The Witch Queen

The Crimson Crown Duology #2

by Heather Walter

Pay the price of blood and Snow White’s wicked queen rises to her destiny in the second book of a queer, witchy duology that's hailed as"an alluring, vengeful origin story that brings tremendous dimension to the classic fairy tale" (Chloe Gong)— from the author of Malice.

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?

Book Two of The Crimson Crown Duology

Genres: Fantasy, Lesbian, LGBT, Retellings, Queer, Adult, Romantasy

Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 4, 2026

Reviews

[Alyssa McKnight]

Who do I need to sell my kidney to for an arc of this?? I’m wishing 2025 away already.

[Taeopae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley & Del Rey, for the review copy! I was very excited to get to read this early. I went to Heather's tour for the Crimson Crown and was eager to see how the story ended.

We begin where we left off: the veil has been broken, Ayleth has the king trapped and under her control, the rightful heir off with her aunt- what could go wrong? When the king's sister returns with Blodwyn, Ayleth is forced to protect the crown she fought for, but with the witches scheming and a strange creature claiming to come for the true queen, Ayleth must decide whom to trust in her circle and whom to fight.

This was the perfect ending to the story. Several plot points had you scared to turn to the page, and the surprises did not stop. It was so fun to see the nod to Snow White throughout these books. This series certainly reads more fantasy than romanatasy, which was just what I needed. I highly recommend this duology!

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m absolutely impressed!

I will give a book five stars only when I feel I wouldn’t change anything about it, and this is true here. I love that this series is a duology and yet it packs in so much plot. Perfect length. This is a retelling of a classic tale, yet I never knew what was going to happen next. I wasn’t sure if I was going to watch Ayleth turn into the ultimate unredeemable villain or if there might be a twist, because there were a whole lot of twists happening throughout.

The characters shine too. They are messy. Most are morally grey. Some are as loyal as they come. Others have grown up needing to be selfish to survive. They make mistakes. Despite being witches or dwarves or wolves made of dark shadow they all read as so “human”. That is to say, very complex and very lovable.

The overall message wins here: love is the strongest magic of all.

(Oh and the sapphic romance of it all was beautifully done. I prefer tension and slow burn, the payoff is always the best.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[BookishKB]

🪞❄️ The Witch Queen ❄️🪞

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Queer Fantasy
• Wicked Queen POV
• Witches
• Court Intrigue
• Morally Gray MCs
• Magic Mirror
_ _ _

📅 Pub Date: August 11, 2026
Thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[AJ Sneed · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Witch Queen is a fitting, emotionally powerful sequel that picks up three years after the events of The Crimson Crown. Heather Walter effortlessly draws readers back into her dark fairy-tale atmosphere with lush, immersive writing, vivid magic, and intense political tension. While the plot can occasionally lean a little into the ridiculous, it remains undeniably fun, action-packed, and difficult to put down.

A Kingdom in Chaos
The story thrusts us right into Queen Ayleth’s troubled reign. She faces pushback from a council displeased with a female ruler, chaotic attacks from a rebel group known as the Followers, and vengeful witches angry over the destruction of the veil and the release of malum.

The stakes skyrocket when King Callen’s sister, Margaret, arrives with Princess Blodwyn to stake a claim to the throne through a series of competitive "trials." With schemers like Lord Warbeck and Margaret advancing their own agendas, the plot is packed with twists, turns, and shifting alliances. As the story progresses, explosive information is discovered that completely upends everything the characters believed about the ruling family's history, the witch covens, and the very nature of magic in Riven.

Complex, Morally Gray Characters
One of the strongest elements of this book is the character development. Walter excels at writing morally gray characters, making it impossible not to become invested in their choices:

Queen Ayleth: At first, Ayleth’s power and decision-making as queen might seem frustratingly flawed—she appears to be making all the wrong, unsavvy moves. However, her journey is deeply complex, and her choices make perfect sense by the end. When the truth about her is finally revealed, it strains her relationships with allies like Roland and multiplies her enemies.

Princess Blodwyn: Blodwyn has an absolutely fantastic arc in this installment. Amidst the heavy, history-laden tension between her and Ayleth, it was genuinely rewarding to watch her grow and finally make friends.

