Queenswood

by Kathleen Schwab

Queenswood is a lush, lyrical historical fantasy debut that transports readers to twelfth-century Ireland.

In twelfth-century Ireland, girls go missing—fleeing arranged marriages, carried off by outlaws, abducted by faeries. Rhiannon, treasured daughter of nobility, believes herself secure, shielded by her parents’ stone manor and friendship with the king. But as her beauty grows and suitors jostle for her dowry, she watches her father’s tenants wrung dry in order to supply the banquet for her older sister’s wedding, and realizes the marriage market is a game she does not want to win. A convent offers a life of books and learning, although it means turning her back on mortal men for good.

Angus, Crown Prince of Faerie, grew up in the Queenswood, the enchanted old-growth forest that feeds all the woodlands of Earth and Faerie. Even once he comes of age, Angus much prefers roaming the wilds over the High Court than the responsibility of choosing a bride. But when he sees his mother fading—and the Queenswood dropping its leaves in mourning—he knows he cannot put it off any longer. He must do his duty as the prince and journey to the human world to find a maiden who can become the next Queen of Faerie.

Set in an Ireland still reeling from the Norman invasions, Queenswood combines a deep and immersive historical world with folkloric fantasy adventure.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical, Historical Fiction, Adult, Fae, Fiction, Historical Fantasy

346 pages, Hardcover

First published June 16, 2026

Reviews

[Selene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the author and publisher for my arc. I really loved the premise and this absolutely stunning cover drew me in, it moves a little too slowly for my taste but the mix of fantasy and folklore (Robin Hood, King Arthur) was a lot of fun.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book. My review is based on that copy, and the final published work may differ from what I read.

This book reminded me, almost instantly, of Juliet Marillier. Not for the writing style, but for the setting and the themes. It’s doesn’t reach those heights in quality, but I tried to put the similarities aside so that I could give this book a fair shot without holding it up to the standard of one of my all time favorite authors. And I’m glad for that. I had a great time with this!

The Irish setting is interesting, and I liked the author’s way of blending reality with mythology. I have a soft spot for Irish and Celtic based stories, and I’m always ready to read another one! I was intrigued by the plot, and the smooth prose made for quick reading. The first chunk of the book goes very fast, with large blocks of time covered in a few short paragraphs. The multiple points of view are balanced, and it’s not clear at first how they’re going to intersect which kept me engaged. Thematically, there’s a lot going on and not all of the themes are given the same kind of care. Some of the ideas expressed are vaguely touched on, and others are hammered at. It wasn’t a consistent approach.

The characters were the part that had me the most interested. Rhiannon is smart and kind and makes unique choices, and the twists her journey takes surprised me. Angus was less enjoyable. In the beginning I found him self centered, self indulgent, and hard to root for. But I liked that he is unlikable in a human way, still grounded in being a real person. He is not a caricature, and he has a satisfying arc throughout the book. Linna does not get her own pov, which makes her harder to connect with. But Cormac, while getting less page time than Angus and Rhiannon, ended up being my favorite character in the whole book.

There are some plot elements that are triggery in nature. One in particular, dealing with Linna, is not handled as carefully as I would have preferred. I won’t spoil them, but if you are a sensitive reader go in with awareness. The author also references a lot of sexual interactions, but in a very vague, unclear, hand wavy sort of way that made it challenging to follow. I would have preferred clearer references, while still closed door. The way it’s written was so veiled that it was confusing.

The story was quieter and more contemplative than I went in expecting. It was a pleasant surprise. It is character driven, and while not every point of view character has the same depth and time given to their growth, there was something engaging about each of them. I enjoyed this, and by the end of the book I cared a lot about what happened to the characters. The tension in the plots grows very slowly, and the last quarter of the books comes on fast and strong and the ending is fabulous. It took a turn I was not prepared for, but that felt exactly, perfectly right. There are some moments that were glossed over too quickly, and I had questions about the logistics of some interactions, but overall it was a satisfying conclusion.

[Amela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Queenswood reminds me of a fairytale more than anything else. We follow Angus, a fae prince who needs to find a human to be his queen, and Rhiannon, who doesn’t want to just be some lord’s wife, so she decides to join a convent. Angus tricks Rhiannon and kidnaps her, taking her to the fae world where they have to deal with other courts and fae who do not support them.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the prose in this book. It all felt very ethereal and you get a lot of the world-building of the fae realm with very elegant and old-feeling language, which really makes it feel like medieval Ireland.

I did not feel like we got a good grasp of the characters aside from Rhiannon and Angus, and even their POVs felt very surface level. I lean more toward books where you really get invested in the characters and grow to understand them, and I didn’t feel like you get that here.

Queenswood would be a great fit for those who enjoy an atmospheric tale with very good world-building. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC!

[Skeena8 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this fantasy story, it had humans, fae, selfies, wolves, and all kinds of interesting and lovely creatures. The characters and multiple points of view really added to the story. I love how it all came together in the end and the cozy ending that left me happy and soothed. This is a standalone fantasy that gives more of a gentle cozy vibe. The romance in this was closed door (no on page spicy) but the intimacy and connection provided that connection I was looking for. I would love more from this world but am very happy with the story and ending. I would love for this story to have an illustrated edition where I can immerse myself in the scenes and story even more. I want to see the Queenswood and the creatures within and the stunning descriptors of the castle and library. Very enjoyable read.

