I really really really wanted this to be more than it was. More dragons. More magic. There were certainly elements I liked in the story - the underwater castle, the reveal of the kings magical source, the queens being woman who slowly understood both their power and their limitations. But it was missing something. And not just a who’s who guide in the front with the castle names (because I kept having to remind myself who was who and where they lived). I probably will still read the sequel whenever that comes out.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I really enjoyed this. It is a very different angle on King Henry VIII and his six wives—in that they are all Queen at the same time.

It is set in a fictional kingdom with magic and magical creatures abound.

The book is narrated by Boelyn and Seymour, but the other queens are central parts of the story. History lovers will find some familiar things here, and fantasy lovers will be delighted with what the author has done to the story

I loved this book so much. Not what I expected and it made it even better! Im going to buy the physical copy when it comes out.

There are a handful of periods of British history that I’m much more familiar with than others. Often, it comes down to my enjoyment of specific fictional books that took place during that time period. Obviously, as a lover of Jane Austen, Regency England is one of those time periods. But I also really loved Philippa Gregory’s “The Other Boleyn Girl” which set me on a course to learn quite a bit about the reign of Henry VIII. That being the case, I was incredibly excited to check out this new historical fantasy novel that is centered around many of the major players during that period of history.

Unfortunately, I’ll say that this may be one of those situations where the more informed you are about the place/people/period of time, the less you may enjoy this book. Even for those with only passing knowledge of this time period, there were so many questions raised or pieces that were changed as to leave me wondering whether there was any point in setting this book in a specific, real-world time period in the first place! I was much more often annoyed by the failures in its historical representations than I was enamored by the creativity of blending fantasy and history in this way. There are plenty of books that have pulled it off, but this wasn’t one of them.

Instead, I think it would have read much better as a straight fantasy novel. The fantasy elements were strong throughout (part of problem here was that these elements called into question many of the events pulled from history), and, had the character not been connected to real-life individuals, I could have gotten behind Boleyn and Seymour more as well.

But they are pulling from real life people! And the more you know about these two women, the less satisfying this portrayal is! Anne Boleyn is a pretty well-known historical figure, even by those with only a basic knowledge of this time period. And there are some assumptions that one makes about her: that she was incredibly savvy and politically dexterous, charming, and able to wrap a King around her finger, at least for a period of time. The character we had here did not line up at all with that! At times, she was incredibly naive and taken in by the very obviously nefarious King. I know less about Jane Seymour, other than the fact that she was said to be more quiet and reserved. Picturing her as an assassin is also a bit difficult. I also found her incredibly fickle, which was frustrating at times.

I also felt like the themes of feminism and patriarchy fell a bit flat. There was nothing overtly wrong here, but it all felt very surface level, having very little new to say on either topic. Had this book been written 20 years ago, perhaps it would have felt more revolutionary. But as it is, there are quite a few fantasy books out there covering these themes, and this one didn’t seem to have much new to offer.

Overall, this was a rather underwhelming book. I won’t say it’s bad, but it’s definitely one of those rare examples where the more you know about the history side of things, the less you’ll enjoy it. I think I used this word above as well, but “distracting” is the term that comes to mind when I think about the incorporation of the historical elements. Instead, it would have perhaps been more successful as a straight fantasy novel. Even there, though, it didn’t seem to have much to add with regards to its themes and characters.

Rating 7: The real-world historical elements hurt it much more than they helped, unfortunately.

Link will go live on The Library Ladies on June 4.

As a fan of Tudor history, I was very excited for this book. Unfortunately, it fell flat to my expectations.

While I was able to get past the historical changes, I feel like this would have been better as a unique universe rather than relying on Tudor figures. Outside of names and surface level descriptions, I didn’t see a benefit to tie it to Henry VIII and his wives. It continued to take me out of the story.

Disappointed there were few fantasy, magic and dragon elements to this book.

Thank you Orbit for granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by the publisher.

Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race is a dark, immersive fantasy filled with courtly intrigue, fierce heroines, and high-stakes magic. Thrilling, twisty, and utterly captivating.

Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race is one of those books that doesn’t rush to impress you—it takes its time, lays the groundwork, and then slowly, steadily sinks its claws in. The beginning is definitely a slow burn (think: I kept checking how far into the book I was), but once things click into place, it’s like ohhh okay, I’m in this now.

The worldbuilding is layered and a little dense at first, but the character development is what keeps you turning pages. These characters aren’t just plot devices—they grow, mess up, surprise you, and actually feel like real people stuck in a wild, magical mess of political games and legacy power plays.

If you’re someone who loves a payoff that feels earned and doesn’t mind being patient while the story builds its bones, you’ll be glad you stuck with it. Bonus points if you like your fantasy with court intrigue, complex relationships, and a touch of rebellion.

Note: Thank you to OrbitBooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an e-ARC of Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race!

As one of those people who found Henry VIII's reign fascinating, and reads primarily fantasy, I was ecstatic to get a hold of the ARC for this. I enjoyed a lot of the nods to the actual history (such as Bessie Blount). I also really enjoyed the casual inclusion of background societal relationship dynamics, such as Boleyn's brother George's three-way marriage, and Clarice, and the way the world was built. The way Race writes both Boleyn and Seymour were so interesting and kept me reading even through parts that were more boring (all books have those, these weren't long and did contribute to the story!).

I appreciated the complexities of the relationships between the characters, and the personalities Race gave each of the queens. I also appreciate the frank portrayal of periods in Seymour's introductory chapter- me too, girl!

This book reminded me of The Gilded Ones, so if you enjoyed that book, dragons, and Tudor history, I highly recommend Six Wild Crowns!

I will be looking forward to the next one (as the book ends on a cliffhanger and seems to be setting up for a duology!)!

This is a DNF for me--I read quite a bit of the book but found myself kind of bored. I think the book hooked me with Henry VIII's six wives in a fantasy version of Tudor England and I thought I would get a similar vibe to Six the Musical, but the story only uses the real names but not much of their known personalities or actions. The fantasy lands Six Wild Crowns takes place in has no relation to Tudor England, so other than a hook and marketing, I'm not sure if there was a creative reason for using these people in this story. Henry VIII and his wives is dramatic enough without a fantasy element to it.

The land of Elben has a king and must have six queens to maintain a magical shield. He marries Boleyn--obviously based on Anne Boleyn--as his sixth queen. She thinks there's another way to maintain the shield and starts researching. Meanwhile, Queen Aragon sends Seymour to Queen Boleyn's court to spy on her or to assassinate her.

The story felt slow. I think with more patience, there will be a payoff at the end, but the stakes didn't feel high enough yet.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race is a third person dual-POV Sapphic fantasy retelling of the six wives of Henry VIII. When Lady Boleyn marries King Henry, she’s fully prepared to be the first of his wives to give him an heir while keeping their kingdom safe by being a sort of conduit for Henry’s magic. But Queen Aragon sends Lady Seymour to kill Boleyn and starts them both on a path to learn more about the truth behind the magic of their kingdom and might lead them to fall for each other.

This is by no means a romantic fantasy or fantasy romance; at its heart, it’s a political epic fantasy that could build into an adventure fantasy depending on the next book. The politics play a large part as everyone is scheming to either improve their station or ruin someone else’s standing and those same politics play into the epic stakes but in a very interesting way: according to their faith, Henry has to have a male heir to sit on the throne in order to use the magic that protects their kingdom. If he doesn’t, then they could be conquered, but as we all know, Henry struggles to do exactly that. It’s a spin on the story that many of us know that centers the women.

Boleyn and Seymour’s POVs are very different. From the beginning, Seymour has no interest in Henry at all and only agrees to wed him because her family pressures her into it when he expresses interest. She’s also attracted to Boleyn very quickly and imagines Boleyn whenever she’s with Henry. Boleyn, on the other hand, is initially in love with Henry and desperate to please him. She doesn’t want to accept that things might not be what they seem until she’s forced to and her whole world is turned upside down. Between the two of them, Seymour’s is my favorite because I love yearning and she hits the Sapphic yearning itch very well.

