Magic / Slow Burn Romance
Enemies to Allies (to Lovers?)
Resurrected History
Morally Gray Characters A Gothic Fantasy Atmosphere
Prophecies & Destiny
Mythical creatures

I loved sienna’s independence encourage and how she was smart and thought quick on her feet. This was a descriptive read and love the world building. The tension buildup was slow and hot.
The emotions!!
The plot twist there threw me off my seat! I am so excited for book too. I cannot wait.!

[Melissa Willis]

The twists and turns of this book had me on the edge of my seat! All the secrets, eek. The cliffhanger was freaking fabulous! Can't wait for the next book, I need to know what happens!!!!

[Whitney Casarez]

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the FMC but despised her father! This story is based around a “princess”, true heir to the throne on a mission to find out what really happened to her grandmother. Was she set up and murdered or was it an accidental death? Not sure. Now, all the adventures, endeavors and obstacles along the way? It’s action packed, heart wrenching in moments and nail biting in others.
I would recommend this book to all my fantasy lovers!

[Tiffany Taylor]

Incredible captivating read! I was immediately drawn in on the first few pages. It was so easy to fall in love with the main characters. Sienna is head strong, fierce and unapologetically true to herself. Hunter is brave, loyal and tries hard to make past mistakes right. The complicated feelings between them were beautifully written and had me truly longing for their HEA. I had conflicting emotions in regard to the villain and without giving too much away am sort of rooting for them. An unlikely trio that just so happens to work harmoniously…I loved the book so much I have immediately gone on to book 2!

The world building was spot on, this book had magical elements, enchanted forest/ gothic vibes with classic fairytale and medieval themes

Perfection!

[Andrea Mathes]

I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK and need book 2 immediately omg!

[Mrs. K. Book Reviews]

This book is like a mix of Throne of Glass, The Witch Queen, and The Wolf King. The book is both heartbreaking and enchanting to read, a high fantasy masterpiece with plot, character development, world-building, and magic that's remarkably simply, yet I know we've only touched the surface of its capabilities.

And a cliffhanger at the end that just leaves you wondering, "How? WTF? That's not possible."

The writing is simple yet dives deeply enough to grasp at your heartstrings as Sienna (our FMC) must make the least terrible of a bunch of terrible choices put before her. Hunter (one of our MMCs) and Sienna have bad blood between them, but could they rekindle what they once had and make the most of it? Perhaps the Wolf (our other MMC) can shed some light on Sienna's grandmother's mysterious disappearance, but to do that Sienna and Hunter will have to take him back to Annwyn, the kingdom to the north shrouded in shadows and known for reanimating the dead.

I will forever hype this up until I can't hype no more! The Dead Queen deserves all the praise and hype it can get!

[Constance Sinkule]

Stumbled upon this book by happenstance and I am absolutely shook with excited for the next one. The FMC is a badass healer rebellious princess and we are only introduced to the magic she is capable of throughout this first book… definitely leaves me wanting more.

I was guessing at where the author was going with the love interest (two possibly) the entire time and finishing the first one… I am still left guessing and I like it.

There’s the golden retriever knight and the dark and snarky shadow daddy. All in all this first one left me with far more questions than answers and immediately jumping into the second “The Fox Heir.”

[Jess]

⭐️ Review: The Dead Queen by Briar Knightley ⭐️

(Gifted — thank you so much Briar! 🖤 This review is 100% honest.)

Okay, so let me start by saying: I am that reader. The one who can watch a movie or read a book and immediately go, “Oh, I know exactly where this is heading.” Mystery? Thriller? Plot twist? Yeah… I usually sniff it out like a bloodhound with Wi-Fi.

🦊🐺 BUT with The Dead Queen, even though I felt the direction things were headed, I was still so excited to watch everything unfold. It had that delicious tension of “I know what’s coming… but I still can’t wait to see it happen.” And honestly? That’s a win for me.

Now… that ending.
A CLIFFHANGER.
A gnarly one.
And if you didn’t see it coming, ohhhh boy. Prepare your feelings, because you’ll close the book and instantly start whisper-screaming, “WHERE. IS. BOOK TWO?!”

I genuinely loved the story — the atmosphere, the gothic vibes, the court politics, the secrets, the Wolves, the whole “is he a monster or something worse (or better 👀)?” energy. And the relationships between the characters? Really well done.

