Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit for the arc!

I requested this because of the historical inspiration – Henry VIII and his six wives but in a fantasy setting? Sign me up!

Six Wild Crowns is an interesting take on Henry VIII and his six wives and full of the intrigue that I always like in a fantasy book. While the historical inspiration was definitely there, it did take a minute to get used to seeing real world historical figures alongside dragons and magic. That said, once I got passed that, I really liked the world that Holly Race has created in this. While only small sections are explored in this book, I’m hoping we get to explore more of Elba in the sequel.

I’m also hoping we get to see a bit more of the other queens too – Six Wild Crowns is told mainly from the perspectives of Seymour and Boleyn. They are two completely opposite characters – Seymour is often described in the book as dull, while Boleyn is full of confidence and not afraid of it. It made for an interesting dynamic between the 2 and it was interesting to see how their views of the world (and Henry) differed so much. I loved seeing how both women learned from each other too.

There were a couple of plot points that I wished had been fleshed out a bit more, as they did feel a bit rushed or shoehorned in, but on the whole, I did like this and I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for the sequel!

«Everyone has secrets. It’s what makes us humans»
This book wasn’t bad it just wasn’t what I was expecting.
It’s promoted as being perfect for fans of The Priory of the Orange Tree and of House of the Dragon and even though you may like this if you liked those you will probably feel disappointed if you are expecting it to be as enthralling, because although it does have dragons they are not an important part of the story and they are kind of just there. I also found the court politics to be quite simple, probably because I was hoping for something at Priory or HOTD level.
At the beginning I didn’t really connect with neither of our main characters. I found Boleyn to be blinded by her love for the king despite her cleverness and Seymour wasn’t the spy and assassin we were promised in the synopsis, she is actually neither of those things and has a very low self esteem being bullied by her brother since she was little, but I have to say I liked the development they had and I ended up liking them.
About their relationship, I could understand Seymour having a crush on Boleyn, but love? When they had had barely five conversations and Boleyn hadn’t been anything but indifferent toward her? that’s just not realistic, although I did enjoy the sapphic yearning I just wished it had been done differently.
I can’t say much about the historical aspect of this book since i know the basic about King Henry and the Tudor Queens but I did like the concept of the queens being married to him at the same time.
With that ending this book will probably have a sequel in which I hope we see more of the other queens especially Cleves who despite having few appearances made me really like her.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC

This was not what I was expecting because the blurb exaggerated, however it was an entertaining and engaging read.

Boleyn and Seymour's POVs are so opposite to one another but you still can't help but root for them both individually and the eventually, together.

There's only a small amount of fantasy and romance and the historical accuracy is limited too but I am looking forward to what book 2 will bring.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this highly-anticipated novel in advance! It was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Six Wild Crowns instantly called to me with mentions of sapphic yearning, Tudor Queens and ancient magic. The dragon-filled halls and Seymour's role as spy and assassin mentioned in the blurb were also big points that caught my attention, but weren't as explored as I hoped in the actual book.

Generally, I found that the blurb can be a bit misleading, as the story is less action-packed than it suggests and the historical elements are very limited, aside from characters' names, BUT... A very important "but"... As soon as I set aside the expectations from the blurb, I found myself really enjoying this story full of political intrigue, magic, love and betrayal, and would recommend it to all (historical) fantasy lovers!

Boleyn is a force to be reckoned with - a character that isn't 100% likeable, and I believe intentionally so, but one the reader can't help but root for from start to end. She is full of ideas, courage and pride, and she won't let anyone stand in her way. It was very interesting to see her character development, as well as how her relationships with others around evolved throughout the book. On the other hand, Seymour begins as a quiet, placid woman who doesn't stand up for herself... and grows into herself beautifully chapter after chapter. Her friendship with Clarice and her yearning for a love she can't have were written so well.

There were some other great characters here, but not overly fleshed out - I would have loved to know more about Queen Cleves, and hope the sequels bring more of her to the forefront! Her animals were brilliant, with the panther she gifted Seymour being so very cool!

The pacing of the story was a little slow in the first third or so of the book, but once it picked up it really kept the interest going. I enjoyed the twists, even when I saw some coming, and was certainly horrified by certain discoveries. The world-building was intriguing, too, and I'm hoping to see even more of it in the sequels!

I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy!

Thank you to Holly Race, Little Brown and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Six Wild Crowns in exchange for a review.

For fans of: Wolf Hall, The Embroidered Book, The Fallen Gods Trilogy (Godkiller etc), SIX the Musical, Horrible Histories Terrible Tudors, House of the Dragon, The Other Boleyn Girl.

