3.5 stars.
I enjoyed the premise behind this book, with the Tudor influence and then dragons mixed in with it. I liked the idea behind the story of Henry needing to be married to 6 queens to keep the bordweal and his powers strong, but I also liked the twist where it turns out he doesn’t and it was all a ruse!
Whilst there was lots of good world building and plenty of politics, I did find sometimes the plot a little lacking as I would have liked a bit more action, maybe even have the dragons more involved rather than taking a backseat.
Whilst this didn’t blow me away I still enjoyed it and thought it was good and I would read the rest of the series.

Edited to add another star as I can't stop thinking about this book.

This was everything that I wanted it to be and more. Henry VIII's wives but make it fantasy and make all the women badasses.

I am a huge fan of Tudor history and this book did it justice while also making it something new and fresh. I loved that all of the queen's are alive at the same time, adding to the court politics and relationship dynamics.

The fantasy side of things is more subtle but works beautifully. It plays on the idea of the king being chosen by a higher power but also includes different types of dragons, which I'll never be mad at.

I really enjoyed the dual POV, with Boleyn and Seymour's characters being so different to start. Both going through a lot of development, which is heartbreaking but empowering at the same time. I was rooting for both of them throughout and loved how their relationship developed.

If you love good world building, politics, history and fantasy, this is absolutely the book for you. I have no idea where this story is going to go now but I'm all in.

I have to say I was very much intrigued by the premise of this book! I love fantasy and really enjoy historical dramas, throw in some dragons and sapphic yearning and I was sold!

I was thoroughly captivated by the political intrigue and character development, but I did find the pacing slow in some places and some relationships felt rushed. I’m also a bit disappointed that there weren’t more dragons. I hope this isn’t a standalone, as I’d like to see more from the wives learning to harness their magic and fight back.

Overall I enjoyed this book and I do hope there is more to come!
Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the opportunity to read this title.

3.75/5

Tudors + Fantasy, what an epic mix, are you freakin’ kidding me!? I bloody loved reading this. Race somehow took a period of history, that is already wildly fascinating and twisted and shaped it to become even more intriguing. Think Henry VIII and the infamous six Queens but with a feminist twist, sapphic yearning and touches of magic (and dragons!) amongst all the political intrigue. I was hooked from the very beginning! 👑✨

(3.5 rounding up to 4)

Just give me sapphic yearning and political intrigue and I will always be there.

A special thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this book because I was in the mood for a historical fantasy, and it did not disappoint! It’s a quiet kind of read, not one that clamors for your attention, but rather draws you in gently. I really appreciated this delicate approach.

The character work is strong. I especially liked Boleyn, though I found Seymour a somewhat odd fit for the role of assassin, it made me giggle a few times. That being said, I loved how both characters evolve together and influence each other over the course of the story. The subtle, one-sided sapphic yearning and longing were masterfully done.

I also didn’t mind that the book took liberties with Tudor history, after all, that’s what allowed for dragons in the first place! The court intrigue and the slow unfolding of the underlying mystery were compelling, even if the pacing was uneven and the plot didn’t really pick up until halfway through.

All in all, this is a very innovative take on the Tudor HIstory and a solid start to a series I’ll definitely be continuing.

Stunning and original, I adored this accomplished fantasy retelling of the six wives of Henry VIII. As a reader who enjoys this historical period, I was intrigued to explore Holly's version and quickly became invested. The world building was superb - richly descriptive, inventive yet somehow familiar and totally accessible. As someone who often finds fantasy hard work at the best of times, this was just so palatable, fluent and enjoyable. Loved the attention to detail and the complex characters (a special mention here for Haltrasc the panther!) while the cleverly woven plot strands led me to a perfectly executed and emotional ending I just didn't see coming. A fabulous five stars.

With thanks to NetGalley, Orbit and Holly Race for the early copy

Pacing was a little slow at times, and maybe this genre isn’t always for me, but I really enjoyed it when things got going! I loved the dynamics and the characters. The dragons and magic weren’t explored as much I’d hoped and the premise didn’t match up with what we got, but it was enjoyable enough.

Please see the link for the review.

I’ve reviewed Six Wild Crowns for book recommendation and sales site LoveReading.co.uk

I have chosen Six Wild Crowns as a Liz Pick of the Month and LoveReading Star Book.

Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race is a thrilling, action-packed read that had me hooked from the very beginning. The world-building is fantastic—rich, vibrant, and full of intrigue. I loved how the author created such a detailed universe where magic, politics, and adventure collide in the most exciting way.

The characters are complex and their relationships are wonderfully developed. There’s a mix of strength, vulnerability, and determination that made them so easy to root for, especially as they face challenges that push them to their limits. The plot is fast-paced, full of twists and turns, and I found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next.

I gave it 4 stars because, while it was incredibly enjoyable, there were moments where the pacing slowed down a little too much, and I wished for a bit more depth in certain parts of the story. However, the overall journey was still incredibly satisfying.

If you love epic fantasy with a strong cast of characters, political intrigue, and plenty of action, Six Wild Crowns is definitely a book you’ll want to dive into. It’s an exciting, immersive adventure that will keep you turning pages.

Initially I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book if I’m honest. Being a fan of previous historical fiction around the Tudors. I absolutely adored this book, I found the renaming of England and all the names of the other countries a bit confusing initially but once I was about 30 pages in I couldn’t put it down!! I love the way the history has been twisted into a fantasy with strong female queens.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC! I thought that I'd enjoy this book more than I did. I love Tudor History but I found it difficult to separate fact from fiction and wasn't sure whether the added fantastical elements worked for me. I felt that the characters were well developed and I loved how badass Boleyn and Seymour were. I did enjoy the writing style and thought that it was written well but I didn't find myself wanting to repeatedly pick it up - Overall, a mixed reading experience.

SIX WILD CROWNS is a stunning fantasy novel that reimagines the Tudor Queens in a tale of sisterhood, love, and betrayal.

I love Holly's MIDNIGHT'S TWINS trilogy and have been so excited to read her entry into the adult space since it was announced, and this book does not disappoint. It is a smart, bold reworking of the wives of Henry VIII, making them the focus and not him. And it has all of Holly's trademark ruthless and shocking twists. Prepare your heart to be ravaged.

There are elements taken from history, of course, but this is not a retelling of history. It takes inspiration from them, with particular references to real events, and weaves a narrative of women who have been trained to keep a way eye on one another questioning the status quo and wondering if together they are stronger.

The fact it isn't a retelling means the story works so well regardless of whether you know the history or not. If you do, there are so many YES moments when you realise how a certain event or rumour is being brought into the story, but likewise you don't know how it ends so there is no predictability to the tale (and oh my goodness it is a rapid paced, surprising tale!) And if you don't know this period of British history, you do not get left out of the world.

It also plays so well with the archetypes we have of these queens, making them into far more nuanced characters. I loved how rumours of character were so effectively weaponised and how the characters themselves had to shake off the perceptions they had of one another before they could get to work. It was such a clever way to say "think again about these women."

This book focuses on (Anne) Boleyn and (Jane) Seymour (though in this world, firstborn daughters do not have first names - which certainly helps when three of the six queens were some spelling of Katherine!) Boleyn is a queen who has long fascinated people for the combination of sex and scandal that she has become known for. By contrast, Seymour has long been thought of as rather dull. I liked that these two women with such contrasting reputations were the ones focused on, developed into clever women who use their brains in different ways.

After that ending, I am absolutely desperate for the next book. I need to know what happens next!

Fantastic! The strongest character writing I've encountered in a while.

In the author's note, the book is introduced as "a historical fantasy about a polyamorous king living in a world where horses and stags live alongside dragons", and that's an accurate description, but also add: female rage, sapphic yearning, oracles, castles under the sea, castles above waterfalls, water spirits, goddesses and magical herbs. I loved everything about this.

When I started, I was afraid that my lack of knowledge about the Tudors would lessen my reading experience, but that was not the case. I watched a couple of short documentaries to get some familiarity with the historical events that inspired the story and, while they enhanced my appreciation for certain parallels and easter eggs, they were not necessary at all to enjoy the book.