[Jack Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Created an account specifically to review Queenswood as I felt it was head and shoulders above other books in the genre (historical fantasy). It hearkens back to a different time. That is to say, this is a novel I wish there were more of in terms of style and tone. It is thoughtful, measured in its pace, written with lyricism and also efficiency, and the characters are really well rooted in the world. There is strangeness and wonder, and also a quiet strength in the characters that shines through. Nothing threw me out of the world or suspended my disbelief (a problem I have with many contemporary fantasies). Rhiannon and Angus are standout and this book felt so rewarding and satisfying and calming to read.

[Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Blackstone for providing an ARC.

Higher than a 3 for sure but not quite a 4. I was pleasantly surprised, wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. Very intriguing premise, I liked the blend of the historical with the myth and legends, especially the famous ones in United Kingdom lore (King Arthur, Robin Hood, etc.) without them being the main focus.

Even though a majority of the characters are fae and sidhe, it doesn't feel like too high fantasy, and is easy to follow along and understand, without needing a crazy amount of world building to know how things work in the universe. Also something that appealed to me.

The descriptive language was very beautiful, lyrical, soft, and flowed. I like Rhiannon. Good plot, the ending kind of came together fast, though. I didn't love that a whole slew of characters from the start never really show up again, and how certain central characters to the story seemed random because of placement and introduction. But I enjoyed it. More of a quiet, slow-paced story. Appreciated the lack of expletives or graphic lovemaking scenes, which I feel like so many historical/fantasy romances I read now have too much of. I liked how the lore was sort of made into her own while also having clear origins. Note: There's a lot of Christian faith-esque focus, though again, similar idea to the lore, it's a blend. It's more that religion is important to the protagonist, but it's not practiced in the same way, so it's not preachy. Just a lot of mentions.

It was the perfect length, it was elegant, didn't drag on, didn't dump in tons of unnecessary sex scenes to try to sell itself. What was there was done tastefully. The romance was there, and it felt more realistic in the manner it was done. I think I'm doing an awful job explaining this lol. I've just read so many historical fictions of different royals where every third chapter is in the bed chamber, and it's a pain.

I'll be honest, if I hadn't gotten the ARC, it probably would've slipped my notice. Very glad I did, because I really enjoyed it, and I would even re-read it. Definitely worth reading this one.

[Brielle Weber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really excited to receive this e-arc of Queenswood! I loved the idea of a historical fantasy with women fleeing from arranged marriages with a little faerie magic. This was not a romantasy (which I originally thought), it was more folklore/faire tale with some very light romance.

This story focuses on two couples and is very slow and intentional in the beginning. I really appreciated Rhiannon’s back story due to the examination of class/gender, although I thought the relationship between Linna and Cormac was more interesting (even though Linna did not get a pov). I didn’t really care for Agnus, especially in the beginning.

However, I honestly I didn’t really feel connected to the characters. I did struggle at parts of this story unsure of where we were going or why where we were mattered. It was a great premise, but maybe not executed the way I expected or desired?

✨3 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone for this e-arc. Queenswood comes out June 16,2026.

[Natali Vargas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A much slower and softer tale than I’ve read recently, and was all the better for it, really. This setting, basis of cultural inspiration, and story in general could be considered overdone lately, but the author’s approach and style turned this into something quieter and more unique than what may have come to mind upon reading the summary. In a genre where characters are often caricatures, these voices took their time, building a real sense of self and carving out their places in the narrative. Combine that with the careful crafting not only of physical places and spaces but also of what they mean and represent to this world and characters, and the result was just lovely to read. 3.75 💫

Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone for an eARC of this book. 🙏🏼

[Kristi V · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story feels deeply misunderstood by some of the reviews I’ve seen, because I think the wrong people are picking it up.

Thank you to NetGalley and blackstone for this arc!!

This story blends Irish folklore with religious undertones and creates the atmosphere that feels so absolutely beautiful. The cast is filled with crass men(iykyk), whimsical men, naïve women, and strong women, all painted with a romantic softness that adds to the mythic tone of the story. The prose is poetic and immersive, strongly reminiscent of The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss, with rich worldbuilding that unfolds like an old legend being passed down through generations. Reading it felt like sitting beside a fire deep in the woods, listening to ancient tales!

At its heart, this is a story about a girl discovering both her place in the world and the power within herself. As well as Cormac, a character whose goodness carries him to rule beside Linna. While there are other character POVs, these 2 were my absolute favorite.

Overall a beautiful journey that if you like historical fiction and fantasy this is 100% for you. I enjoyed every bit of it!

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Queenswood is a lyrical faerie tale set in medieval Ireland, where the fae realm lies alongside the human and the two meet more often than humans realise. This has been marketed as many things, and claimed by reviewers to be or not be many more. This is not a romantasy. I’m not sure I’d claim this was historical fiction with a slight touch of fae, either, as the majority of the novel either takes place in the fae realms or involves fae characters in the human realm. IMO we’re solidly in historical fantasy. I’ve seen other reviewers claim this felt YA to them, but I do not agree — I don’t believe that characters’ ages are what determines the intended reader ages. For me, the writing style and content matter felt like they belonged in the Adult age category.