Six Wild Crowns is the first in the new Queens of Elben trilogy. The book takes place in the pseudo-European Tudor/Medieval magical world lots of fantasy books exist in, but with a diverse cast in every way possible. It's the Tudors, but not as you know them.

The POVs alternate between Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour. They are very different women, the opposites of each other. One is full of confidence and the other has none at all which is why they have such a brilliant and dynamic alliance. I can only hope that in future books we get POVs from the other queens. Anne of Cleves was definitely my favourite.

I think it helps to have at least a basic understanding of the players of Henry VIII's court. Most of the people are the same and fulfil the same role they do in history. Mark Smeaton is still the court musician, but he's in the throuple with George Boleyn and Jane Rochford.

I felt knowing the history made me appreciate how Holly Race had reshaped the story and turned it on it's head. The wives are all alive at the same time so they're no longer competing for one single position of Queen. They still have to share Henry no matter how much they might think they love each other.

Six Wild Crowns is a sapphic historical fantasy that gets better and better with every turn of the page. It will be a difficult wait for book two!

I give Six Wild Crowns 5 stars!

A feminist story full of politics, intrigue, strategical planning and sisterhood in the way that all women are sisters and we should all band together to destroy the patriarchy that daily does its best to keep us divided.
This is the vibe of this book. Going into it i was expecting something else and it was slow to start but it is a character driven story and these characters, especially Boleyn, will worm their way into your mind and they will become your sisters and you will want to see justice served for them.
Cannot wait to see what the sequel will have in store because that ending was something else, at no point in the story did i know what was going to happen next.

A 4/4.5 star rating

This was something abit different for me. Although like others I have long been very interested in Tudor History I am yet to read a Tudor fiction story
This is the Tudors with a sprinkle of fantasy, if Henry was married to all six wives simultaneously in order to protect his kingdom

Such a unique spin, this very different from typical romantasy but as a huge romantasy advocate I still enjoyed reading something a different and read this in just a couple of days

Again it is just a touch of fantasy, abit of romance but the overall story focuses on the Queens which I still enjoyed

I’m not sure if there is a sequel to this but if there is it would be interesting to see if the fantasy element is developed if not I would just say don’t go into this excepting your typical fantasy romance and the only downside would be that there were areas of the magic that was not fully explored.
Still this was a very enjoyable read
Thank you

I've never been one for history so I wasn't sure what to expect going in but I was completely hooked on this fantastical take on Henry VIII and his six wives! The dual POV flip between Boleyn and Seymour laid the narrative out perfectly with interesting insight into both women's motivations. I'm really looking forward to the sequel!

This is dual POV between Boleyn and Seymour but we do also meet the other queens as the story goes along, I really liked Howard and Cleves in particular.
I loved Boleyn from the very first chapter, sweet & pliant on the outside but witty & brave and clever even if she may be slightly on the naive side when it comes to her new husband, the king.
In the beginning Seymour is secretly in competition with Boleyn, at the will of her family, but I also really really liked her character and the way she was drawn to Boleyn at first sight kept my interest from the get go.
The fantastical world building is absolutely stunning, Holly's writing paints a vivid picture of the setting of this story; the castles, the trees bearing fruits and housing dragons, it's all done so well I loved it. The court politics and the sneaky schemes and affairs; it's enough to make you clutch your pearls, the drama of it was delicious. I especially loved the animal/mythical creature familiars. I want to shout on the rooftops about how great this is, I was totally blown away.
If you're into historical fiction with a fantasy twist you absolutely need to pick this up.

Thank you to Netgalley, Orbit, Little brown books for the e-arc im so grateful to have read this early

3.75 ⭐️

Characters - 7/10
Atmosphere - 6/10
World - 7/10
Plot - 7/10
Emotional Impact & Enjoyment - 6/10
Writing - 7/10

Book release date: 10th June

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown publishers for giving me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really solid adult fantasy debut by Holly Race, with an interesting fantastical (and quite considerable) re-imagining of the six wives of Henry VIII. I really enjoyed the dual POV of this book from the perspective of two of the women this story centres on. Their journeys in this story are interesting and offer some good character development. I really liked how each of the described six wives are distinct from each other and I enjoyed their evolving relationship dynamics as the story unfolded.

I did feel like some of the romance elements of the story were a little undercooked, and how some characters felt about each other didn’t always personally feel really believable. In some cases, I would’ve liked characters’ feelings to have developed a little more gradually over time, and for the author to spend more time establishing those affections through showing the reader rather than telling.