The strongest part of the book were the two main characters, Boleyn and Seymour—yes, these are their names, as in this world the eldest daughter is always given the family name as a first name. They were extremely compelling from the beginning, Boleyn with her self-assurance and ambition and Seymour with her quiet honesty, but it was amazing to see them learn and grow and slowly stretch to their full potential. The plot was engrossing, the world fascinating with its variety of magical artefacts and prophecies and creatures (and it is queernormative!), but the character writing was truly superb and what kept me reading for hours and hours every day. They were both real women to me, with believable reactions to events and feelings, from the pettiness to the heroism.

History and legacy were one of the main themes of the story, with particular attention dedicated to rumours. How much of what the characters know about one another and the queens of the past is true, and what is just gossip turned reality? Just like with the real wives of Henry VIII, it is easy to assign motivations and imagine jealousy or ambition and forget that women are women, no matter their status, and their inner lives are more complex than what it is "safe to assume".
The nature of the story and history also led to some interesting reflections on the coexistence between abuse and love. How, sometimes, even acknowledging the former is not enough to end the latter. This is explored without denying the female characters of their agency, which is difficult to do well. The book succeeded in that, for me at least.

I have a guess we will focus on two different queens for each sequel, and I already know which ones I want to see next. Off I go to hunt the author's social media for clues about a date and title!

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

‘Six Wild Crowns’ is a fantasy wives of Henry VIII retelling. In this world, the King is gifted power by God, but he must take 6 wives to live in the six castles of Elben to keep the bordweal - magical barrier around the island - intact to prevent invasions. We begin our tale when newly married Queen Boleyn meets Seymour, her new lady-in-waiting, who is also a spy for another Queen. However, the two become unlikely allies and together they discover a secret that will shake the foundations their country was built upon…

Set on an island in a fantastical realm of magic and dragons, this twist on the tale we were taught at school was great fun. The island of Elben is a wonderful setting, with each castle a queen lives in unique and representative of their occupants. We have two very different main characters. Boleyn is larger-than-life, outspoken, and full of ideas, schemes, and plans. She loves the King and wants desperately to remain his favourite. Seymour, on the other hand, is quiet, believing herself slow and dim-witted, with an abusive brother looming over her, pushing her to raise herself higher for the ‘good’ of their family. Their friendship is a complicated one, and by the end, I was invested in it - there was however a big snag that I will get onto later.

The novel tackles women, their roles in society, and the expectation placed on us by - who else? - men. Even the naming custom in this land is indicative of how women are viewed. First born daughters are given their family name as a first name, so that when they are married, they essentially have their father and their husband’s name. Nothing of their own. The concept of the bordweal, of the King requiring his six wives to maintain power, is a major part of the plot, and as more is revealed, we see how this serves to further explore the role of women.

I enjoyed the writing style - I’m a sucker for dual POVs - and it was great to see the same issue from two very different perspectives. One woman loves the King, one does not. One has big plans for her life, the other just wishes to be safe and left alone. And when secrets begin to be unearthed, it was interesting to see how the two women reacted and dealt with the hand they were played.

A big shout-out to queernormative worlds, too. Despite the overarching themes are a woman’s place and power, we still managed to have a queernormative setting. For example, one of our secondary characters is non-binary and another has a husband and a wife.

Overall, I had a lot of fun with this book. An interesting take on the wives of Henry VIII, in a beautiful, richly described world. I enjoyed our headstrong Boleyn, and her journey - despite what I’m about to complain about in the next paragraph, I did enjoy the conflict being in love with the King brought to the story. It made her compelling and somewhat unpredictable, and I was very invested in her character growth. Seymour, too, undergoes perhaps an even greater transformation in the book; without spoilers, the changes in her circumstances as the book progresses mean she has to reckon with her own power, recognise that she does in fact have it, and learn how to wield it. It was a joy to see her stand up straighter and learn how to take up space for herself.

So, what didn’t I like?

Look, if you tell me there will be ‘sapphic yearning’, if you compare this to PRIORY (Queen x lady-in-waiting), then you need to know my expectation are high. And this did not deliver. The sapphic yearning was unrequited and I just did not enjoy that. I just want my tropey sapphic love story. HOWEVER. Like I said before, I can appreciate that the differences in the main characters feelings towards each other, and the King, added an extra dimension to the plot progression, so I’m mad about it selfishly, but also, not that mad, you know?