I will admit one tiny disappointment…
I thought we were maybe getting a love triangle.
Like… the vibes were vibing.
My delusion was delusioning.
But it didn’t go there. 😭
It’s fine. I’m fine. Maybe book two will feed my chaos-loving heart. (Briar, if you see this… hiiiii 👋🫣💖)

I read this book in two days. It hooked me, it kept me entertained, and it gave me something a little unique compared to the usual fantasy books I’ve devoured lately — which I really appreciated. Truly, thank you again to Briar Knightley for gifting me this copy. 🖤

If you like dark fairytale retellings, enemies-to-lovers, gothic courts, corpse wolves (yup), and a fantasy world where secrets don’t stay buried… this one’s worth picking up.

[Jocelyn]

If you’re looking for a dark Red Riding Hood retelling, THIS is it. Holy crap. Briar Knightly has become a new auto buy author for me. I have seen blurbs saying if you like a the Knight and the Moth then you’ll like this story, and I’d have to agree with that. Her writing did remind me a lot of Rachel Gillig’s.

I really, really enjoyed this book. I found it to be a breath of fresh air in the fantasy realm that can be so copy and paste. The main characters were likeable, the villian is the worst, the plot is engaging and steadily paced, the magic system is unique, and the romance is sweet. Even though it is a fairy tale retelling, I didn’t find it overly predictable like I do with most of them.

Themes in this book include: war, loss, death, grief, trauma, abuse, mystery, forbidden attraction, political intrigue, secret identities, arranged betrothel, friendship, spice, and so much more!

I highly recommend this book!! (The author gifted me a copy of her book to review, and I am leaving a review of my own free will).

[Chelsea Vitale]

Ummm…. I knew nothing about this series going into it. What a nice surprise!

This story follows Sienna, heir to the Fox throne who is at odds with her father the king and ultimately is just trying to uncover what happened to her grandmother. She’s dragged back to court after being away for 3 years only to be shoved into an engagement she didn’t ask for and a role she doesn’t want.

Enter in the wolf to our story who has shadow powers and is from the enemy lands. He gets himself entwined with the princess and they have to work together.

I really had no idea where this story was going which is such a breath of fresh air.

Also the writing in this… from the first paragraph you’re getting the kind of descriptive language that forces a clear picture into your mind. Love that.

Immediately downloaded and am starting book two.

[Amanda Lee]

Oh wow… The Dead Queen was such a great read! I absolutely loved this story from beginning to end. The author did an amazing job bringing every scene to life. I felt completely pulled into the world like I was right there beside the characters.

Sienna is the kind of female lead you can’t help but root for. She’s strong, courageous, and has more heart than most characters I’ve read in a long time. Watching her grow and fight through everything had me hooked.

And this book seriously has EVERYTHING:
✨ Action
✨ Betrayal
✨ A romance that’s sweet without being overly spicy
✨ Funny moments that break up the tension perfectly
✨ A completely unhinged mad king (aka the psycho dad)
✨ A wolf
✨ A knight
✨ And of course… a ☠️QUEEN 👑

This is not a book you want sitting on your TBR forever
move it to the top immediately. Once you start, you won’t want to put it down!

[Botanical Book Nook]

I started The Dead Queen by Briar Knightly without knowing what to expect, but the gorgeous cover immediately caught my eye, so I decided to take the plunge. And wow, I am completely blown away! The world-building is incredible, and the characters have so much depth that they feel real. The story kept me turning the pages far past my bedtime with twists and surprises at every turn. I could hardly put it down.

There were subtle vibes that reminded me of A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas and The Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy. If you love shadow daddies, strong female leads, and witty banter accompanied by smirks, this series is absolutely for you.

Now I’m to read the second book!!

[Keasha M]

Fantastic book!!!

🤯🤯 this book surpassed any expectation I had!!! This world is filled with a war between 2 kingdoms both of which have vastly different powers. The North has shadows and the South has light/healing. The Fox King leads with cruelty and manipulation which the Dead Queen is a mystery.....well until the end. Sienna is the Fox thrones heir but she's stuck living with the curiosity to find out what happened to her grandmother and when she's only met dead ends she runs to the war to help heal those she can. That is until she's called back to marry a man her father chose for her, needless to say that doesn't go to plan and she's forced to run for her life.
This ended on a cliffhanger that blew my mind!!