Jacquetta: Her reappearance brings a deliciously toxic dynamic between her and Ayleth, bringing its own unique challenges and drama to the narrative.

Romance and Thematic Depth
The queer romance in this book is absolutely captivating—intense, emotional, and brimming with chemistry. It adds an immense amount of heart to the story, striking a perfect balance so that neither the romance nor the high-stakes fantasy outshines the other. Every emotional moment lands beautifully.

Beyond the magic and intrigue, the book weaves in deeper themes of transformation, freedom, and reclaiming power. Multiple characters are forced to reevaluate what is truly important to them and who they want to be.

The Verdict
If you enjoy dark fantasy with rich world-building, compelling female characters, queer romance, and atmospheric storytelling, The Witch Queen is absolutely worth reading. It is an enchanting journey that balances high-stakes royal trials with beautifully layered emotions.

[vlm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Witch Queen is a captivating and emotionally rich conclusion to Heather Walter's Crimson Crown Duology, offering a thoughtful exploration of power, identity, love, and the complicated nature of good and evil.

After claiming the throne, Ayleth finally has everything she sacrificed so much to achieve. Yet instead of finding peace, she is consumed by fear, isolation, and the growing darkness of her magic. I loved how Walter continued to develop Ayleth as a deeply flawed and sympathetic character. Her struggles felt authentic, and even when she made questionable choices, I found myself invested in her journey and rooting for her to find her way forward.

One of the strongest aspects of this sequel is the addition of Princess Blodwyn's perspective. Her return to challenge Ayleth for the throne creates a compelling conflict that avoids clear-cut heroes and villains. Both women have understandable motivations, and the shifting dynamics between them kept me engaged throughout the story. The Braxos Trials added an exciting layer of competition and intrigue while raising the stakes for everyone involved.

The political maneuvering, court secrets, and magical elements were all well executed, creating an atmosphere filled with tension and uncertainty. I also appreciated how the story continued to challenge traditional fairy tale narratives, asking readers to reconsider who gets labeled a villain and who gets remembered as a hero.

Ayleth and Jacquetta's relationship remains one of the emotional anchors of the series. Their history, heartbreak, and lingering feelings added depth to the story and provided some of its most touching moments.

While I enjoyed the overall story, there were a few sections where the pacing felt uneven, particularly in the middle portion of the novel. Some plot threads took longer to develop than I expected, which occasionally slowed the momentum. However, the strong character development, emotional payoff, and satisfying conclusion more than made up for those slower moments.

Overall, The Witch Queen is a strong finale that brings Ayleth's story to a meaningful and satisfying close. Fans of dark fairy tale retellings, sapphic fantasy, political intrigue, and morally gray characters will find plenty to enjoy in this duology.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Witch Queen by Heather Walter
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.25)
Thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inkore, and NetGalley for the eARC!

Book two was easily my favorite of this duology. While the first book immersed readers into the world at a steadier pace, I felt that The Witch Queen delivered more action, more scheming, and higher stakes throughout the story.

I especially enjoyed the dual POVs from Ayleth and Blodwyn. Heather Walter did an excellent job making me sympathize with both characters, even when their goals, beliefs, and desires were completely at odds with one another. There were moments that left me feeling frustrated, disgusted, hopeful, and heartbroken for both women, which made their perspectives equally compelling to follow.

The Braxos Trials were another aspect I really enjoyed. Throughout history, women in positions of power are often viewed as a problem by the men around them, and I thought Walter incorporated that dynamic well into the story. I was particularly intrigued when Blodwyn returned alongside the vicious and vindictive Aunt Margaret to reclaim her throne. Once Blodwyn announced her intention to retake the crown, other suitors and ambitious men quickly threw their hats into the ring as well, creating even more political tension and intrigue.

As the story unfolds, secrets surrounding who is truly a witch begin to surface, while darker forces emerge throughout the kingdom. Between hearts being ripped out, attacks threatening the realm, and the growing political unrest, there was always something happening to keep me invested.

One reason this wasn't a full five-star read for me was my frustration with Ayleth.

Girl... Jacquetta burned you HOW MANY TIMES in the first book? How is your heart still beating for this woman?

You are a strong, independent ruler who took the throne and gained the power of the witches in book one, only to spend parts of book two stumbling over yourself because of Jacquetta all over again after she has betrayed you HOW MANY TIMES? I understood the emotional conflict, but at times the naivety became frustrating and pulled me out of the story.