However, I would say that romance is a very very minor aspect of this story and the main focus is around royal politics and ancient magic, where the women in this story start to realise how to unlock their suppressed power. And in this aspect, I think the book did a really good job of keeping your interest throughout and making you really root for the main characters.

One brilliant read. I love the idea behind it. Using Tudors history to write fantasy novel was genius :) All characters and interactions between them. Overall amazing fantasy story with magic, love, hate and betrayal. I do hope book 2 will be as good.

This book was certainly a slow burn for me. I did find the world building hard to grasp at first, and struggled a little bit to keep up with the politics of the world. In my opinion the book may benefit from a glossary of terms etc. Some may not agree but I know It would have helped me in the first 60% of the book. That being said, I still grasped the basics of the political system and could very much follow the story. This is all coming from someone who has mainly read romantasy and YA fantasy, and less high fantasy.

I also wouldn’t describe this book as romantasy. While Seymour’s romantic feelings for another character did drive her to make certain choices in the story, I would say the themes of this book lean more to fantasy and political intrigue.

Even though it took me a while to get through the book, I enjoyed the characters, and had a much more enjoyable time once we got to meet the other queens of Elben. The last 30% of the book was a brilliant read. The developments in plot and the action that ensued really made the book for me.

The themes of the Six Wild Crowns were very intriguing to me. The idea of using a real time period in history that was so full of sexism and patriarchy, and using it to create a world that mirrors that of our own was very clever from the author. I think this was the main reason I was intrigued to read on when I was having a hard time getting into it at the beginning. I also loved the diversity of the queens, and the use of the stereotypes we already have ingrained in our own minds about the queens was very well done. I especially enjoyed Cleves’ characterisation and look forward to seeing more of her in future books.

This is the start of a brilliant high fantasy series that is steeped in feminist themes and is a truly empowering read. I can’t wait to see more from Seymour and the rest of the queens.

Oh. My. God. What a beautifully written fantasy novel. A gripping fantasy story inspired by the six Tudor queens and King Henry VIII, mixed with sapphic romance, dragons and bad-ass queens. What more could I have asked for? I was dying to get a hold of an ARC of this book and bloody hell, it did not disappoint!

Five things which really brought the novel together for me were (inside joke hehe):
1. The lyricism of Race's writing, especially when describing labour. I myself have never had a child but the way in which it was written was so empowering and bold.
2. Strong female characters and also female characters who are coming into their own.
3. Urial - the best gold retriever coded dragon. If you love Abraxos in TOG, you will adore Urial.
4. Gorgeous world-building - the faiths, the political strife embedded in the story.
5. The suspense - I really did not know how each chapter or this book was going to end, I was HOOKED and now I am desperate to know where the story is going next.

Boleyn and Seymour had my heart from their first chapters and I adored how Elben and all her secrets slowly unravelled. Knowing the history of the Tudor Queen's, it made the book even more entertaining and the most gorgeous love letter to the Tudor Queens. I CANNOT wait for the second novel coming out! I need to know what happens next!

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is probably the most original and creative fantasy/historical/retelling I have read in so long it’s difficult to even categorise it, but it was so stunningly done.

Holly Race crafts a perfect fantasy world around the Tudor dynasty, bringing all of Henry VIII’s queens together at once to battle for his affections and their status while an incredible amount of world building takes them on a different journey all together.

The book follows Boleyn and Seymour as they grapple with their places in society and the sacrifices they make for it and whether or not King Henry really cares for his queens at all. This is a story of dragons and kelpies and gods and horrific creatures, but it explores what marriage means for women, what choices mean for women, and how the patriarchy limits true potential.

As well as an original and beautiful idea Race has crafted a compelling and intriguing voice. It was difficult to turn myself away from the book, I had planned to read it alongside a few others but couldn’t concentrate on anything but Elden and its queens.

This book is perfect for fans of Priory of the Orange Tree but also for anyone who appreciates a well woven tale and clever nods to history.

the premise of henry viii’s six wives meets fantasy immediately caught my attention—court intrigue, dragons, sapphic romance? intriguing! the world-building is immersive, and the writing is easy to follow, but the story itself is much quieter than the synopsis suggests. the dragons, while present, don’t play a major role, and the romance, though hinted at, isn’t deeply developed.

some character relationships felt rushed, and the emotional depth didn’t always land for me, but there were still moments that kept me engaged. by the end, i found an appreciation for the story, even if it wasn’t quite what i expected.

if you’re looking for a character-driven fantasy with a historical twist, this might be for you! while it didn’t fully hit the mark for me, i can see it appealing to the right reader.

thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the e-ARC!