The magic system is not super well-explained in this first book. It’s mostly vibes-based and bits and pieces are given to the reader over the course of the plot and then some of what we think the magic system gets thrown out the window. The only real rule is that the castles have to be occupied by six women with no other real rules. This gets explored in an uncomfortable way with Queen Howard as she was still in her early teens when she was wed to Henry, much younger than any of his other wives, and the magic still accepts her position.

Content warning for mentions of sexual assault and marriage of a young teen to an adult

I would recommend this to fans of fantasy retellings who love the stories of the wives of Henry VIII and readers of political fantasy looking for something that centers women

Six Wild Crowns is a compelling and thoughtful retelling of Henry VIII’s reign, uniquely reframed through the eyes of his six wives. Rather than centering the notorious king, the novel shines a powerful light on the women who endured, evolved, and learned to live in their own ways and on their own terms.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its nuanced character arcs. Boleyn, so often reduced to bold, selfish ambition, is given a beautifully layered transformation. Her bravery is gradually dismantled in a way that feels both tragic and deeply human, yet this unraveling gives way to a powerful selflessness that redefines her legacy. Seymour’s journey follows her emergence from a background of abuse into a woman determined to take what she wants is a quiet triumph, one that feels earned and has the reader rooting for.

I don’t typically select books that have a description heavy on court politics, but despite this backdrop, the book remains grounded in emotional truth. The political maneuverings serve as context, not the core, keeping the focus on the relationships between the queens. Their dynamics are intricate and believable. The author strikes a delicate balance by giving each queen her own voice and personality while also drawing out the shared threads of their experiences. This careful crafting allows readers to see both their individuality and the collective weight of their roles.
The pacing is another highlight. Intriguing but not overwhelming. It’s the kind of book that draws you in steadily as you get to know the women. You’re eager to see what comes next, but not so consumed that you feel lost in it. Instead, it invites reflection, and perhaps that’s what makes it so re-readable. At different stages of life, I’m sure different queens will resonate with me more and I will build empathy for different characters in my next read!

In sum, Six Wild Crowns breathes new life into these oft-misunderstood women and leaves you seeing each of them not just as historical figures, faceless queens or politicking ladies in wait, but as fully realized people. Highly recommended for readers of historical fiction, character-driven narratives, or anyone looking for a book to be enjoyed again and again!

Thank you to NetGalley, Orbit, and Holly Race for the chance to read this early in exchange for my honest feedback.

I love historical retellings, especially with fantasy elements, so I went into this with high expectations. I cannot help but be disappointed. While I enjoyed the magical elements, I feel like they were poorly fleshed out. Not only were the most exciting parts of the story left unexplored, but the characters for the most part fell flat.

Personality? Almost nonexistent in 5 of the 6 wives. Even Boleyn, the most interesting one, is somewhat whipped. Henry could do absolutely no wrong, even if he is doing just that. Much like in real life (compared to this fantasy version), he treats his wives poorly.

This feels less like a strong poly romance with forbidden (between Boleyn and Seymour) and more.. More just a strange concubine without much substance. I would personally not recommend this book, which is unfortunate because I was excited for it.

Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race and published by Orbit Books
6 Queens – 1 King – 6 Wives
An incredible reimagined tale about the six wives of King Henry VIII, not of Tudor England but the fantasy realm of Elben.
The wives are deftly brought to life under the skilled writing of Holly Race. They are the queens of castles built on the strategic peripheries of Elben, bonded to Henry, together, they keep the kingdom safe from invasion.
Henry is charismatic and claims to love each of his six wives. The queens, though they are sisters through bond of marriage with Henry are strangers and seldom interact with each other. We meet Boleyn, Seymour, Howard, Aragon, Cleves and Parr, women with personalities as distinct as their fortresses.
Race has written an enjoyable original fantasy, filled with dragons, and interesting characters. The Kingdom of Elben is rich in imagery and has little connection to Tudor England. But it is a fantasy after all. I found it to be a quick read. I think it will work as a stand aLone novel, however, with the ending, I’m hoping there will be another one, possibly a series.
Thank you to Orbit Books for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!

I have to start off by saying that I don’t think the premise of this book was an accurate representation of what happens. I really thought we’d get a cunning court and absolutely villainous women (which I was hoping for)… but I wasn’t served.

I think the premise of a book really sets you up for the kind of atmosphere you’re going to get and this was beside the point.