[Terin]

Romantasy isn’t my usual genre, but I was pulled in from the first chapter. I fell in love with Sienna, her quick wit, independence, and courage. The world felt so vivid and creative while still grounded enough that I could picture every detail. The tension is high, the stakes are sharp, romance is hot, and there were so many beautifully crafted, imaginative scenes that had my jaw on the floor. THE ENDING...WHAT!? I'm ready for book 2. An addictive and unforgettable read.

[Sara Sousa Antunes]

World building: Genuinely one of the strongest parts of the book. I really liked the world and the ideas behind it, and I honestly wish we'd had even more time to explore it.

Plot: Interesting overall, especially once the story picked up, but things sometimes felt a little too convenient. I often had the feeling that certain events happened because the plot needed them to, rather than developing naturally from what came before. Unfortunately, I also found the ending quite predictable — I had a pretty good idea of where things were heading before the reveals came.

Characters: This was probably where I struggled the most. I just wanted more from them. More depth, more complexity, more time to really get to know them. There were moments that should have made me feel a lot, but I never became emotionally attached enough to the characters for those moments to really hit. I understood what I was supposed to feel, but I rarely actually felt it.

The King: Congratulations, you were the one character who consistently made me feel VERY strong emotions. Unfortunately, most of those emotions involved wanting to throw you off a cliff. 😂

Romance: I really wanted to feel more here. The ingredients were all there, but I think the relationship needed more time and emotional build-up for me to become truly invested in it. I should also admit that I'm really not a fan of love triangles, so that part was always going to be a harder sell for me personally. Still, even putting my personal dislike of that trope aside, I wanted more emotional development between the characters to make the romance really hit.

Writing: Very easy and quick to read, but at times it felt a little too familiar to me, particularly as someone who reads a lot of fantasy/romantasy. I would have loved a more distinctive voice and a little more subtlety in some of the emotional moments.

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐

Not a bad book, and there were definitely things I enjoyed, especially the world building, but I kept feeling like something was missing. For me, that something was emotional depth. I wanted to care more. About the characters, about their relationships, about what happened to them. And unfortunately, I never quite got there.

That being said, I’m still curious enough about this world to want to continue the series. There’s definitely potential here, and I’d really like to see where the story goes next. So despite my mixed feelings about this one, I’ll absolutely be reading the second book. Who knows, maybe that will be the one that completely wins me over!

[Bianca C]

The Dead Queen by Briar Knightly is a gothic fantasy with dark fairytale vibes, ancient fae lore, court intrigue, dangerous secrets, and romance. 🖤🐺👑

Honestly, the premise alone had me sold. A reluctant heir, a haunted palace, a forced engagement, a mysterious Wolf, CORPSE WOLVES, dark fae, evil mermaids, and secrets that refuse to stay buried??

Say less. I’m seated. 😂

Sienna gets pulled back into the Fox King’s court despite wanting absolutely nothing to do with the throne she may one day inherit. Between the political games, the mystery surrounding her grandmother’s death, and realizing that pretty much everyone around her is hiding something, things get messy real quick.

And then there’s the Wolf. 👀🐺

This book has SO many things fantasy readers love: enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, forced engagement, morally gray characters, knights, secret societies, and open-door romance.

But honestly, it was the dark fairytale and gothic atmosphere that really caught my attention. If you love fae fantasy but want something a little darker, with court politics, ancient magic, undead creatures, dangerous romance, and characters who clearly cannot stop keeping secrets from each other, you might want to add this one to your TBR. 😂🖤

And thankfully, this is only book one in the Thrones of Ruin series because there is clearly so much more magic, darkness, and chaos coming. 👀

✨ Gothic fantasy
✨ Ancient fae lore
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Forbidden love
✨ Forced engagement
✨ Morally gray characters
✨ Court intrigue
✨ Secret society
✨ Undead monsters
✨ Dark fairytale vibes

📚 The Dead Queen is book one in the Thrones of Ruin series.
.

[Navdha]

Ehh…

This was a miss for me.

The good:

* The writing style is decent. Some of the scenes are genuinely spooky and definitely make this a good cloudy, fall-day read.
* The book is short, there’s a decent amount of action, and it moves along at a reasonable pace.
* Also, Hunter is a sweet boy who can do much, much, much better than Sienna.

