I didn't realize that this book was the 2nd in a series and I found myself feeling like I had no idea about the world it was set in. I think I need to go back and read the first because it's clearly not a stand-alone story.

n <i>Queen Wallis</i>, Rose Ransom works at the Culture Ministry (in an AU 1955 England who allied with Nazi Germany in World War II), cleaning up poetry and other literature to fit the regime’s standards. The Leader was assassinated 2 years ago in England, Rose’s involvement in his death has somehow remained overlooked. Now, England prepares to welcome President Eisenhower, who will be the first American president in 2 decades to come to England. Queen Wallis Simpson is to meet with the President, and Rose is tasked with meeting Queen Wallis and report on her mental state.

This book is a sequel to <i>Widowland</i>, but it can easily be read as a standalone. Queen Wallis was a minor character in this story, so I was a bit surprised that the book was named after her. I really enjoyed the <i>1984</i> vibes this book gave and its unique storyline. Antonia Beamish did an excellent job narrating the audiobook. Reading this book has made me curious to go back and read its prequel. I recommend this for fans of alternative history or dystopian books.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an audio ARC of this book.

In the sequel to Widowland, it’s 1955, the Leader has been assassinated, and Rose is still working in the ministry now focusing on rewriting poetry. Rose has been tasked with meeting with Queen Wallis to help prepare her for a visit from President Eisenhower.

While it is interesting (and SCARY) to think of alternative histories, Queen Wallis just wasn’t something I’d recommend to other readers. Again, this is not my genre, but it may be yours.

Queen Wallis is a sequel to Widowland, both dystopian novels that imagine what England would be like had Hitler and the Nazis won the war. Life where you can't trust anyone, where women are put into groups according to their age and child-bearing abilities. where women are told what they are to wear. A cross between The Man in the High Castle, The Handmaid's Tale and maybe a bit of Stepford Wives.

I think I liked this book a little more than Widowland, which I really liked. Rose is the main character with a a job "cleansing" poetry and literature, which means erasing anything the Nazis don't want people to read, that does't agree with their agenda. She has also been through a "bleaching" process to erase all memories from before the war. She is a good little government worker until she happens upon an underground group who reads poetry, dares to laugh and joke, and speak honestly about life as they are currently living (if you can call this living). She begins to remember things, ponder what she hears in Widowland, and question her work.

So much of this book left me wondering how this compares to things we see in today's governments and how we allow government to have so much control over our lives. Many parts of this story left me wanting to discuss it with a fellow reader. It would be great for a buddy read or a book club.

The audio was well done with different characters voicing the different characters in the book.


Thank you to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this ARC

I do wish I had read Widowland before reading this for more context, but it worked OK as a stand alone. This is a historical dystopian..if that's a thing? I don't know the name for it, but imagine an alternate world where women have names based on their social roles, and jobs based on their names...and Wallis ended up being Queen, but then the government was consolidated with the Germans....lots to think about and be angered over!

I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

This novel is well-written and I wish I had read Widowland first. It definitely is a sequel and doesn't work as well as a standalone. I could appreciate the writing style and the narration in the audiobook is done well. Interesting concept and I'm looking forward to reading Widowland.

an engaging, rip of a sequel to Widowland. Story follows the same protagonist, this time with an added side narrator as well for a small paralleling storyline. world building and historical characters are well built, realistic, and fleshed out. plot meanders a bit in the beginning but about half through it picks up steam ending up in a very satisfying place. equal parts thriller, mystery, alt history, examination of literature and poetry and its place in society. gripping in all the best ways a historical thriller can be. highly recommended for alt history WWII fans, or historical thrillers in general.
rare sequel that builds upon the first work and is better than it IMO. Narrator of audiobook version is top notch!! recommended way to consume it.
i received an ARC audio book version from NetGalley for exchange of honest feedback. thank you to author and publisher.

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

The narration of this book was spot on with the era and the voices complimented the story well. I feel like I would’ve connected better with the characters in this book if I had read Widowland prior to this. The story was interesting, as it feels like the past and the future come together to create this type of dystopian world and cast system. I would recommend to anyone interested in this genre, but be sure to read the first book before!

Set in an alternate 1955, this was another interesting, completely compelling installment of the feminist dystopian/speculative historical Widowland series in which the Nazis won WWII and formed a stifling alliance with Britain where women are policed closely and proscribed caste-like roles based on genetics.

Fast-paced and full of frightfully possible restrictions (including censorship, surveillance, espionage and morality restrictions). This is perfect for fans of 1984 and Kate Atkinson's Life after life. Good on audio too narrated by Antonia Beamish. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy in the form of an audiobook.

I thoroughly enjoyed Rose's character development throughout. This book shared similar themes to Handmaid's Tale which I also enjoyed. I believe the title is a bit misleading because the book had much more to do with Rose and her journey, while Queen Wallis seemed to be a secondary character.

Would recommend to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction or dystopian genres.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing an audio copy of Queen Wallis by C. J. Carey

The highly-anticipated return to England under the former Nazi regime is now available. Queen Wallis by C.J. Carey is every bit as compelling, thoughtful and multi-faceted as its predecessor Widowland. It is suggested that Widowland be read in advance of Queen Wallis. While personally not a huge fan of alternative history, I was thoroughly engaged in Widowland and do not hesitate to recommend it. I have also corresponded with C.J. Carey and indicated to her that the ideas of wiping out memories of the past (a goal of the regime) reminded me strongly of Lois Lowry's classic young adult novel The Giver.

Rose continues working in the literary department which reviews all books and poetry for dangerous ideas and rewrites what the leadership considers anti-state. She also keeps a careful eye on the women in the Widowland and reminds herself often of the sacrifices of the women there she has known.

When a ruling officer is found murdered, the wheels begin to turn to discover the killer. Rose herself is questioned. She does not know that she is being watched because of information she may have on the assassination of "the leader". She also may lead the authorities to Oliver who is suspected of being a rebel.

Queen Wallis Simpson has lost her power and prestige but is still recognized as an important American, and with the impending arrival of President Eisenhower in England to form a treaty with the new regime, the country wants to make the best impression possible.

Every chapter of Queen Wallis adds to the conflict that is inevitable and the residents of the Widowland will be among the heroes of the hour.

I was looking forward to this because I really enjoyed Widowland. It exceeded my expectations with its very clever alt-history. That said, the title is a bit off -- it really isn't about Wallis very much.


Review copy provided by publisher.

My thanks to Net Galley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Highbridge, a division of Recorded Books for an advanced copy of this e-book and audiobook.

Queen Wallis is a sequel to Widowland, both dystopian novels that imagine what England would be like had Hitler and the Nazis won the war. Life where you can't trust anyone, where women are put into groups according to their age and child-bearing abilities. where women are told what they are to wear. A cross between The Man in the High Castle, The Handmaid's Tale and maybe a bit of Stepford Wives.

I think I liked this book a little more than Widowland, which I really liked. Rose is the main character with a a job "cleansing" poetry and literature, which means erasing anything the Nazis don't want people to read, that does't agree with their agenda. She has also been through a "bleaching" process to erase all memories from before the war. She is a good little government worker until she happens upon an underground group who reads poetry, dares to laugh and joke, and speak honestly about life as they are currently living (if you can call this living). She begins to remember things, ponder what she hears in Widowland, and question her work.

So much of this book left me wondering how this compares to things we see in today's governments and how we allow government to have so much control over our lives. Many parts of this story left me wanting to discuss it with a fellow reader. It would be great for a buddy read or a book club.

The audio was well done with different characters voicing the different characters in the book.