Technically this novel was slow to start, which I've complained about in several other recent reads, but I found myself not caring with Queenswood. Normally I would hate that it took almost a quarter of a book to get to the inciting incident mentioned on the novel’s blurb. But it was such a lovely journey to get there. It's not that the prose was particularly beautiful or poetic, but the author has woven such a wonderful tapestry of this world and these characters that I never really felt the length it took to reveal the actual main problem and goal of the novel.

The lore and politics slowly built up in Angus' fae chapters were enthralling - so many different fae types and courts, and rather than info-dump we simply learned about them as Angus visited over years of learning to ‘become’ the High Prince of the Fae. I also adored the worldbuilding for "medieval Ireland" in Rhiannon’s chapters, which built the world through her interactions with family and friends, with learning the differences of how her servants lived from how she did, and as she grew older, seeing the hypocrisy of the nobles around her, and beginning to fear the ways in which women are traded, sold, or stolen into marriage. Both characters were very relatable in their dreams and fears.

But then the 40% mark happened and we switched genres. No more cosy fantasy. Suddenly manipulation and kidnapping, in a meeting that felt out of character for both, but especially for Angus (who even had an explicit warning NOT to do exactly what he was now doing). There was also a new POV character introduced, who felt so unrelated to the main story in his first few chapters, until it was revealed that a fae side character was now targeting him in order to have babies. It was disturbing and gross to suddenly have two fae characters (Angus and his sister) decide that the solution to being unable to conceive a child with other fae was to non-con or dub-con two humans into being their baby-makers. Rhiannon is kidnapped, after being manipulated by Angus in disguise as a priest of her convent order into “technically” agreeing, and then being gaslit that it’s her fault for agreeing. Cormac is deep in grief and PTSD, and Linna attaches herself to him and marries him within 24 hours, when he can barely focus on time passing or people having conversations with him. Humans don’t need to be informed or give proper, real consent. Fae can just take what they want, haha stupid humans. But this is “better” treatment than what humans normally get in the fae realms, which is being slaves. So everyone should be grateful and/or see this as romantic?

I just came off a novel that kept the main female protagonist in a threatening, powerless, abusive marriage for 95% of the novel, so I think I was especially unprepared for that to happen again here. And my tolerance is currently worn too low to see past it in this novel. Maybe I would have been less critical if I’d had more time in between “oppress women with marriage” novels - or maybe it still would have soured the beautiful beginning that I’d loved.

Fans of historical fantasy will probably still enjoy this, since this treatment of women and marriage may technically be accurate. Readers who are tired of female characters having their agency removed and/or being oppressed (especially through marriage) may want to give this one a miss.


Rating: 3 stars -- A beautiful start ruined by manipulation, kidnapping, and rushed out-of-character actions. It turned into something very different from the start, which is a shame.

[Yomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐

I originally picked up this book because it was advertised to me as a romantasy. I would just like to clarify for anyone who wants to pick up this book, it is not a romantasy. It is a historical fantasy full of folklore first, with a romantic subplot. This is not a bad thing; I just found it misleading.

I would advise reading a sample before picking up this book to familiarize yourself with the writing style. It is written very lyrically in the style of a folktale. It is also set in an older time period and is written with language reflecting such. I found it beautiful and atmospheric, but some many find it confusing.

For the pacing, the story is extremely slow-paced. The book is split into four major parts, and I'd have to say the first two parts are mainly just worldbuilding. We start with our characters as children and watch them grow. This may be a turnoff for some people, but I did not find it boring (and I usually can't stand a slow pace). There is much more focus into character development, court politics, and story tales. But with giving the story so much worldbuilding and foreshadowing, the later story arcs are extremely satisfying, and the world is whimsical and easy to visualize. I should also mention that this book has quite a few different points of view besides the two mentioned in the description.

I am not familiar with Irish folklore, so I don't know how accurate all of the Irish elements are, but they weaved with the story seamlessly. This is not your typical Fae romantasy; there are dozens of types of Fae (tree-people, mermaids, kelpies, flower fairies, etc.) that really make you feel as if you're reading a fairytale. And of course, there is elemental magic!

As you can tell from the summary, the female lead is involved with a convent. The book is constantly speaking of Christianity, with the female lead being heavily religious (seriously, God is talked about all the time: not an understatement). I was worried about this as someone who is not a Christian, but it did not come off as preachy in anyway and worked well as a story element. But my main complaint for this book comes from the religious aspect. As the religion focuses heavily on marriage, there is basically no romantic tension from any characters; it is all instant marriage. I found it cheesy when characters would just have eye contact and feel obliged to wed. It came off like the beginning of the movie "Frozen."

Speaking of the romance aspect, there isn't any spice in this; the romance is all wholesome. And I would like to say that although the romance is cheesy with people marrying before even knowing each other, their relationships are heartfelt and brought smiles to my face. My second and final complaint of this book is I feel we deserved even more character bonding and interactions, but what we did get was beautiful. There is also LGBT representation involved, though not a main plot point.

