3.5 stars

The concept of six queens vying for the king’s favor in a court full of dragons and backstabbing is exciting, but the story feels much slower and less action-packed than promised. The historical inspiration of Henry VIII and his six wives initially drew me in, but the characters didn’t have the depth or the personalities of their real-life counterparts. It often felt like the historical tie-ins were more of a marketing tool than a meaningful part of the story, and the connection to the historical figures was largely superficial.

The writing has potential, but there were moments when the emotional arcs felt rushed or unclear. Characters’ feelings seemed to change abruptly, and love was often mentioned but not backed up by strong development. While fear was effectively conveyed, the other emotions and relationships lacked depth.

Additionally, the depiction of Henry VIII as a handsome figure was oddly jarring and made me chuckle. It’s hard to imagine the infamous portly king as a heartthrob based on historical portraits, which created a disconnect in my mind.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown/Orbit for the ARC.

A blend of Tudor England with hint of a fantasy realm that was interesting to read. Firstly, I think the blurb of this novel is very misleading as the assassins and dragons are very much lacking in this story. Any semblance of a fantasy realm was heavily cast to the wayside more so than I had anticipated.
This book reads more as political intrigue of woman in a male dominated court, whilst also navigating a sapphic yearning from the sidelines. Seymour is an assassin sent by Argon to kill Boleyn, but halts her attack when she notices that she is pregnant. After this, her “assassin” storyline is basically scrapped. She doesn’t act like an assassin whatsoever, and her allegiances flip flop so fast, making her a fickle and flat character.
The yearning is okay, but a bit rushed for my taste, and feels extremely unbelievable from Boleyn’s side. The character of Boleyn that represents Anne Boleyn was fine, and I could see her reacting to things the way that she does in this book—at least with what we know of her. So, I think that the author does an okay job of making me think of the historical figures in their actions and reactions with her. But Henry and the other wives are pretty flat for me, and really lacked the nuance that each of them held.
I didn’t really care for the use of historical figures as the characters in this book. With the fantasy realm, and this book not focusing on Henry and the historical events of his court, it was a strange decision in my eyes that the characters were named and modeled after these historical characters.
I would have liked more if this book was entirely, its own, with its own characters. To me, it felt that the use of the Queens and Henry were shortcuts that the author used so they wouldn’t have to describe the attributes and quirks of these characters. When you say “Boleyn” with the implication of Anne Boleyn, the audience automatically fills in the pieces of her character being cunning, smart, sexual, and jealous—so now the author doesn’t have to introduce the character like this, because we already know her like this. The thing is, Holly Race does a good job describing the characters and their personalities, so I don’t know why she used this shortcut over creating her own world fully. It comes off as a cheap marketing tactic to tack on the name of this historical figures.
I wish we saw more of the fantasy realm and war that Henry is off fighting. I feel as though we were given such a small representation of this world, and for anyone coming in looking for a heavy fantasy world, this book doesn’t hit very well. I would recommend this for someone who is looking more for a sapphic tale of women navigating their way in a court where their husband would kill them for such feelings.
Thank you NetGalley, Orbit Publishing, and Holly Race for the Arc!

Big thanks to netgalley for this eARC!

the blurb for this sounded so up my alley, I love the Tudors usually so I was excited for this magical spin on it and anything with sapphic yearning is a yes for me but it did fall a bit flat for me.

Putting aside my expectations from before starting the book I enjoyed the vibes and the characters despite the pacing being slow to start. the world building is done well and the writing style is easy to follow.
I wanted more action & dragons and the romance fell flat for me.
I'm not 100% invested so I'm not sure I'll continue the series from here.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for the e-ARC approval!!
I was ecstatic to be approved for a book that instantly went on my TBR when I first saw it up for pre-order on Barnes and Noble's website!