I really liked this book, I liked the originality of using this historical famous story to turn it into a fantasy retelling however it wasn’t as present as I expected
I really enjoyed the fantasy side of the story and its creatures and dragons
A lot of happens in this book, at first it is a bit slow paced to settle in the story but then it gets fast paced and really enjoyable
It is totally my kind of book

I’d heard about this book from a writer I follow and it sounded right up my street: a fantasy reimagining of the Tudor court told from the perspective of Boleyn and Seymour.

The one thing I keep thinking about it now that I’ve read it is that it’s an extraordinary book. It is just… spectacular.

The first couple of chapters are a little slow, with a fair bit of exposition, but it’s so interesting and so well-written that it’s not hard to get through. Then, everything just explodes into action.

There were so many small details picking out Tudor history that just delighted me. Boleyn is such a wonderfully complex character with agency and spirit, but also poignant, because she genuinely loves Henry. If she had been written by a weaker writer, they might have tempted to have Boleyn sacrifice herself for that love. Instead, Boleyn refuses to allow either love or fear stand in the way of her journey. She is the heroine we all want to be. She’s certainly the heroine I want to imagine I would be in her place. She’s smart and fierce and fearless.

I am assuming, based on the ending, that there is going to be a sequel. I am dying to see where Race takes this narrative. She could continue with Seymour’s POV. She could pick up the story with Mary Tudor and Elizabeth. I genuinely cannot wait to see the next instalment. I read this book in February, but I just know that this going to wind up at the top of my list of best reads of 2025.

Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - publish date 10th June 2025.

This is a 4.5⭐️Six Wild Crowns is a fantasy take on Henry VIII and his six wives. When I saw this in the description I knew I had to read this book. It is not historically accurate, let's just get that out of the way. I'm glad it's not, I've read far too many Tudor books in my life.

I grew up next to Hampton Court Palace, growing up in the shadows of everything Tudor, there's not much I haven't read or seen about Henry VIII and his wives. So to be given the chance to read something new, something different was really refreshing.

The writing at the start of the book took a little getting used to. As did the use of surnames as first names but once I got used to that, the story just completely captivated me.

I really enjoyed the growth in all the queens characters but especially Boleyn and Seymour whose POV's the story is told through.

I found the story about Henry's power and how having the six wives strengthens the wards that keep Elben safe from invasion, really interesting. The use of magic in this story is unique plus I loved the array of animals / beasts in the book. Especially the dragons! The crones are scary!

I enjoyed the way the queens interact with each other, the complex relationships, how they each come from different backgrounds and starts in life. It's interesting to see how Henry interacts with them also. The queens bring in that found family element not just with each other but in the side characters from each household. Some of these also bring the humour.

I really enjoyed the inclusivity in the book- characters of different ethnicities, LGBTQ+ representation including non-binary characters and the feminine rage was great too.

This book brought me to tears twice. There's love, yearning, anger, betrayal, jealousy, and plot twists. The writing is beautiful. Holly Race has done a superb job with this book! 👏🏼

Get this on your 2025 TBR. It's out in June 2025 and I absolutely can't wait to read the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for the arc. This is my own personal review of this book.

Heaps of fun and wildly inventive. This ticked a lot of boxes for me - goddess-led paganism, wild magic, female archetypes. I loved Boleyn, of course, but appreciated all the complexities of the relationships between the queens and Henry. I would have liked to have seen more of Wyatt and their relationship, it felt underdeveloped and I was intrigued by their dynamic.

It veered a little too into YA at times: every object mentioned would go on to be an important plot point which made the world building feel smaller. The themes were often spelled out which made them less impactful. I also saw the ending coming a mile off but despite this was still heavily invested. Looking forward to the next one!

Thank you Little Brown on Netgalley for this earc. All opinions are my own.
Whilst I enjoyed most of my time reading this, I just think that it overall didn’t hit for me.
I liked the world. The setting, magic, and politics kept me hooked. I think my favorite part was the writing. It felt almost magical in its description. What I didn’t enjoy was how the relationships were portrayed. I just don’t think it’s my cup of tea. I felt like Seymour instantly loved Boleyn, and it wasn’t developed enough to be believable. I didn’t enjoy reading about a smitten character. Why do you love Boleyn? What is there to connect with her? I needed more.
I also feel like the description made out Seymour to be a ‘spy’, but she did almost zero spying.
Overall, definitely try this book out. It has a lot of interesting elements to the world and politics. I just wish it didn't feel so rushed on the romance part. But, I’m probably in the minority here so please give it a try and see if you'll like it.