The only character that had a personality was Boleyn, and even she was absolutely blinded by Henry and wasn’t the clever and cunning person that was described in the premise.

And Seymour… Assassin? Really? She was so fickle that I just couldn’t get along with this storyline. And I’m sorry but a relationship between a Queen and her servant needs to be properly set up to be okay. Or else it just becomes an authoritative relationship. I believe Seymour was in admiration for Boleyn. But in love?

I really liked the premise and thought this would be something I’d enjoy but it unfortunately didn’t work for me. The dragons and magic were barely explored. I think the execution could’ve been handled differently. It was easy to read though.

Thank you netgalley and Orbit for an advanced copy! Six Wild Crowns is a historical fantasy retelling of Henry VIII and his wives. The story kicks off with Boleyn’s wedding to Henry. I did really enjoy the world building and lore in the beginning of the book; Henry has to have 6 wives, each tied to one of the palaces on the island to sustain their magical border. At the wedding, it is customary for the other wives to give the new wife and give, and one of them gifts Seymour to be a member of Boleyn’s court. Seymour is pressured by her queen and her brothers to eliminate Boleyn and take her spot as a queen. There is definitely sapphic tension between Boleyn and Seymour, but it ended up being pretty one sided and did not pan out quite as I expected throughout the book. I would definitely not say this is a ‘romance book’, even though there are some romantic elements. The book description mentions dragons and magic, although these are very minor elements, mostly just referenced in passing. The majority of the story revolves around court politics, and while this was interesting at times, it was not as action packed of a book as I was expecting.

First of all I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for an honest review.

Unfortunately, the book did not meet up with my reading standards. It may just be not the right time for me to read this, I’ll probably pick it up again once it’s out.

Although it did not stand out to me, characters were very well developed and the story was very interesting.
I did enjoy the take on Henry and his wives in a fantasy world mostly.

I do not love an open ending, even if it means we are getting a second book, but it did fit the story the way I lived it. I am very intrigued as to where the author wants to take this story.

Firstly, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this e-ARC, all thoughts are my own.

Historical fantasy isn’t something I read often, as I prefer worlds that are crafted by the artist/author and don’t already exist. I also tend to avoid urban fantasy for the same reason. However, I’m not one to stick in my preferred genre all the time, so here we are.

Six Wild Crowns is a historical fantasy based (very loosely) on the tudor period. The king, Henry VIII, has been appointed by God to marry six very different queens. Binding himself to these six queens will also bind his magic. There is a focus on a forbidden romance between Boleyn and Seymour, which I enjoyed. Unfortunately for the rest of the book, the historical inaccuracies were way too difficult to look past. Since the same names and places were used, it was difficult to accept the complete alteration of real historical events. I enjoyed the magical elements (dragons, and magic in general), but they were so jarring and out of place. Almost like an afterthought. The pacing was unbearably slow, there was little to no tension, and the whole thing fell very flat to me.

I was excited for Six Wild Crowns, but personally the execution just wasn't quite there. The court teeming with dragons and the juicy intrigue and action packed story the synopsis leads you into sadly is on the back burner once you actually get into the story. It's a much more "low key" story.

Henry VIII and the six wives was a fun idea, I was excited to see a spin on a historical tale, but the wives didn't have the kind of traits or personality that you would find in actual history. It really wasn't anywhere close to a historical connection, the thought was there but it was just very surface level for those who are into the history aspect.

It was extremely promising based on the synopsis, but overall it just wasn't up to my expectations.

I was on the fence about this one early on; personally I have no attachment to or fascination with Henry VIII and his wives. I was in it for the queer representation and, honestly, that wasn’t enough to sell me.

The prose is pretty dry, with most of Boleyn’s narrative voice simply fawning over Henry and trying to “prove herself worthy” - whereas Seymour is so self-deprecating that it’s honestly a distraction. Big long paragraphs of nothing much, feeling a little infodumpy at times.

Also, polyamory is a stretch. Henry has concubines, essentially, though they’re given a touch more power and influence and not forced to exist in close proximity to each other (probably better for everyone that way, honestly). Sapphic romance is also a stretch as it’s just some one-sided pining.