"Six Wild Crowns" by Holly Race

The second I read this synopsis I knew I had to add this to my list. Epic fantasy with dragons, with women dismantling a patriarchy and falling in love in the process? Sign me up! Unfortunately, the actual story fell flat and did not live up to its teaser. The taglines are a stretch and are unfortunately misleading. The first chapter from was so intriguing from Boleyn's point of view drew me in, and then Seymour's immediately gave me the ick (iykyk). The love at first sight element didn't feel organic.

Henry's shift from "the perfect man" to "the villain" was instant and almost comical, I wish it had been hinted at and brought on more gradually. I think the intention was for it to be a plot twist, but it just didn't quite hit.

I also have a hard time getting behind a story that sacrifices any animal, especially one people also keep as pets and "lap dogs".

I think this story had a lot of potential and the author definitely has a unique and pleasing writing style, but the elements and flow of the story just fell a little flat.

I am giving this three stars for creativity, but will not be reviewing this story on any other site. Best of luck to this author in the future!

If you're expecting a story filled with dragons and Seymour as a spy and assassin, based on the synopsis, you might be disappointed. Those elements are barely present. While the premise suggests a lot of action, magic, and scheming, the actual book feels much more subdued.

As this was an advance reader copy, I anticipated some errors. I found four typos within the first six chapters. Hopefully, these will be corrected in the final version, as I didn't notice any more after that.

The concept of drawing inspiration from Henry VIII and his six wives seemed really interesting to me. However, it felt more like a superficial marketing tactic. While the six wives are present, they lack the distinct personalities and characteristics that made their historical counterparts so compelling. As someone who enjoys history, I felt this aspect was underdeveloped. It seems like the Henry VIII connection was primarily used to attract attention, without much depth beyond that.

I also felt that the portrayal of emotions and relationships could be stronger. Characters' feelings often seemed to change abruptly, and I struggled to understand the development of certain close bonds or romantic relationships. The word "love" is used frequently, but without much believable foundation. Fear was the only emotion that felt somewhat well-written, but even that wasn't enough to fully explain the characters' actions.

Finally, the depiction of Henry VIII as handsome was quite jarring. It was hard to reconcile that with the well-known image of him as overweight and wearing tights. It felt like an odd detail to emphasize.

Overall, while the initial idea was promising, the execution fell flat for me. The book didn't deliver on the expectations set by its premise, and I won't be continuing with the series.

An interesting feminist take on Henry VIII and his infamous brides. I appreciate how the author was able to blend fantasy with bits of the known history, while incorporating digestible fiction for smooth storytelling.

One thing I live for is dragons and history reimaginings and this one shot to the top of my list of 'must reads'

This book has been a wild ride and I can't wait for book 2, it really ends in a way that I feel can blossom into a story of Holly's own and the potential is high!

Huge thanks to @netgalley and @orbitbooks_us for the gifted ARC

Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race is the six wives of Henry VIII as you have never seen them before, in a fantasy Tudor era with dragons, intrigue, and yearning.

On the isle of Elben, the king has six queens, each one to live in one of six castles, maintained by the power bestowed upon them by their husband. This is how it has always been, or so the history goes.

Yet, folk tales tell of a different history. A dangerous history.

Six Wild Crowns is one of those books where the first line just sucks you in: “Her wedding dress is the colour of the massacre of Pilvreen.”

I didn't make any annotations other than the first line as I hurtled through this book on pure vibes and a hunger to know more.

I love parts of history, especially the Tudor Era and I love reading about the Six Wives. This was an amazing take on the known history, turning it on its head and placing it in a fantasy setting.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Five stars! I loved reading this. The intrigue, the relationships, the betrayals, all were fantastic to read and all were written beautifully. Breathtaking ending that left me bereft and had me thinking about it long after I finished.

✨ARC Review✨

Title: Six Wild Crowns
Author: Holly Race
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve always been fascinated with Anne Boleyn and her life. This is why when I saw this ARC on NetGalley, I requested it immediately. Thank goodness I was approved because I enjoyed reading this book! I finished it in two days.