Overall, this was a fun, interesting twist on a well-known historic tale that was a great ride. It’s the first in a series and I think it was a solid opener, and I believe it’ll be a series I continue in future. I would recommend to fantasy lovers, especially those who prefer political machinations and scheming as opposed to complex magic systems, and those who enjoy stories of women embracing their own power.

4/5 🌟

As a fan of tudor history and a fantasy lover I was really intrigued by the premise of this book. Six Wild Crowns is a retelling of Henry the eighth and his six wives, set in an alternative fantasy world.

I enjoyed the scheming of the wives but I would have liked there to be more of the politics of the time in the book. For example, we suspect Rochford betrays Anne Boleyn in real life and this was alluded to in the book but then never actually came to light when Boleyn was arrested.

The magic system could be more developed as well, hopefully we’ll get this if more books follow in the series as it definitely was an open end to the book!

Overall, an enjoyable story that I’d recommend to anyone interested in the tudors!

Thanks to NetGalley for this early copy of Six Wild Crowns. That was my first ever book to be able to review on NetGalley.

I liked the premise and thought this would be something I’d enjoy, but unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. The story was not what I expected from reading the synopsis.
The dragons and magic system —which I was most excited for—were barely explored, and I think the execution could’ve been handled differently to bring more depth to the fantasy elements.

This is actually the first negative review I’ve ever written, so I do feel bad and I apologize—but I just didn’t enjoy the story as much as I hoped. The characters didn’t really connect with me either, which made it harder to stay invested, same with the plot. Not my cup of tea unfortunately.

That said, the writing was easy to read and accessible, which I appreciated. Overall, a good concept that didn’t quite meet its potential for me.

This book is an alternate history storyline that combines Tudor Queens and dragons. Henry has to marry six queens in order to keep up the magical protection that surrounds his country. But this isn’t his story. It’s the story of Boleyn and Seymour and their journey to uncover a secret that could destroy society as they know it. It’s a story about female empowerment.

Boleyn and Seymour are two very different women. Boleyn was the obvious strong woman. She liked to hunt, was great at court politics and knew what she wanted. Seymour on the other hand was quieter, more timid. It took longer for her to find her strength, but when she did, she was amazing. The romance that occurs throughout this book was not quite what I was expecting, but was all the better for it. The ending had a massive twist that was so wild, and yet made perfect sense. It might have been the best twist I’ve read in a long time.

There were a few aspects of this book that I wasn’t too keen on. This book was more court politics than fantasy and I’m not a massive fan of that. I’m glad I read it, and was actually surprised by how much I loved it, but I would have preferred more use for the dragons than just pets. I was expecting more. I also felt the book started out quite slow. I didn’t really get into it until half way through. Again, this might have been because I’m not a big fan of politics, and about half way through is when the action started to happen.

If you do love political intrigue, Tudor queen and some light fantasy, this is definitely a book you don’t want to miss.

i was tempted to give this book a lower rating because i did not enjoy the first half at all, but the second half sort of made up for it.

i had many issues with six wild crowns, many of which could be solved if this was satire, which i don't think it's supposed to be.

firstly, i'm not the biggest fan of the "seemingly stupid but actually smart woman" trope, and the fact that it happened twice to characters (late 20's and 16) who genuinely believed they were. and it's just the cherry on top for me, but the fact that those two "stupid" characters were dark-skinned does not sit right with me.

secondly, i have an issue with the marketing of this book. i understand that dragons and sapphics are trendy right now, but do not go into this book expecting big, majestic, or terrifying dragons. for the few that were mentioned, they were no bigger than a large dog and serve more as pets.
as for the "sapphic romance", it would be lying to say it's not there, but where is it then? i counted multiple sexual encounters between man and woman, and only one slightly sensual scene including two women. there sure is yearning on one side but it never goes beyond that. it would do the author more justice to market this as a queernormative world. this is mismarketing in my opinion because i went into it expecting a sapphic romance between the sapphic main characters and her love interest.

i did enjoy how quick paced and relatively easy it was to get into this fantasy world, though. i would only recommend if you're looking for an easily digestible fantasy with some queer elements (but not enough to my taste).

i was given an early review copy by netgalley and little brown book group uk - orbit in exchange for my honest review. all opinions expressed here are my own.

This book was like nothing I have ever read before, I loved the unique premise. This book got me out of a reading slump and reminded me how it feels to read a truly great story.