The bad:

* Sienna is insufferable. The whole “I need to figure out what happened to my grandma” mystery is supposed to be the central driving force of the story, but the book never really makes you feel the why behind it. Maybe that’s partly because the book is so short, but either way, I never found myself particularly invested in the mystery.
* Then there’s the king. He’s corrupt and greedy, which is perfectly fine—we love a terrible monarch. But his reason for hating Sienna is so… bland? And if he hates her that much, his reasoning for keeping her as his heir makes even less sense. The whole thing felt way too hand-wavy for me to buy into.
* And then we have the author trying to force a love triangle with Tristan. We keep hearing about Hunter’s betrayal and how Sienna doesn’t love him, while simultaneously watching her take advantage of his love and loyalty. Like… okay, we get it. Sienna is making out with Hunter but isn’t in love with him. You don’t need to keep selling it to me. At least give us something more concrete between Tristan and Sienna, because that entire side of the “romance” felt incredibly underdeveloped.

Overall, I think the biggest problem is that I never felt invested in any of the things the book clearly wanted me to care about. There were some good ingredients here—spooky atmosphere, action, a mystery, romance, corrupt royalty—but somehow they never came together into something that actually clicked.

So, unfortunately, I think I’m going to skip the next one.

ps: Hunter, I’m sorry. You deserved better.

[Jess Bohanick]

Okay... clearly I was sleeping on this book because WOW.

This was one of those epic stories that completely takes over your life. I could not put it down, and before I was even halfway through, I'd already bought book two because I needed to know what happened next.

Sienna is the reluctant heir to a kingdom ruled by her tyrannical father. As she starts uncovering secrets and realizing everything she believed about her past may have been a lie, she's forced into a journey north to the mysterious Dead Queen.

This is a dark, gothic Little Red Riding Hood retelling, and it absolutely nailed the atmosphere. It was eerie, compelling, and had me wanting "just one more chapter" every time I tried to put it down.

If you love epic fantasy with twists, secrets, and a gothic vibe, don't sleep on this one like I did. I'm diving into book two immediately...

[Rae]

Wow!! This book is a hidden gem that checked absolutely all the boxes for me. Sienna is a headstrong, spunky, powerful princess haunted by secrets and will risk anything to get answers. She’s imperfect and messes up in the most realistically human way possible and I loved her for it. The pace was perfect and not a page felt wasted. The journey through Llewyn and the Borderlands was the perfect way to showcase the strong relationships and world building! I couldn’t believe that it was 324 pages when I got to the end, I honestly wouldn’t have been surprised if it was over 500 pages! I can’t wait to immediately immerse myself in the next book.

[Natalie]

I received an e-ARC for this book from Booksprout. Thank you to the author's team for allowing me in!

3.75 STARS

Let me start this review with something very important to me. I HOPE THIS COVER IS NOT AI. I couldn't tell, but it sort of looks like it, which I am VERY against.

The premise of this book was interesting and for a debut novel, I can say I am pleasantly surprised. I excepted less, so I am giving Briar Knightly her flowers. I think there's potential in the way she writes and this story.

I will start with the positive sides. There may be slight spoilers, so read at your own risk.

* The FMC's motivation is different from others, which I couldn't exactly connect to, but it intrigued me. She didn't feel too 'pick me' throughout the story. I'd like to see her character development as the series progresses.
* The magic system I would say is unique. It's not a foreign concept, a play of light/dark, but intriguing enough. I am slightly disappointed it wasn't explored further.
* The Fox symbolism is a fun concept, I like the red hair being passed down the royal line.
* The book is fast-paced, the chapters are short, and I kept turning the pages.
* The writing style is clean.
* One-horse trope is more refreshing than one-bed. Made me chuckle.


What I didn't like:
* I have an issue with the main villain of the story, his motivation remains unclear and he feels like an easy way out.
* Insta-lust / insta-love with the second MMC. I want to be kept on my toes more when romantic tension begins to build up.It felt like Sienna instantly started wanting Tristan simply because he was the dark broody and supposedly the enemy, but he showed her kindness.
* Magic system and not enough lore revealed. With more world-building this story would've been more captivating.
* The plot twist at the end. I felt this book did a bit of hand-holding or was predictable. I could guess the ending, so it didn't shock me. Cliffhanger, indeed, but one that I'd pick up from again.

Overall, I am happy to have read this book and recommend it to others looking for a swift escape.

[Jordan Cooper]

Meeeeh. I found this lacking.
It's a novel filled with... nothing? I was 3/4 in and nothing was happening. Yes there's a semblance of mystery but it's not overly intriguing. Yes they begin a perilous journey but the obstacles to fit into the last 1/4 of the novel became a bit much and of courseee a final battle had to happen. Yawn. I'm not buying that Sienna has 1. Searched for answers about her grandmother for 12 years - give it up girl she's dead. I also don't care about the relationship. Why was I meant to be invested? 2. Is Sienna naive enough to not think her father is a tyrant? Even though he's horrible to her? What you think he cares about his people but abuses his daughter. Make it make sense. I'm not immersed in the world or the plot or the characters.