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a fairytale-esque fantasy with a slow-paced romantic subplot! Seriously, if you like whimsical fairies in a historical setting, you will enjoy this.

I give my thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this!

[Eden Chung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super torn on this one. I absolutely LOVED this, it felt like a more lyrical version of Cruel Prince. However there were like five things I was like sooo let's actually not... but overall I really enjoyed the book and its plot points!!! (mostly the ending really annoyed me.)

RATING : 4 ⭐ (would've been [a genuine] five/favorite but the endingggg)

WHAT I LOVED : The setting. It was so descriptive and the Queenswood is such a wonderful world!! I really adored the magic system (how it is passed down and the logistics of it)!! I also loved how Rhiannon composed herself in new worlds, especially with all the problems. Honestly, I just loved this. It was cozy and calm (I don't know about low stakes but it was pretty slow I feel), the character development was amazing I loved seeing how the characters grow!! I also loved how slow this book was but how fast it felt! Also all of the different courts and their rulers! I loved how the internal monologues of most characters fit their personalities, and I basically just loved Rhiannon. There were also a few slightly more emotional scenes that I loved so much ❤️❤️❤️

WHY IT IS A FOUR STAR :
1) Angus is bi, but that's not a problem at all, the problem is AFTER Angus takes Rhiannon as his bride, he kisses his boy lover from the start of the book. Hello. Also at the epilogue we see his old male lover AGAIN DUDE YOU'RE MARRIEDDDD
2) I hate the ending SO MUCH. the way the big conflict at the end wrapped up was not cool. I think it was pretty rushed and I was just pretty upset. ALSOO the way the epilogue is placed is not good. From the previous chapters, you kind of get an overall understanding of how the magic system works, but the epilogue makes you kinda confused as in what the heck is going to happen to this world now?????? ALSO WHAT THE HECK IS RHIANNONS HOUSEHOLD I HATE IT STOP also that story she was telling at the end made no sense
3) the way prospera is at the *very* end of the book (helped by Cormac ifykyk) and girl what are we doing. I felt it was really out of her character and also the random sympathy made me really confused....
4) how minor things were highlighted but major parts were rushed through. Rhiannon is on a boat for DAYS. We just fastfoward that whole time?? I kind of wanted to see her thoughts during this as it felt like something perspective changing. And then we focus on stuff like Cormac and Linna. I get why but like I felt the story would be better if we just didn't touch on them and like they WEREN'T in the ending??????
5) minor thing, but basically when Rhiannon first gets to the fae world, she is really confused and wants to go back (understandably), and she is thinking of her parents. After she gets her powers (very early on into getting into the fae world), her parents are not mentioned again. Sooooo her parents probably think she's dead and gone and like what
+ more but those are the big main things


TAKEAWAYS : I would reread (but maybe forgo the endinggg), I loved the worldbuilding, the politics, and Rhiannon!! I would definetely read other books by this author!! I see why this book has such a low rating but I think this book has so much potential!! Overall, no time wasted, and I really enjoyed this!!


ARC RECEIVED FROM B&N BOOKFEST 2026

[Rachel Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: Murder, implications of slavery and rape, kidnapping, childbirth, imprisonment towards marriage.

I love stories involving the fae, and this novel felt like a faerie tale in the best and worst ways. But first, the plot:

Rhiannon, an Irish noblewoman after the Norwegian invasion, longs to leave her lonely life in her family's manor. Her siblings have gone to create their own lives by getting married, or are too old for her to relate to. She has a curious mind, and eventually sees herself devoted to learning and God. Angus, the fae High Prince is also lonely. He keeps to himself, and finds court life stifling. He'd much rather roam the wilds of the fey realm. However, this all changes when Angus receives a prophecy of marriage: he must bring a mortal woman to the marriage alter (the first among years) or his family line will fail. When Angus pursues Rhiannon, her decision will determine the destiny of Angus's line and the fae nobility in general.

The characters were the best part of the book. Although they were held somewhat apart through use of third person limited POV, I was able to distinguish all three main perspectives from each other. Angus for example is more closed off. I lved Rhiannon the most, however. I related to her as a bookish dreamer, and was saddened when she was taken from the Abbey she found peace in, and was happy after she found a new path forward. I also was surprised by how much I liked Cormac, a farm-boy who falls for Angus's sister and a man who was way in over his head. I had no trouble with the POV's but some might which is understandable. I appreciate that the fae are different from the humans but still parse-able to the reader. I appreciate that queerness was acknowledged among the fae as well.

I also really enjoyed the tone of the book. It reads like a fairy tail, and the prose also matches that. (In fact, a bunch of fairy tales are adapted and put into this book, riding off the original story.) However, due to this, there are only a few locations that are very vivid. Most other places are sketched in, which may cause some friction to certain readers. Like a fairytale, the romantic elements in this book are not explicit, and fade to black.

The fairy tale-ness of this story can also be its biggest downfall, as the ending is very abrupt and final. I resonated with it, but some readers who are expecting series potential may not. There are also darker tropes of fairy tales that are used, like the marriage as abduction trope, and slavery (humans towards fae and human raiders selling other humans). This is not gory or violent, but it is important to the plot.

