The Dead Queen by Briar Knightly is a dark retelling of the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood. In this version, Sienna, heir to the Fox throne, is forced to return home to a palace and a position she does not want. Caught off guard by an arranged marriage to her childhood friend—now one of the King’s Guard—she must also contend with rumors of another heir soon to be born. If it is a boy, her life will be forfeit. Haunted by memories of her grandmother and the elusive moth motifs scattered through the city, Sienna vows to uncover the truth behind her grandmother’s death. When one of the Dead Queen’s Wolves is discovered in the Fox King’s private office and thrown into the dungeons, Sienna heals him and helps him escape. Fleeing with Hunter, her childhood friend, and Tristan, the Wolf, she learns the true cause of the war dividing North and South. As the fugitives face the Fox King’s guards and the dead that wander the northern lands, Sienna makes a decision that will haunt her forever. But when she finally comes face-to-face with the Dead Queen, she is left with more questions than answers.

The author has taken Red Riding Hood's story and given it a grown-up cape to wear. Sienna is a strong magic wielder and a rebel fighting a destiny steeped in tragedy. The fantasy world is sharply divided between the colorful, deceptive Fox Court of the South and the shadowed, death-haunted kingdom of the North. Even the characters mirror this duality: Sienna wields light and healing magic, while Tristan commands shadow and death. Traditional fairytale elements are placed in a dark, Gothic setting that heightens both suspense and mystery. As the first book in the Thrones of Ruin series, The Dead Queen promises more magic-driven, fairy-tale-inspired adventures to come. With just enough romantic sizzle to make it more New Adult than Young Adult, the book is an easy and engaging read, comparable to the works of Chanda Hahn and Demelza Carlton. Briar Knightly proves that true talent lies in telling a story that enchants, terrifies, and transports the reader to a world of both horror and wonder.

The Llwyn and Annwyn kingdoms have been at war for centuries. The people in Llwyn have always been told that the Annwyn people are the aggressors, using undead monsters to take over Llwyn's lands and resources. Sienna is the heir to the Llwyn kingdom, but her relationship with her father is tenuous. Sienna had been to the borderlands for three years, helping to heal wounded soldiers with her powers, when she was summoned by her father. He demands that Sienna get married immediately to Hunter, as it is her duty to the kingdom. An agent from Annwyn is captured in the palace. As events unfold, Sienna becomes close to the agent she believes has information about her grandmother, who she discovers was part of a group opposing the king's tyranny. How will things unfold in The Dead Queen by Briar Knightly as Sienna continues to rebel against her father and finally escapes with Hunter and the agent from Annwyn?

With highly engaging dialogues, there was never a dull moment in The Dead Queen by Briar Knightly, and once you start reading it, there is no putting this book down. The twists and turns in the flawlessly flowing plotline kept me on the edge of my seat as I waited to discover the events in the subsequent chapters. I loved the vivid descriptions of events and emotions, which helped create a mental picture of what was happening. I believe this book would make a great movie if adapted into one. The characters were well-developed, and readers will also appreciate the perfect narration, which added to the overall beauty of the story. This was an amazing read, and I look forward to reading more by Briar Knightly.

In The Dead Queen, Briar Knightly introduces us to Sienna, heir to the embattled Fox Throne of Llwyn, who is as skilled at healing wounds as she is at causing them. The story opens in the war-torn borderlands, where Sienna’s healing powers set her apart from other nobles but do little to save the kingdom from the encroaching undead armies of Annwyn, ruled by the immortal Dead Queen. Summoned home by her distant, manipulative father, Sienna is forced into an arranged marriage with her childhood friend, Hunter. She must deal with court intrigue, her father’s cruelty, and her unresolved grief over her grandmother’s mysterious death. Sienna discovers clues pointing to a secret society—the Moths—and finds herself drawn into a forbidden alliance with a captured Wolf, a shadow-wielding agent of the Dead Queen. Can she accept her destiny as heir and uncover the secrets that imperil her kingdom?

Briar Knightly’s debut novel is atmospheric and immersive, and I enjoyed how the author merges political intrigue, a delicate romance, and a darkly magical world where light and shadow powers divide nations and families. The first-person narrative voice was superbly executed, and the stream of consciousness pulled me into the psyche of the young heroine. The voice gives the story an intimate and immediate feel, allowing you to see the world through Sienna’s eyes. Her relationships with the brooding Hunter and the enigmatic Wolf are layered and intriguing, never descending into easy tropes. And there is the worldbuilding: from the blood-soaked borderlands to the decadent, dangerous palace, every place pulses with history and menace. The tension between healing and harm, light and death, is explored both in magic and in Sienna’s own coming-of-age. The Dead Queen delivers the court politics and slow-burn romance of The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon and the lush, divided kingdoms of Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin. I can’t wait for the next book in the Thrones of Ruin series.

The Dead Queen is the first book in the Thrones of Ruin series by Briar Knightly. The story follows Sienna, a reluctant heir who is summoned from the war-torn borderlands to the Fox King’s court. The palace is where her grandmother mysteriously died, and Sienna is not comfortable with that at all. Once she reaches the palace, Sienna is forced into an engagement with a knight she once loved. Things escalate when a Wolf, a feared spy of the Dead Queen, is captured. Sienna realizes the war may not be what it seems to be. To uncover the truth, she must risk everything by aiding the Wolf’s escape, journeying north into lands ruled by the legendary Dead Queen. This is the place where magic lingers, corpses rise, and long-buried secrets threaten to consume them all. Was going into the Dead Queen’s territory the best plan? Can Sienna get there before it is too late?

Author Briar Knightly’s narrative style is incredible. I love Sarah J. Maas, but Knightly’s writing style is better and a lot more enjoyable. Sienna is a protagonist whom I enjoyed. I don’t really like female protagonists who try to be more masculine. Sienna is not like that. She understands her duty, knows what she wants, and knows how to get it. The tension between Sienna’s duty to her crown and her growing mistrust of the court is compelling. Her inner conflict makes her a relatable and layered protagonist. The Wolf is equally intriguing. He is dangerous, mysterious, and vital to the whole mystery. This is such a great start to the series. There isn't a single dull moment, the pace is perfect, and the author left just enough clues in the story to make readers want more. I cannot wait for the next novel in the series.