[Cassidy Pierson]

I am completely obsessed with The Dead Queen! Briar Knightly delivered an absolute masterpiece with this first installment of the series. The pacing was flawless, and the characters were so incredibly well developed.
And that cliffhanger?! Genius. Even though I managed to guess the twist ahead of time, the execution still left me completely shocked and reeling.
The tension and dynamics are top tier. I am dying to see what develops (or doesn't!) with Tristen in the next book. At the same time, my heart breaks a bit for Hunter. I'm calling it now, he’s definitely coming back in book two, and I am highly suspicious that he might be stepping into a villain role???
I didn't even hesitate I just hit "order" on book two. If you love gothic fantasy, and phenomenal pacing, you need to read this immediately!

[Aires]

Dědička Liščího trůnu. Tajemství. Zrada. Ženich na obzoru. Válka se sousedním královstvím. S mrtvou královnou a její armádou nemrtvých ve stínech.

Zní to vážně bombasticky a v podobně dobrém rozpoložení kniha začíná. Sienna si získá čtenářovi sympatie. Bylo to v podstatě dobré čtení, chytlavé. Ovšem určitě ne nápadité. Příběh nevyniká nad ostatními, podobných ztracených dědiček a královniček ve fantasy světech bloudí celé davy. Je to čtivé, ale naivní. Zkušený čtenář tuší hned, že od Liščího krále se nedá čekat nic dobrého, a fantastické odhalení na konci jsem taky předvídala. Škoda, že kniha nenabídla čtenáři aspoń pár vytoužených odpovědí.

[Lauren Penner]

“A fox is a curious creature. Solitary, not like wolves who live in packs. Foxes look out for themselves.”

If Red Riding Hood vibes in a medieval atmosphere, a swoon worthy golden retriever knight, and a possibly dangerous spy sound good to you, check out The Dead Queen by @briarknightly.

I loved all the twists and turns! The characters were complex with some interesting challenges and I’m really curious how those are going to play out in the next book, The Fox Heir (which is out now btw.)

🏰Medieval
❤️‍🔥Slow burn
🗺️Quest
💍Arranged marriage
🔮Magic

When I was taking these pics a little moth came out and posed for me lol. It was perfect 🦋

[Kate Blackwell]

I really enjoyed this, its a gothic, creepy, a dark fairytale, with a cast of villains and surprising twists.

Sienna the Heir to the Fox throne has spent 3 years away at the front, healing soliders caught in the war between Llwyn and Annwyn. Her nobles can heal small hurts but only royalty has magic enough to mend bones, muscle and bleeding. But she receives a summ9ns from her hated father, who announces she must marry and produce mini heirs.

The King has always disliked and resented his daughter, his only child. Sienna is rebellious, antagonistic and does her own thing. She isnt the compliant heir he wanted. He anmounces her engagement to Hunter, once her best friend, past love interest and now a knight.

Hunter is a golden retriever, he's charming, lovable and clearly cares for Sienna but they've become estranged due to a past betrayal and Sienna struggles with her feelings of anger and hurt. Plus she doesnt want to marry anyone.

What utterly consumes her is her obsession in finding out what happened to her beloved Grandmother 12 years ago, who was supposedly murdered by the corpse wolves their enemy, the Dead Queen, uses to ravage their lands. Sienna knows there was much more to her death than she was told and is determined to uncover the secrets of her life and find out the truth.

And when Tristan, one of the Dead Queen's wolves is captured and interrogated he promises her the answers she is looking for, but they wont be found at court, but in the distant land of Annwyn, home to their enemy. So she decides to flee, with both Hunter and Tristan, with the King's Guard hot on their tail.

This was a richly atmospheric tale, of wraiths, ghosts, and undead forces. Of an oppressed, lonely young woman trying to find her own path. I liked both the MMC's and I dont know if its going to be a love triangle or not.

Lets talk about Sienna, I found her really hard to like, hence this being a 4 star review. She was utterly obsessed with her quest and wasnt interested in anything else. She was rather cold and calculating in my view,happy to use and manipulate anyone to get what she wanted.