If you're looking for a dreamy read, even if things might seem a bit distant, I would recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Final Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Check out my blog for drink parings and other reviews: https://theredreaderreviews.blogspot....

[Faith Lavezoli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Queenswood felt very nostalgic to me and different from a lot of the other fantasy books that are published today. The faerie world was whimsical and weird, filled with all manner of magical creatures, not just a bunch of hot people. I would say that it is more of a fairytale than a fantasy book, especially because of the writing style. It is slow-paced, with nearly the first half of the book focusing on the individual characters before they even meet.

Queenswood focuses on two couples, Rhiannon and Angus, and Linna and Cormac. Rhiannon and Angus would be considered the main characters, and most of the chapters were in their points of view. Rhiannon was raised as the youngest daughter of a noble family who is dissatisfied with the path set before her, so she decides to spend the rest of her life in a convent. Angus is the prince of the faerie world, which is a magical world that parallels Rhiannon's. I really enjoyed the journey these two characters were on separately, but I wanted more from them once they were together. Their romance was an extremely slow burn, which I am a fan of, but when they finally warmed up to each other it wasn't as satisfying as I was hoping.

The relationship between Linna and Cormac was a lot more fulfilling in my opinion. Even though their POVs were not featured as much as I would have liked, they felt very fleshed out as characters. They both had trauma that shaped them and allowed them to be vulnerable with each other, which I found very compelling as a way to progress their relationship. When Cormac's POV was first introduced, it felt very random and it took a while to figure out how he fit into the wider story.

The first half of this book was very focused on worldbuilding and fleshing out the characters. Rhiannon's childhood had really interesting themes surrounding class divides and womanhood, but after she met Angus, those themes went away and she didn't really seem to care about her old life as much, almost as if everything we learned about her didn't actually matter. It felt jarring that Rhiannon had very little resistance to being tricked and taken by Angus, especially because of the story she heard early on in the book about a woman who was taken by the faerie king and was not allowed to have a Christian burial. I was expecting Rhiannon's religion and other beliefs to cause more conflict, but she accepted her situation with hardly any complaint.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Siavahda · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*

I made it to 35% of the way through the ebook, because I want so badly to like it. But I do not: I am terribly bored and don’t care about any of these characters.

Occasionally other PoVs pop up briefly, but the bulk of the book is divided between Rhianon, a young human noblewoman, and Aengus, the crown prince of the Fae, and to be blunt, Rhiannon’s chapters drag on and on, while Aengus’ are rushed and info-dumpy. The Fae are basically humans with magic, not strange or alien in the least, which is something I find incredibly boring. And I’m trying not to grind my teeth at them being called Sidhe, which is not the Irish term – this being set in post-Normandy Ireland.

(Actually, that’s a whole other issue – for historical fantasy set in Ireland, nothing about this feels Irish. I actually forgot this was meant to be taking place in Ireland. Speaking as someone half-Irish who was born and raised there…no Irish terminology, no distinctly Irish culture – even the character names weren’t recognisably Irish! Whaaaat?)

The big love-story between Aengus’ parents makes no sense: they broke all the rules to marry each other… so that they could live and rule in separate courts and only meet 4 times a year??? They could have seen more of each other if they hadn’t married! (Any woman who marries the High King becomes High Queen of the Queenswood and lives apart from him and his court, except for the festivals when both courts party together.) Like, a huge amount of the plot rests on this – because Aengus’ dad ignored the seer and married Aengus’ mother instead of who he should have, Aengus must now deal with the repercussions. I thus require the love-story to make sense!

We’re watching Rhiannon grow up from a young child to an adult, and it takes forever, wherein almost nothing actually happens. Aengus has an almost entirely off-screen romance with a male faerie we barely see, and otherwise…does nothing, really. Everything we learn about the Otherworld is just – dropped on us like a stone, very bluntly. It sucks the wonder out of all of it.

Nothing I’ve seen in other early reviews makes me want to push on through my boredom. No thank you!

[Gabby L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Copy Received from Netgalley

I was intrigued by the summary and the concept of incorporating Irish folklore into a fantasy book. The cover also drew me in, as well the title.

The author did a great job using Irish folklore throughout the book, both from the perspective of the mortals/humans, as well as in the actual Fae world. I enjoyed exploring both Angus' and Rhiannon's worlds, and seeing how both of their worlds come together for them to meet.

I wish there had been more focus on the developing story between Angus and Rhiannon. The story paces pretty slowly until they meet, and then it speeds up a little, at which point we don't really get to see their relationship mature too much, and then all of a sudden we are near the end of the book. It seems like most of the major action happened in the last third of the story (action meaning the progress of their relationship, as well as the plot development/climax).

I did like the incorporation of traditional fairy tales and Irish mythology into this book, but for a book being named Queenswood, I feel like it didn't place enough emphasis on it throughout the whole story, especially near the end. We build up this image of the Queenswood and all of its power, just for it to not play the major force in what combats the major opponents into backing down/being defeated.