Boleyn, Seymour, Howard, Cleves and the other queens were all damaged in their own ways. I found them relatable in a way especially Seymour - wanting to do your duty as a daughter because that’s what you had been taught to do all your life. Her friendship and love for Boleyn were so heartfelt.

Boleyn, meanwhile, was daring and loved her family. I liked the development of the character throughout the story. From her seemingly naive love for Henry, we see her evolve into someone cunning yet caring. I’m glad Holly Race didn’t stray too far from Anne Boleyn’s destiny.

Some things that I think would have wanted to see:
- I wish there were more dragons in the story and that they actually played a role as teased in the book’s blurb.
- Maybe it’s because it is just the first book but it would have been nice to know the other queens more.
- Henry’s true self should have been given more time to be explored. It just seemed very anticlimactic.
- There were scenes that involved magical creatures that seemed to have been glossed over.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I will read the sequel to find out what happens to the other queens.

“Six Wild Crowns” is a unique twist on the historical narrative of Henry VIII and his six wives, set in a fantastical world. The premise, which combines dragons, political intrigue, and a medieval setting, initially piqued my interest. However, after finishing the novel, I found the story to be more focused on the struggles of two of Henry’s wives, Boleyn and Seymour, within a male-dominated world, with fantasy elements taking a secondary role. While the novel features fairies, dragons, and magic, these aspects are overshadowed by the feminist storyline of empowering these intelligent women. The main disappointment stems from the book’s summary, which suggests a stronger fantasy presence similar to “Game of Thrones,” but this is not the case.

I recommend approaching this book without reading the summary and coming in with preconceived expectations, as it primarily serves as a retelling of historical figures and events. I think I would have much more enjoyed this novel if I went in without a predetermined mindset, as I did enjoy the two main characters and individualistic struggles against a patriarchal society and domineering husband and king.

Thank you to Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Six Wild Crows reimagines Tudor history in a world where dragons exist, magic is real, and Henry VIII is married to all six of his wives—simultaneously. Set on a magical island shielded from invasion, the story explores a realm where the king’s power seems to hold everything together. But what if that power doesn’t come from Henry at all? What if it’s the six queens who are the true source of magic? And what if love is found not with the king, but between two of the queens?

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the opportunity to read and review this unique take on Tudor lore. I’m giving it 3.5 stars.

As an Anne Boleyn fan, I particularly enjoyed her character—watching her navigate complex relationships with the other queens and come into her own power was a highlight for me. However, I did wish we got more depth from the other queens. Only Boleyn and Seymour have POV chapters, and I would have loved to see the story through the eyes of the others as well.

Still, this is a compelling read that I think will resonate with fellow Tudor fans and lovers of historical fantasy alike.

“Her wedding dress was the colour of the massacre of Pilvreen.” Ok, Holly Race, you had me completely roped in with just the first sentence.

This book has strong female lead characters, LGBTQ+ rep, and lap dragons, need I say more?? The world was described beautifully and the magic system is quite unique. The book is a bit slow moving for a while, but about half way through it really starts ramping up and the last 10% is absolutely insane! Everything really comes to an explosion of emotions and rage! I cannot wait to see where the story goes after this book, I need it NOW!

Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for giving me the opportunity to read an eARC of this book and provide my honest feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing an advance copy of *Six Wild Crowns* by Holly Race. I was really excited to dive into this one, as the premise had so much potential, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me as I had hoped.


While I appreciate the creativity and effort that went into crafting this world, I ultimately found that it didn’t quite capture my attention the way I expected. *Six Wild Crowns* has a lot of promise, and I think fans of intricate fantasy worlds might still find it enjoyable, but for me, it just didn’t hit the mark.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I've gotten a physical arc of this one, which is my preference, so I'll be reviewing it elsewhere when I finish reading!