Even with that frustration, I thoroughly enjoyed this conclusion. The political maneuvering, multiple perspectives, magical secrets, and increased action made this a stronger book than the first and a satisfying end to the duology.

[Jeremy Reppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Witch Queen” is a fitting sequel. Queen Ayleth’s reign is troubled. Members of her council are not entirely pleased about a female ruler. The witches want revenge for her destroying the veil and releasing malum, and appear to be allying with a neighboring kingdom. There is a rebel group (Followers) launching attacks and causing chaos. And then King Callen’s sister, Margaret, shows up with Princess Blodwyn to have the princess stake her claim to the crown. However, others want the crown as well and enter the “trials” to earn the right to the crown. That ups the chaos even more, as Margaret, Lord Warbeck, and others are plotting and scheming to advance their own respective agendas. There is a lot of tension between Queen Ayleth and Princess Blodwyn, especially given their past history and how Ayleth obtained the throne. And it will turn out that there are other unknown enemies that pose a significant threat to Ayleth and the Kingdom of Riven.

The story is full of twists and turns, with shifting alliances and unexpected allies. The truth about Ayleth will be revealed, which will cause issues with “friends” such as Roland, as well as increase her enemies. Jacquetta will reappear, which comes with its own challenges. Multiple individuals will have to reevaluate what is important to them and who they want to be. Information will be discovered that will upend what everyone believed about the history of the ruling family, the witches and covens, and the nature of magic in the realm.

[Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Del Rey and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.

The Witch Queen picks up where The Crimson Crown left off following Ayleth, as she tries to keep her grip on the White Palace and Blodwyn, the princess who returns to take back her rightful crown.

I really enjoyed Blodwyn’s chapters in this book! She really felt like she had matured from the last book and had a better understanding of what she wanted and what she could do. The world was still incredibly fascinating as it was in the first book and I was drawn in by each new aspect that was revealed. I also really enjoyed Ayleth’s interactions with Jacquetta, who is still a favorite of mine, as they had such depth and history to them that was even more present than it had been in the first book.

Like with the first book, I had some trouble with the marketing about this being a retelling of Snow White’s Evil Queen. The references were easy to spot and I enjoyed the retelling aspect where Blodwyn was concerned. But I felt like Ayleth didn’t read enough like the Evil Queen for me and her personality with Shade and her shadows was almost completely opposite to how she acted for most of the first book.

But this was a fascinating world and concept that I’ve really enjoyed reading.

Thank you again to Del Rey and NetGalley for the chance to read this early.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

[Hamad Naif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey books for chance to review the long awaited conclusion of The Crimson Crown Duology.


The Witch Queen picks up Ayleth’s story — the self-made villain of this Snow White retelling — but this time she shares the narrative with Princess Blodwyn, and the dual POV really adds depth and balance. While the first book focused on origins, and world-building, this sequel moves into darker, more mature territory, and Walter handles that shift with confidence. The story is strongest when it breaks away from the familiar fairy tale beats instead of echoing them — those are the moments where Walter’s creativity really stands out.

Characters like the witch Jacquetta and the ever-calculating Aunt Margaret are fantastic additions, bringing tension, moral complexity, and a sense of unpredictability to the court. They help transform what could have been a simple retelling into something much more layered. A looming fight for the throne alongside threads of romance keeps both perspectives engaging, and the way the two storylines come together feels seamless.

In the end, it delivers a conclusion that wraps things up cleanly without softening its darker edge — a fully satisfying duology that cements Heather Walter as one of the most exciting voices in queer fantasy right now. A must-read if you love atmospheric, witchy fairy tale retellings done well.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan of Walter’s Malice duology, I raced to my local bookstore in 2024 to pick up my copy of The Crimson Crown. Based on TCC’s ending, I was very excited to see how FMC and “villain,” Ayleth, leaned into her role as the infamous evil queen from the original fairytale. Though I believe The Crimson Crown was marketed as an adult fantasy retelling (I may not be right), The Witch Queen struck me as a very solid upper YA book (15-18 YO) had it not been for a very low spice sex scene. I’d expected—due to the handful of years time jump at the beginning—for Ayleth to have really leaned into her villainy and her hold on Riven and its noble court. Alyeth did NOT turn out to be very villainous or conniving at all, more so as a young girl who made a heat of the moment decision to make herself queen due to longstanding resentment to witches and the other covens. Which, of course, I think is a very good theme to market for for the upper young adult range and new adult range. Much like in The Crimson Crown, most of the plot picked up in the last 150 pages, with major reveals occurring without very little foreshadowing. I managed to guess one twist!