Conversely, what does end up defeating these opponents is not talked about very much in the book in comparison to the image of the Queenswood. We only start learning that part of the story halfway through the book. I so so loved the concept of the High Queen and the Queenswood and the power of these two together, so it was a bit disappointing to have the story peter out this way.

In summary, the author clearly did their research into Irish mythology and did a good job of incorporating it into a fantasy book, but this is not a usual romantasy book as the summary may imply.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written but exceedingly slow faerie story, primarily focused on Angus, the reluctant faerie heir to the High King and the Stone Crown, and Rhiannon, the youngest child of a noble family who is drawn to the pursuit of knowledge. This is a sweet, imaginative story about being young, growing up, and finding yourself, which is mysteriously marketed as an adult historical fantasy. To me, the story reads very much like a young adult novel as most themes, particularly politically, are simplistic, and the plot is primarily driven by the characters coming of age.

The main characters are likeable, and I did enjoy that we get to see them both grow into their roles. Through them, we learn about the human and fae worlds, and we gradually (sometimes too much so) meet the other POV characters as time progresses. These POV characters, Cormac in particular, are introduced in a way that I found to be jarring and difficult to figure out how they fit into the overall plot. Rhiannon’s story takes half of the book to start to pick up, and I felt like her and Angus’s introduction to each other was abrupt, unsatisfying, and out of character for both, which lowered my enjoyment of their romance considerably despite how much I started to enjoy Cormac’s sections at the same time.

I think if this book had been marketed differently, I would view it more kindly. As it is, as much as I enjoyed the fae world and some of the religious details, I fluctuated between bored and underwhelmed for the vast majority of the action, and I came to the end of the book wishing that this had a bit more meat on the bones with more complex characters or magic systems. Overall, this story excels in the mystical and spiritual but severely lacks when it attempts to make an emotional impact on the reader.

[Siobhan MW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was so close to being a 4/5 but there were unfortunately some aspects that lessened my enjoyment.

Pros:
• My favourite aspect of this book was the worldbuilding. All the faerie courts and kingdoms that the characters visited felt unique. The descriptions of the winter kingdom as well as the Queenswood were particularly well done and contributed to creating a magical and mystical atmosphere.
• In its writing style and depiction of faeries, this book reminds me of Juliet Marillier's work. The prose flowed well and was easy to read and understand.

Cons:
• The book didn't truly hold my attention until 40% of the way through. This first part was slow paced, with the two main characters not even meeting until that point. A great deal of this information was irrelevant and could have been cut down to be backstory for characters instead. It didn't feel like there was a real inciting incident until I reached that 40%.
• The characters weren't as fleshed out as I wanted them to be, especially the relationship between Angus and Rhiannon. I didn't buy their romance and there were very few moments of connection between them.
• Adding to this, it often felt as if character wants and feelings were being told rather than shown.

Overall, I did genuinely enjoy reading this book. The latter half held my attention and I liked the depiction of faeries. I'd be interested in reading more books by this author.

[Olivia Host · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was a little torn on this one. I think I enjoyed it as much as a 3 star, but it was written well enough for me to round up to 4 stars. However, the writing was also a like dull and is what caused me to not enjoy it as much in the first place. It was giving classic lit vibes, which is not my cup of tea. I think if it wasnt written in this way, it wouldn't have read so dry & lacking emotional depth.

The story itself was interesting, but was not a "page turner" in my opinion. I liked our main characters well enough but felt distant from all of them the entire book due to the way they are written. I do like Rhiannon as a character though & wish we'd gotten a little more from her and Angus as a duo.

I did like the world building of this, and the sort of "stumble along as you go" way of introducing the fae & how the world works (from the POV of a human). I wish we got more time to explore the depth of what it means for these Fae to be so interconnected and interwoven with their specific gifts/roles. By the time we got there, it felt like it was passed by.

I think ultimately this just didn't vibe with me the way I wanted it to due to the way that it is written. It made the plot sort of slowly rise and fall, and the characters feel distant and unemotional. But, that aside, it was an enjoyable enough read and I think that for classic lit fans this will be a hit. It was just too "dry" for me, I'm sorry!

[Thea Lochlainn Theaologies Library · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review of ARC received through NetGalley

DNF at about 30%. I haven’t DNF’d a book in over two years but just could not continue with this, unfortunately. While the plot sounded interesting I was hoping for more actual Irish history, I suppose, with it being advertised as historic fantasy. Perhaps this comes up later but overall I feel this book would have worked better in a fully fictional setting. Taking place in 12th century Ireland I would’ve liked (and expected) to see more period appropriate Irish names.

I feel this book would’ve worked better as a middle grade novel, as it very much read like one. Massive amounts of unnecessary, often pointless info dumping made the beginning very boring to get through, while generally clunky writing for an adult (YA?) novel only worsened it. None of the characters spoke in natural ways (when they did speak, between the paragraphs of info dumping) or had particularly natural interactions, so there was no flow. The first 100 pages could’ve been summed up in maybe 20 and revealed bit by bit throughout the book, rather than shoving both of the characters entire childhoods into the first 80 pages. Less is more. Show don’t tell.

