I really enjoyed not only the setting of this book but also the character work that was found within its pages, I feel like it has a lot of potential to do well in the current landscape as the romance is not to heavy and there is more work done on the characters as individuals!

I love retellings of Arthurian legend, but it's always hit or miss with how well-executed the story is. Sam Davey's THE CHOSEN QUEEN did not disappoint. It's top tier. Like Davey clearly loves the lore, has done their research, and is probably a huge fan of Marion Zimmer Bradley's THE MISTS OF AVALON. The story centers Igraine in such a thoughtful and empowering way. Descriptions of the novel as a "bold, feminist reimagining" are spot on. I so hope to see more from Davey in the future.

Thank you very much for allowing me to read this book. However, I had to unfollow it after a few chapters. I really wanted to like this book based on the description and theme, but I did not like all that explicit spice from the beginning. I have not posted a review online for this reason. It might be a good reading for some people but it wasn't for me.

I don't know much about the story of Camelot just because it's never been a real interest of mine but I thoroughly loved this introduction! I thought Igraine was a fantastically compelling character and I enjoyed reading about her story and her journey in Arthurian England.

Sorry I swore I submitted feedback already. I really enjoyed this story. I know others had issue with the content but I found it to be quite entertaining and interesting. No real smut, so i'm a happy camper

📚 Review: The Chosen Queen by Sam Davey

✨ Thank you to NetGalley and Sam Davey for the ARC and the chance to read this ahead of release. (Now Available!)

Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Setting: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Themes: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emotional Depth: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Enjoyment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a more feminist take on the Camelot legend, told from the perspective of Igraine—who we usually only know as the mother of King Arthur. As someone who loves stories about Camelot, Merlin, and Arthurian legends, I was really drawn in by the idea of learning more about her story.

Igraine is a woman who goes through a lot—life throws tragedy at her over and over—but she never fully gives up. She stays true to herself and holds onto her worth, even when everything around her crumbles.

Some parts of the book moved a little too slow for me, while others felt rushed. It took me longer to finish than I expected, and while I liked the emotional depth, I felt the ending lacked something. It just… ended, leaving me with unanswered questions. Maybe there’s a sequel coming?

Overall, I enjoyed the fresh perspective and the strong female focus, but I wish the pacing had been a bit more balanced.

A fantasy novel that I really liked. The characters of this story was so well done. Amongst so many Arthurian retellings, this one was very unique and a joy to read. Ingraine is such an underrated character. This book is deep and full of feelings. Something you'll think about for a long time after you're done.

well written with intricate and rich world building with familiar lore and intricately planned twists. The pacing and plot were also so well done I found myself totally drawn in and engaged throughout my reading experience

I really enjoyed The Chosen Queen—it’s such an interesting and refreshing experience to see this world through Igraine’s eyes. Sam Davey does a great job giving her a voice that feels both powerful and personal. She’s not just a figure in the background like in so many Arthurian stories—here, she’s front and center, and it makes for a really compelling read.

The mix of myth, politics, and personal struggle kept me turning the pages. The writing is vivid, the characters feel real, and the world feels lived-in without being overly complicated.

I enjoyed the writing style a lot but found myself having a hard time connecting with the characters! I enjoy tales of King Author and company and this was no exception. I’ll be interesting in seeing where this story goes.

A whole new look at the story of Camelot. Lots of details. Amazing characters and the plot line ran very well. I found it to be quite the page turner.

Thank you to NetGalley and Diversion Books for the e-ARC of this novel.

While I'm usually a sucker for historical fiction and myth retellings, especially with a female protagonist, I just could not into this one. The pace is sluggish and the language and descriptors are often too much in this book, to the point that they were almost distracting. It made it really hard to push through. Additionally, the arrangement of the chapters was strange and the formatting of my copy of the e-ARC was all over the place, which made it really difficult to figure out where chapters and pages began and ended. This truly frustrated me as a reader and made me reluctant to keep coming back to this one.

I also don't think that I personally was able to connect with any of the plot or the characters and the female protagonist wasn't really what I look for in a FMC. I really wanted to like this book, but it just wasn't for me.

I enjoyed the overall feel of this novel, and it was incredibly immersive due to Davey's attention to setting and historical detail. The warring in Igraine of choosing her own fate, or following in the path placed before her by the Lady of the Lake, Merlin, and the Goddess is compelling and is what kept this story lively. The pacing did feel a little slow at times, but an enjoyable read nonetheless. Once around 60% in, the plot began to pick up, which I appreciated. If you enjoy historical fiction mixed with light fantasy, you will likely appreciate what this story has to offer!

true rating: 3.75/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.