With this in mind, I’d give this 3.5 out of 5 stars as an upper YA or NA book. I’d still recommend it for a NA audience, though it wasn’t what I was expecting!

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this was so good! Ayleth is Queen now and there have been many changes since we last left off. Ayleth has the kingdom under her control right now. Her mother did a surprise visit and it did NOT go well for her at all. Gosh that lady is unbearable. After that night, Ayleth is pretty sure the witches are going to try and bring her down.

She does have help though, secretly scouring for witches and taking their magic. While Ayleth is very powerful right now, she still has those thoughts of things going wrong, losing her power, position, still lingering on her ex, etc. Though I'm not a fan of lingering on her ex part. I get it, but she did you wrong in so many ways, she doesn't deserve a moment of thought and energy spent on her.

Overall, things are going pretty well though. A few bumps in the road with needing more weapons and people to fight. The typical things really.

But when Blodwyn comes back home, things will pick up even more and you'll be unable to put this book down. The trials will have your attention.

Both ladies will go through so much and it's hard to not like them both. Blodwyn was this sweet princess from the first book you wanted to see thrive and become something and Ayleth got along with her well and they could even be called friends at one point. Neither could be hated or disliked, which I didn't mind at all. It was a nice change to see both sides and want for both to come out of this with they they truly want and deserve.

The duology itself was really great and it gave you such a good ending that you felt it was complete and didn't need more books to finish it off like some other duologies leave you, which I really liked.

Overall, I am sad to see this story come to end but it was really one of the best duologies I've read in a long time. I love heather's writing. I loved the retelling and that is saying something as I am not the biggest Snow White/Evil Queen fan and these books did such an amazing job with it.

I can't wait to see what Heather comes up with next!

[Devon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has been a while since I read the first book of this duology and did pick it back up before going into this one, which was probably the right move. This was in most ways a satisfying conclusion. But the between the time jump and some narrative structure pieces I did not entirely enjoy this one as much as the first. But then I read that one at such a perfect time. The voice of anxiety and ambition worked well for me the first time around. Yet, this tie it fell flat for me, well flat to annoying. Because we jumped years with the characters it was particularly jarring to me, as it felt through out like it everyone had stagnated in the interim. Months would have made more sense than years, but at the same time it was years with no real context given. I supposed the truth of it is that I wanted more commitment to enjoying power, to embracing the role of dark queen, and less adolescent feeling worry about being liked. Again, not to say I did not enjoy the book. I had a better time with the dual perspectives that I expected. The subplot of the heir trials really popped off for me. Unfortunately, that was less the book Walter was interested in writing than it was the book I wanted to read.

[Hannah Deverall · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Witch Queen by Heather Walter is the conclusion to the Crimson Crown duology, a sapphic retelling of Snow White that focuses on the Evil Queen. While I am an immense fan of Walter's other works, this duology just has not landed with me. I think that this comes down to the novels' characters, which felt just a tad shy of three-dimensional - strange, since Walter did not skimp on the character development and fully showcased her character's flaws. To me, this signals that my problems with this book are rather trivial, as the writing style and the majority of the messaging was vibing with me.
I did really like what the duology had to say about power, and how a society being 'good' in some aspects does not excuse them being horrible in others. However, the ending did feel a bit weak, and it dragged a little bit.
Overall, I give this novel 3.25 stars. If you are looking for more sapphic retellings of fairytales, I highly recommend Walter's other duology Malice, and Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron. Thank you to Del Rey for providing The Witch Queen for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[mo • lesmotsdemo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rounded up for Goodreads and Netgalley.
It was a very solid conclusion to the duology. It was definitely gripping and I was enthralled — it did not take me a full twenty-four hours time period to read it. The atmosphere was gritty and I liked that a lot. The plot was well-rounded and full of twists and reveals. And I did not see some of them coming, so that was good. The female characters were undeniably the most interesting ones, I didn’t really understand why the male characters were there to be honest. The female characters were enough to add some layers to the story. The sapphic romance was nice as well, not my all-time favorite (even from this author) but it was developed and full of pining. I would absolutely recommend this romantasy duology.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ayleth is back with new powers and a new court, but what will she do when her new position is threatened? Who will fulfill the prophecy and stand as the true queen?