Maybe it gets better but unfortunately I can’t get through the writing. I’m very sorry to DNF an ARC but as someone who loves Irish historic fantasy I would not recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

[East of Reality · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books where we start with the main character as a child — around 6-8 — and the spend half the book watching them grow up to the age of consent. Then they only have half a book to meet and fall in head over heels in love with the boy (who we’ve also spent a few hundred pages watching grow up), and then deal with the plot. But while that’s all happening we’re introduced to another couple who has to meet and fall in love and deal with the plot. It’s very unbalanced.

If you’re looking for a more plot centric book, you’ll be disappointed. The first half is world building, and while it’s well done, it’s also the main focus. While the Robin Hood story was an interesting take, I found myself often wishing I was reading that book instead of this one. The faerie realms, too, are intriguing. A pity I have to spend time with Angus to see them.

There is no character growth in this book. Rhiannon is the same person she is at six as she is at 16 and will probably be the same at 60. She’s a narrator of events happening around her, watching but never reacting to life. Angus, like Rhiannon, has no reaction to events, he just endures them. They’re passive and they’re the most boring part of the book.

I want more of this world. I want more of these stories. I just wish I didn’t have to spend time with these characters. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Courtney Stearns · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot and Vibe Summary
Set in twelfth century Ireland, this tale follows a nobleman's daughter fleeing an arranged marriage to a convent and a Faerie prince searching for a human bride to save his fading realm. The vibe is deeply nostalgic, atmospheric, and slow paced, leaning heavily into a classic, folklore driven fairytale aesthetic.

What Worked
Lyrical prose transports you effortlessly into the historical setting.
Whimsical worldbuilding populates the faerie realm with unique creatures.
Lush environmental descriptions make the forest feel alive.

What Didn't Work
Pacing is deeply meandering and takes too long for characters to meet.
Romantic development feels secondary to the heavy lore descriptions.
Plot tension ramps up abruptly, leaving the ending rushed.

Final Thoughts
This is a beautifully written debut for readers who prioritize sweeping prose and classic Celtic folklore over rapid plot progression. While the slow pace kept me from fully connecting to the romance, the imaginative world makes it a worthwhile journey for patient fantasy lovers.

Book Breakdown
Tropes: Forced marriage avoidance, royal duty, parallel worlds.
Spice Level: Genuinely clean, focusing entirely on courtly romance vibes.
Trigger Warnings: Forced arranged marriages, abduction by outlaws, fading of loved ones.

Thanks to NetGalley for sending an ARC or advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair and honest review

[Meg Wahlberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will begin my review with this caveat: I am a medievalist possessing a lifelong fascination with fairytales and folklore.

When it comes to genres like Romantasy and Historical Fantasy, I am usually wary because these labels have created an ecosystem where writers have to conform to genre conventions and make their stories stale and predictable. To my delight, that was not the case with Queenswood.

Queenswood dares to play with genre conventions and push back on them. I found it far more interesting than I initially expected I would, and by the time I got to Angus's first venture into the human world, I was hooked.

Queenswood will undoubtedly appeal to fans of high fantasy and anyone with a love of Irish folklore. I felt such a strong connection to place throughout, and I think it is important to go into this novel understanding it is more about the Queenswood itself than any individual character/subplot.

I give it 5/5 for the prose alone, which is mellifluous, sweeping, and so lush with detail that you feel absolutely transported as you read. I could feel the spidersilk chemise on my skin. I could see every character clearly and I fell in love with the creatures of this world.

The only question I am left with now is where do I find the Angus/Peder fanart subreddit?

[Monica Beard · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading Queenswood, I was very curious as to whether Kathleen Schwab was from Ireland. After reading it, I don't think so - there is a certain melancholia, or maybe a sense of a world outside of their control, that seems to be written between the lines of Irish authors, and is missing a bit from the Queenswood books. Queenswood is the story of two characters who eventually come together (and how, I won't explain, as it's a bit of a spoiler.) Rhiannon has grown up the privileged daughter of a woodland lord, and over time, begins to realize that the life that has been promised her is not exactly the life that she wants for herself, while faerie Angus chafes against a life preparing to rule the faerie kingdom.

The book is a bit meandering, in the best way, and doesn't feel strongly about distinguishing . We meet a version of Muireann and Robin of Locksley, as well as Nimue and her consort, Merlin. The book does not feel strongly about distinguishing Irish legend from English legend, which does mean that you're never quite sure which mythological character might show up. The book does have a a satifying ending, but I was sad to be done in this world. I'd love to see Schwab continue to build out the corners of this fairyland. Thanks to Blackstone Publishing for the early copy.

[Leah Jones Marcus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I unfortunately DNF at 16%. This story may be a good one for the right reader, but it wasn’t for me.

This book may still be for you if you like:
- History & Mythology
- Full History & Background of characters
- Light Fantasy
- Low/No Spice

Here’s why it wasn’t for me:
I signed up for the ARC of this book because I thought it would be fun to read an Irish Fae book. The description reads as intriguing— girls are going missing. I wanted to find out why. Turns out it is just the typical reasons from the days of old— girls are forced into marriages they don’t want to be in, so they figure out various ways to escape them. The girls aren’t missing, they choose to leave.