I understand her clinging on to her Grandmother's memory, she was never shown love from her father, she had no mother or friends,bar Hunter, and was regarded in a dim light by the court. But her obsession made her a bit of a bitch. I found myself disliking her more and more.

I think she treated Hunter like shit. He loved her, was her only friend, helped rescue her, gave up his life and position at court to go on the run with her, saved her life, she slept with him and then at the end deserted him to the undead creatures whilst escaping with Tristan. I felt he deserved so much more, yes his past betrayal was bad, but we dont know his side of the story.

I felt his present day actions made up for that and then after what felt like leading him on, she just ups and leaves, not knowing if he's alive or dead. That really put me off her at that point.

I dont know if he'll feature in book 2 or if there's going to be a love triangle, if Tristan will become her love interest or what will happen but I feel Hunter deserves someone who truly loves him, not a FMC who is more interested in her long dead Grandma and who just uses people. Come to that Tristan deserves better than Sienna at this point as well.

I definitely want to read book 2 to see if Sienna redeems herself.

[Lilith's_Library_]

✨Arc Review✨

Thank you to the author Briar Knightly for sending me this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Utterly Captivating and Hauntingly Beautiful

The Dead Queen by Briar Knightly completely blew me away. From the very first page, I was hooked by its dark, atmospheric beauty and the emotionally rich storytelling that unfolds like a spell. This book is everything I love in fantasy—mysterious, intense, and absolutely unforgettable.

Knightly’s writing is stunning. It has this lyrical, almost haunting quality that perfectly matches the tone of the story. The world she’s created feels ancient, crumbling, and full of secrets. You can feel the weight of history in every shadowy hallway and crumbling ruin. The tension between past and present, life and death, power and sacrifice—it’s masterfully done.

The characters? Phenomenal. Complex, flawed, magnetic. I was especially drawn to the main character’s internal struggle, the weight of a throne steeped in ruin, and the way grief and power collide in such an emotionally raw way. And the supporting cast? Every single one of them felt layered and important, never just background noise. I found myself thinking about them even when I wasn’t reading.

And let’s talk about the vibe—dark court intrigue, whispered prophecies, dead queens (of course), and a romance that simmers with forbidden tension. It’s gothic, it’s magical, it’s heartbreaking, and it’s so addictive. There were moments that gave me chills, moments that made me pause and reread a line just to let it sink in. It's one of those books where you finish the last page and sit in silence, still caught in its spell.

This is the kind of fantasy that lingers long after the final chapter. I cannot wait to see where the Thrones of Ruin series goes next, and I already know I’ll be recommending this book to anyone who loves dark fantasy with a beating heart.

Dark Royalty / Fallen Throne 👑🩸
Haunted Heroines 👻🖤
Dead but Not Gone 💀👑
Court Intrigue & Betrayal 🕰️🗡️
Forbidden Magic 🪄🚫
Slow Burn Romance 🔥⏳
Enemies to Allies (to Lovers?) ⚔️🤝❤️
Resurrected History 📜👁️
Morally Gray Characters ⚖️🖤
Gothic Fantasy Atmosphere 🏰🌑
Prophecies & Destiny 🔮👣

[Sami]

Every aspect of The Dead Queen was captivating from start to finish. This is the first book in the series and is a dark, gothic Romantasy novel. Page one, already hooked.

Sienna is a natural and skilled healer, never wanted the throne, never asked for it. A summons drags her back to the royal court where her cruel and devious father is awaiting her arrival. She’s haunted by the mysterious death of her grandmother, someone her father refuses to ever bring up to her again. Sienna doesn’t want answers, she needs them. She has been trapped in grief and cannot figure a way out.

This story stands out from other fae Romantasy books I’ve read already. First off, I’m used to rooting for the villain, dark hair, tragic past, too good to be redeemed but I kind of started looking at the knight in shining armor on the other side.

I love the writing within this entire book, it’s beautiful and enchanting. It felt, for a lack of a better term, academic in a good way. The characters felt real and their dialogue was witty and relatable. It’s very clear from the start that nothing is as it seems in this Little Red Riding Hood retelling. I loved the imagery and the flow from chapter to chapter. There’s depth to the MCs and to the world building itself. You’re immediately thrown into a battlefield and can almost smell yourself being there and seeing what the MC is seeing with how descriptive it is.

The ending will have you sitting on the floor contemplating everything you’ve ever experienced in life. Immediately had to purchase book two, no questions asked.