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The Witch Queen
Not yet published
Expected 4 Aug 26'An alluring, vengeful origin story that brings tremendous dimension to the classic fairy tale'
CHLOE GONG, NO. 1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF IMMORTAL LONGINGS
__________
THE WICKED QUEEN'S STORY DID NOT END WITH A HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
AND SHE WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.With the king bound to her magic mirror and his daughter, the rightful heir, hidden away in the countryside, Queen Ayleth has the kingdom entirely at her command.
Despite her ultimate power, Ayleth finds herself With fears that the witches from her former coven will return to depose her. With the dread that someone at the palace will discover her secret. With her own deepening dark magic.
And with thoughts of her lost love, Jacquetta—the witch whose betrayal still haunts Ayleth as stubbornly as the lingering scent of juniper.
But Ayleth’s carefully-built world begins to unravel when Princess Blodwyn returns from exile in the company of Margaret, the king's scheming sister, and reveals a plan of her To invoke Braxos Trials, a contest of bravery, wisdom, and justice that will allow Blodwyn to retake the throne. Ayleth suddenly discovers herself in danger of losing the crown she sacrificed everything to win—and she will do anything to retain control.
And Ayleth isn't the only one struggling with her altered position. Blodwyn’s homecoming soon proves more difficult than she imagined. Embroiled in Ayleth’s viperous court, Blodwyn is surrounded by enemies and plagued by rumors of a long-buried curse come to life. As family secrets resurface, the princess isn’t sure who—or what—she can trust. Especially when she may be falling for one of her rivals in the trials.
As the battle for the realm intensifies, both Ayleth and Blodwyn find themselves fighting not only for the throne, but for the truth of their own souls. Soon, they must each What price are they willing to pay to wear the crown?
Pay the price of blood and Snow White’s wicked queen rises to her destiny in the second book of a queer, witchy duology from the author of Malice.
CHLOE GONG, NO. 1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF IMMORTAL LONGINGS
__________
THE WICKED QUEEN'S STORY DID NOT END WITH A HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
AND SHE WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.With the king bound to her magic mirror and his daughter, the rightful heir, hidden away in the countryside, Queen Ayleth has the kingdom entirely at her command.
Despite her ultimate power, Ayleth finds herself With fears that the witches from her former coven will return to depose her. With the dread that someone at the palace will discover her secret. With her own deepening dark magic.
And with thoughts of her lost love, Jacquetta—the witch whose betrayal still haunts Ayleth as stubbornly as the lingering scent of juniper.
But Ayleth’s carefully-built world begins to unravel when Princess Blodwyn returns from exile in the company of Margaret, the king's scheming sister, and reveals a plan of her To invoke Braxos Trials, a contest of bravery, wisdom, and justice that will allow Blodwyn to retake the throne. Ayleth suddenly discovers herself in danger of losing the crown she sacrificed everything to win—and she will do anything to retain control.
And Ayleth isn't the only one struggling with her altered position. Blodwyn’s homecoming soon proves more difficult than she imagined. Embroiled in Ayleth’s viperous court, Blodwyn is surrounded by enemies and plagued by rumors of a long-buried curse come to life. As family secrets resurface, the princess isn’t sure who—or what—she can trust. Especially when she may be falling for one of her rivals in the trials.
As the battle for the realm intensifies, both Ayleth and Blodwyn find themselves fighting not only for the throne, but for the truth of their own souls. Soon, they must each What price are they willing to pay to wear the crown?
Pay the price of blood and Snow White’s wicked queen rises to her destiny in the second book of a queer, witchy duology from the author of Malice.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 4, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The sequel to The Crimson Crown picks up the story of the "evil queen" with the addition of a second viewpoint, with the tale told by both Queen Ayleth and Princess Blodwyn. This follow-up to the witch's origin story is something of a dark reimagining of the Snow White tale, but the most interesting parts for me were where it deviates from the classic children's tale. The additional characters from the witch Jacquetta to Blodwyn's aunt Margaret took the story into a more adult tale and more captivating narrative. With a contest for the throne, court politics, and some romance we follow both main characters through a plot that hints of Snow White and yet isn't. The delightful ending ties everything up with a fairytale bow, making the duology a complete entertaining read.
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Del Rey) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Del Rey) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
Displaying 1 of 1 review