I am a sucker for Arthurian retellings, especially when we recenter women in these stories. There was beautiful prose and world building in The Chosen Queen. Ingraine as a character was not as compelling as I would have hoped. It felt as if she had no agency throughout, which is on par for the period, but leaves me questioning why someone would write a book about her, without giving her any sort of power in her own fate. To say this is a feminist retelling, feels a bit misleading. I also had some points where the pacing felt a bit slow and stifled.

I remember growing up hearing all the Arthurian legends, stories of King Arthur and Excalibur, the Lady of the Lake , Merlin, and so on. I never really dived deep into the legends other than watching tv shows like Merlin and Camelot, but never really touched a book other than King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table.

This book though really peeked my interests. It followed Ingraine, the mother of King Arthur, Morgause and Morgan (anybody else find Morgan a bit creepy?!). She gave me literal goosebumps at times in some of her interactions throughout the story.

Sam Davey did such an amazing job at the world building! I loved how our FMC was forced into situations of duty/fate vs free will. Her struggles to keep her daughters safe, navigate her marriage with Gorlois and his wanting to go a more down a Christian path while she was raised by the Lady of the Mist. I don't know what else to say other than I loved this story. <3

Thank you NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Edition! Rating: 3.5 stars

The Chosen Queen by Sam Davey presents a compelling blend of historical undertones and fantasy, offering a narrative that explores the role of women in power while immersing the reader in a richly imagined world. I found the story to be both thoughtful and engaging, especially in how it examined strength, duty, and identity from a female perspective, something that felt intentional and meaningful throughout.

There were definitely moments that hooked me and made me want to keep turning the pages. When the story hit its high points, it was genuinely gripping. However, there were also parts where the pacing slowed significantly, and the momentum faltered. These moments made the reading experience more challenging, especially when I felt the narrative was building to something only to suddenly stall.

I also struggled a bit with the chapter structure. The way the chapters were divided sometimes disrupted the flow of the story, and I believe the pacing and clarity could have benefited from a more deliberate breakdown.

That said, The Chosen Queen is an ambitious and layered read that succeeds in creating an intriguing protagonist and a world that blends gendered power dynamics with fantasy stakes. It's a promising read for those who enjoy fantasy that leans into character and social commentary, even if the pacing and structure occasionally get in the way.

This retelling gave me chills. Bold, immersive, and blisteringly feminist, Igraine’s story is finally told with the depth and ferocity it deserves. It doesn’t romanticise Camelot, it reclaims it. Here, Igraine is not defined by what is done to her, but by what she does in return. Her defiance, her dignity, her devotion to her daughters and her people; she is the heart before Camelot ever had a king. In simple words, it’s Arthurian legend reawakened. Absolutely brilliant.

Thank you to NetGalley and Diversion Books for the ARC.

I rated this book 3 stars.

Pros:
The prose is beautiful and evocative, with clear evidence of careful research. I especially enjoyed the character of Bennath of Syllan. The author excels at crafting a vivid, atmospheric world—rich in detail and steeped in the misty allure of the mythical past.

Cons:
The pacing was slower than I prefer, which made it difficult to stay fully engaged. Certain sections felt repetitive, while others seemed glossed over and underdeveloped. I also found that Igraine’s character lacked meaningful development, making it difficult to connect with her emotionally.

Overall:
While this book didn’t completely capture me, it’s a worthwhile read for those who appreciate lyrical writing, immersive worldbuilding, and a more introspective narrative style.

This was actually infuriating in a not fun way. The prose is beautiful, but that was the only positive of this for me.

Igraine has 0 agency the entire book. Things just happen to her and she makes some comments but takes no action. Sure, she gets mad and has thoughts and feelings, but she feels flat and doesn't actually do anything.

The only time I felt any connection to Igraine was when I was furious at how she was treated - and how she does nothing about it. She's ignored, assaulted, abused, gaslit, coerced, and held prisoner in her own home. She's treated as a human incubator for the Great King Arthur and an object of lust for Uther. And the solution for all of that is for her to just.....go away. Never see her daughters again. Never get justice for her husband, or her people who suffered in war.

It's weird that this is touted as a feminist retelling of Igraine's story when it's just bad things happening over and over to a woman who doesn't deserve it, and who also does nothing to try and fight back.

Appreciate the ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, but this was not for me.

I love Arthurian Romance and the mythology around Arthur Pendragon and Morgan Le. Fey, I haven’t read many retelling about their Mother though so she was a fun character to explore. I do wish we got to see more of her backstory and her romance with her hubby and her relationship with Morguse and Morgan. I loved seeing Merlin betrayed as the sketchy aid that he is in the original myth and seeing more of the Lady of the Lady she is such an interesting character as well, I also love that we get to see the origin of the curse that will ultimately be Arthur’s downfall. Overall it was a fun retelling.