I have adored so many of Tessa Gratton's books so when I heard about this new one I leapt on it, and I'm so glad I did! This book is pure magic—lush, immersive, and utterly intoxicating. Iriset is a stunningly complex anti-heroine, torn between ambition and vulnerability, confidence and limitation, making her journey feel all the more real!! The magic system is breathtakingly unique, woven seamlessly into a world rich with intimacy and sensuality. Gratton masterfully crafts relationships that pulse with raw emotion, leaving the reader completely enthralled. While the world-building can feel dense at times, it ultimately clicks into place, rewarding those who push through. With its intricate storytelling, stunning representation, and heart-wrenching love stories, this is a book that lingers—and leaves you desperate for more.

off the bat, a big big thanks to netgalley & the publisher for the e-arc!! all thoughts and opinions are my own. this book will be out on june 10th, 2025.

so, first and foremost, i loved the premise of this. the tudors meet dragons, the priory of the orange tree. the novel was also advertised as having great LGBTQ+ rep, which it does. in general, i was excited to read this. and, for the most part, i enjoyed this. it wasn’t bad by any means. i liked the elements of court intrigue and politics. only none of the characters were particularly riveting to me, i only liked Boleyn. seymour was... i feel like the story could have been focused on only boleyn and none of the plot would have changed. the romance between the two ladies also felt so strange. like seymour took one look at Boleyn, fell in insta love, and then, after being mean to her, boleyn fell in love, too? i also felt like the switch of henry becoming the villain was instant. we never really see him do anything particularly villainous, except woo seymour. and then, suddenly, he’s an almost cartoon-like villain. i would’ve liked to see a bit more hints at him being a villain.

overall, six wild crowns wasn’t exactly the best book i’ve ever read, but i don’t think it’s bad. this is one that i would tell people to pick up, i think!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for the preview. All opinions are my own.

This book is absolutely remarkable. I have loved Anne Boleyn for decades. And at the same time, looked down on the other queens. But WHY?! This book turns our perceptions on their head, because who is the real enemy of our understanding of these women? It’s the men! It’s the patriarchy! This is such a gloriously feminist take that made me question my own internalized misogyny.

I think it’s best to ignore the blurb on this one because it’s a bit misleading. Yes there are dragons, there is magic, but this at its heart is a character exploration and an examination of power, who wields it, and who tells the stories we build our world around. You cannot get tied into knots on “historical accuracy” here; that got thrown out the window when we added dragons.
I want you to read this, and I want you to sit with WHY you perceive any of these queens the way you do; why you perceive any woman the way you do. This book, like Boleyn is revolutionary and I love them both for it.

I felt a lot of emotions while reading, especially at the end. The climax of the book is SHOWSTOPPING—absolutely transcendent. And the end….i won’t soon recover.
I’m eager to see where the next book goes. I’d love too to get more backstory on how Henry chose a few of his wives and who they were before. We definitely focus on Boleyn and Seymour here, and now I’m so curious about Howard and Parr especially.

Anyway, HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Six Wild Crowns is well written, thought provoking, quasi-historical, misogynistic fantasy world that explores the relationships of women to each other and to the men around them.

The women all are unique personalities and in this story we watch them grow and learn through their relationships to each other. The author beautifully explores the tragedy of women working against each other and the triumph of coming together and lifting each other up. It’s a beautiful example of the cunning, courage and power women can achieve especially when working together.

This book was slow going for me and hard to read sometimes. The tragedies, betrayals and abuse made it painful however there were moments in this book that made it all worth it.

The ending fell a little short, leaving a lot of questions unanswered, and a lot of story left to write. I really hope there is another to finish it up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit for the free advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately this didn’t work for me. I can’t get past a society that eats and sacrifices dragons. It’s a me problem but that’s just insane to me! It’s also confusing because they’re used in war and as hunting dogs and even kept as pets but also eaten. How many kinds of dragons are there and are they in such abundance that you can also eat them? This is probably a silly complaint. It’s so disappointing because I was so interested and intrigued by the premise. Tudors but magical and sapphic! Amazing! The writing was good and the worldbuilding was interesting otherwise but I had to DNF.

Thank you so much to Orbit for the arc!