I also signed up based on the genre categories that this was supposed to be an Adult Fantasy book. This seems more like a YA book to me, and not because there was only very off-screen, very hidden language spice, but because the characters are very much teens and very much behave as such. They are immature and unworldly. Additionally, I would not classify this book as Fantasy. Yes, some of the characters are Fae, but their magic is almost never discussed and isn’t a big part of the storyline. I would classify this as Mythology if anything.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story followed Angus, a fae prince who doesn’t enjoy the responsibilities he will have as he becomes king. In addition, he learned he needed a human wife to strengthen his fae bloodline. Rhiannon is a human girl who is beginning to struggle with her wealthy family’s visions for her future. They have a rough start.

Angus has a sister who wants a child, and realizes her best chance is with a human husband. Meeting Cormac, a young human farmer is a perfect match and they start a beautiful family.

The story focuses on Angus and Rhiannon for most of the book, but I found the story of Cormac and Linna a softer, easier story to ease in to. With Angus we visit the many fae courts, most of which seemed unfriendly but all were very interesting. With Linna we see life in a small village.

The characters and the world building were nice, especially when the Queen communicated with the trees and different fae that lived in the woods. The way the King could communicate with the stones was also interesting. Most of the focus was on Angus and Rhiannon, but I would have enjoyed more of Cormac and Linna’s story and background.

Thank you to Kathleen Schwab and NetGalley for giving me an e-ARC to read; this is my honest opinion.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 3.5 leaning 4 review because there were a lot of things I enjoyed about the story, but a lot that also left more to be desired.

I actually loved Angus and Rhiannon. I thought they made an adorable, unintentionally chaste couple. I loved that Angus had zero clue how to interact with his human wife beyond annoyance and reminding himself to be kind. Rhiannon is (rightfully) upset and overwhelmed at being yanked from her world to another.

Angus almost reminded me a bit of Peter Pan — didn’t quite want to grow up, sort of forced in to an adult world, and anxious on how to step into his new role. But he matures and I quite liked his personality.

My gripe really comes from the story pacing. Our two main characters don’t even meet until around the 40% mark. I was truly wondering how they’re going to be a couple and show relationship development when such a large part of the story was gone.

Their interactions were sweet and cute but I wished we got more from them. I understand wanting to move slow as their strangers but it was almost painfully slow with very little lead-up. There’s also a lot of focus on other characters and while it does pertain to the story, I almost wish it went another route, so we could focus more on Angus and Rhiannon.

[LiteraryMary95]

On StoryGraph, I gave this a 2.5 since Goodreads does not have partial stars available.


I really wanted to love this because the focus on Irish and Scottish folklore had me so excited. While the world-building and character work for Rhiannon and Angus showed real potential, the execution unfortunately fell a bit short.

I found myself wishing for much more depth. The romance lacked that spark I was hoping for, and by the end, the story’s message felt a bit unclear. The pacing was pretty slow since the main characters didn't even meet until almost halfway into the story, which made it hard to stay interested.

I felt like we could have easily skipped the POVs outside of Rhiannon and Angus'. I think the story would have been much stronger if it had tightened its focus. There were so many unnecessary POVs and side-character details that felt like clutter. Trimming those sections would have really helped clarify the plot and kept the momentum going.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Kathleen Schwab and NetGalley for giving me an e-ARC to read ahead of publishing.

[Shantel Cuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got as a ARC at Bookcon NYC 26

I’d give Queenswood: The Arc a solid 3 out of 5 stars. It’s an interesting addition to the fae world; but it doesn’t quite reach the heights I was hoping for.
The strongest part of this release is its atmosphere. The world-building feels richer and more immersive , and there are moments where the story really pulls you in.
That said, the pacing can be uneven. Some sections drag on longer than necessary, while others rush through what feel like important developments. It creates a slightly disjointed experience, making it harder to stay fully engaged from start to finish.
The characters stood out with meaningful growth and compelling arcs, but were missing some emotional connection to fully pull me in. This imbalance makes it difficult to feel fully invested in the overall narrative. There was some spark missing between the king and queen to make me really feel as if there was a romantic pull.
Overall, Queenswood is worth checking out if you’re already a fan or enjoy the genre, but it doesn’t quite deliver the consistency or impact needed to make it truly memorable.

[Itzy Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt so magical and dreamy!

The plot and setting was so fantastic and I genuinely felt immersed with the story. Based off of Irish folklore, it was so cool and interesting to see how many things I could pick up on based on what I already knew.

The pacing was slow but deliberate and I think it helped the story a lot. We were able to follow the characters on their journey which felt very magical and lush, especially with the writing style. I do feel like the world building could have been expanded upon but I loved it nonetheless. Seeing new worlds and being introduced to new characters was so fun!

I loved the two main couples and how their stories were unique and tender in their own ways. I liked how Angus and Rhiannon’s relationship was slow and steady and somewhat was unsure. They’re so new to each other and hesitant to make any mistakes and I think that’s what made their love story so beautiful. Their sacrifices were genuinely so touching and you can tell they were made from true love and care for the other person.

Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for the ARC.