The story picks up three years later, with Ayleth as Queen and Blodwyn living with her aunt. The princess returns to the White Palace to claim her place as queen, and to participate in the Braxos trials. Both Ayleth and Blodwyn must fight for the throne, not always sure who to trust. Who will truly be fairest of them all?

I've always loved reimagined fairy tales. First with the "Malice" retelling of Sleeping Beauty, and now with her version of Snow White, Heather Walter has blown my mind. The conclusion to this book is so satisfying, and perfectly wraps up Ayleth's and Blodwyn's stories.

I can't wait to see what the author writes next.

[verenmore_vixen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picks up right where the Crimson Crown left off. You absolutely have to read the previous book. I felt like this was a great ending to this series.

This book really feels like it deals with now issues but in another world. Female presidents or rulers are something that isn’t embraced lightly. It’s hard to bridge the gap from men imo. This story showed that and very well. Not being accepted fully because she’s a woman.

I loved the world building, the characters and how past characters made an appearance. I felt the story was write really well and I enjoy heathers writing.

I think it’s very loosely based on Snow White which I liked that more than an exact replica.

There is absolutely no spice what so ever. Which is fine when the plot is a good as this was. It kept me engaged and all my questions were answered.

[HeadCanonHeadCase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing Queen Ayleth's story, The Witch Queen begins with the king trapped in a magic mirror, the princess hidden away, and wicked queen ruling the kingdom. But can Ayleth hold her power together?

Read if you like:
-Snow White Retelling
-Magical Trial
-Sapphic Second Chance Romance
-Dual POV
-Battle for the Kingdom

I loved The Crimson Crown and The Witch Queen might have been just a little bit better than the first book. It's hard to tell because they are both so good. I love fairy tale retellings so much and this duology really blew all my expectations away. It completely turned the original story on its head with also including so many nods to the original story. I loved that we had a dual POV from Queen Ayleth and Princess Blodwyn. Maybe Ayleth wasn't such a wicked step-mother after all.

[Samantha Hehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book picks up about three years after the last book The Crimson Crown. At first I thought Ayleth's power wasn't that great and she wasn't that great of a queen- she was doing all the wrong things not being smart, but then it made sense in the end.
I love Blodwyn and her arc in the story, and liked how she finally made friends.
Ayleth and Jacquetta are just toxic. The story was a little ridiculous, but it was fun.

[Cas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I thought this book was just okay. I didn't like Ayleth's ascent into evil— it felt like a complete overhaul of her character. Because of that, for me, it was very hard to get through the first half of the book. That being said, after the halfway point I felt the book really picked up. I enjoyed most of the twists and was glad to see Ayleth's and Jaquetta's relationship go in the direction that it did.

[LittleRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. I’m not huge on the Fantasy genre, but “Snow White”. Enough said. I loved Fairy tales as a child and as an adult I love literature and this one called to me.

It was a well paced story that kept me reading until I was done. I love the author’s approach and the way the story is told from a different perspective. This isn’t your Grannie’s Snow White.

[Caitlin Rydberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Netgalley arc.

This action packed sequel gives a whole new dimension to the classic tale of Snow White.

Fully of magic, witches, redemption, and complicated families this books was a wonderful ending to this duo.

Highly recommend for fantasy and fairy tale lovers.

[booked.with.julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one picks up where The Crimson Crown left off and the stakes are even higher!!

Queen Ayleth has finally claimed the throne she sacrificed everything to get. With the king trapped by her magic mirror and Princess Blodwyn hidden away, she has complete control of the kingdom. But power doesn’t come without a price…

It was fun being back in this dark, twisted fairytale. I’ll always love a good villain arc and them getting their “happy ending.”

[Alissa Galloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I already know it’s going to be fantastic because it’s Heather Walter.

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.