14 February 2025
The Mortal Queen Review And Book Club Questions
Reviewed by: Melissa Ng
Quick Facts
Book Publication Date: 14 February 2025
How I Read It: Advanced reader copy from NetGalley
Where You Can Find The Mortal Queen by Ashley Metzler: Amazon Australia*
Trope: Enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, slow burn romance, forced proximity
Content & Trigger Warnings: Violence, war, arranged marriage
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of The Mortal Queen.
The Mortal Queen Summary
Aisling has spent her life hearing that the fae are ruthless monsters. They steal, they murder, and they cannot be trusted.
So naturally, when she’s forced into an arranged marriage with Lir, the King of the Fae, she’s not exactly thrilled.
The marriage is supposed to secure peace between humans and fae, but Aisling soon realises that the stories she’s been told may not be the full truth.
As Aisling settles into her role as The Mortal Queen, she learns that the fae have their own enemies — ancient creatures of darkness growing stronger by the day.
Even worse, her father has been lying to her (and, by extension, everyone else).
In the midst of political tensions and supernatural threats, Aisling discovers that she possesses powerful magic, hidden deep within her.
The catch? She has no idea how to use it.
Now, she must navigate a foreign court, a reluctant romance, and a brewing war — all while figuring out how to control a power she never knew she had.
Is The Mortal Queen spicy?
No. If you’re looking for heat, you won’t find it here. The romance is slow burn – emphasis on slow – and all they do is kiss.
The Mortal Queen Review
I went into The Mortal Queen excited for what sounded like a great premise: a human-fae arranged marriage, an enemies to lovers romance, and a heroine discovering her hidden magical abilities.
What’s not to love?
Unfortunately, the execution just didn’t land for me.
Things I Liked:
- The setup was strong. The idea of a human queen ruling beside a fae king could have led to some great political intrigue and magical world-building.
- I liked the concept of Aisling slowly unlearning the prejudices she was raised with, even if the execution felt repetitive.
- The potential for interesting side characters, though none stood out too much.
Things That Didn’t Work for Me:
- The writing felt clunky at times. Aisling is constantly referred to as both “Aisling” and “The Mortal Queen” within the same paragraph, which made for an awkward reading experience.
- The book is written in third person, which isn’t an issue in itself, but the execution made it harder to connect with the characters.
- Repetition, repetition, repetition. We are reminded many times about what Aisling’s father has told her about the fae. Yes, we get it. They’re monsters. Can we move on?
- The romance is slooooow. I love a good slow burn, but this barely smoldered. At the end of the book, they finally share a kiss… and that’s it. There’s no real build-up or longing to make it feel earned.
- The pacing was rough. The first half of the book dragged. I kept waiting for something — anything — to happen. If you like high-stakes, fast-paced fantasy (which I do), this might not be the book for you.
- The world-building felt generic. I’ve read a lot of fantasy, and nothing in The Mortal Queen felt particularly fresh. If you’re new to the genre, this might not bother you as much, but I was hoping for something more unique.
Final Thoughts:
This book just wasn’t for me.
If you’re a fan of slow burn romances with heavy political intrigue and don’t mind a slower pace, you might enjoy The Mortal Queen.
But personally, I won’t be continuing The Aisling Trilogy.
That being said, many other readers seem to love it, so if the premise intrigues you, don’t let my opinion stop you from checking it out!
The Mortal Queen Book Club Questions
- What were your favourite and least favourite moments in the book?
- Did you enjoy the slow burn romance between Aisling and Lir, or did it feel too slow?
- What did you think of Aisling and Dagfin’s relationship?
- Who was your favourite side character, and why?
- Do you think the fae are truly as monstrous as they are made out to be?
- Were you surprised to learn that Aisling’s father was lying to her?
- What did you think of Lir’s mother’s prophecy?
- What do you think Aisling’s magic is, and how do you think she acquired it?
- Why do you think Aisling has magic, but her family is human?
- What do you predict will happen between Aisling and Lir in The Savage Queen (book 2)?
- Will you be continuing the Aisling Trilogy? Why or why not?
- If The Mortal Queen was adapted into a movie or TV series, which actors would you cast for each character?
Disclaimer
Links marked with an asterisk (*) are affiliate links, where you can support thereadingnook.com.au by clicking through to the featured item.
Click here to read my full disclaimer on affiliate links.
