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Queens of Elben #2
Six Savage Thrones
Not yet published
Expected 16 Jun 26From a major new voice in epic fantasy,
Six Savage Thrones
continues the Queens of Elben trilogy, a breathtaking epic fantasy of dragons, courtly intrigue, sapphic yearning, and the wives of Henry VIII defying their destiny.
DIVIDED HE WINS, UNITED HE FALLS.
The kingdom of Elben is in turmoil. One of its magical palaces lies in ruins at the bottom of the ocean and the king is on the hunt for the traitor Queen Seymour. He will not stop until he brings her to her knees.
No one would ever suspect Queen Howard of treachery or spy craft, but she is no longer content to be the king's songbird. She will see to Henry's downfall. But there is a new gentleman at court, one who seems to know more about her true motives than he should—is he friend or foe?
Queen Cleves has already survived a war. She knows what she must do to protect herself, but now she finds herself fighting a longing for another queen that is so fierce it might swallow her up.
Amidst the turmoil, King Henry's sister Cecilia vies for the power she has been denied. But the queens will soon learn they must work together to break the bonds that tie them to the king. For Henry is delving deeper into strange old magics, ones that could birth a monster.
DIVIDED HE WINS, UNITED HE FALLS.
The kingdom of Elben is in turmoil. One of its magical palaces lies in ruins at the bottom of the ocean and the king is on the hunt for the traitor Queen Seymour. He will not stop until he brings her to her knees.
No one would ever suspect Queen Howard of treachery or spy craft, but she is no longer content to be the king's songbird. She will see to Henry's downfall. But there is a new gentleman at court, one who seems to know more about her true motives than he should—is he friend or foe?
Queen Cleves has already survived a war. She knows what she must do to protect herself, but now she finds herself fighting a longing for another queen that is so fierce it might swallow her up.
Amidst the turmoil, King Henry's sister Cecilia vies for the power she has been denied. But the queens will soon learn they must work together to break the bonds that tie them to the king. For Henry is delving deeper into strange old magics, ones that could birth a monster.
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 16, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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March 24, 2026👑🔥 Six Savage Thrones by Holly Race 🔥👑
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🖤 What to Expect
• Court politics
• Sapphic longing
• Dragons
• Power struggle
_ __ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 16, 2026
📝 Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🖤 What to Expect
• Court politics
• Sapphic longing
• Dragons
• Power struggle
_ __ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 16, 2026
📝 Thank you to Orbit Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
April 6, 2026
This was a great sequel to the first book in the Queens of Elben trilogy. We get more worldbuilding and although Boelyns no longer present, shes haunting the narrative and I loved that.
As someone who loves the Tudor era, I loved reading about my favourite queens carry on their stories. I especially loved Cleves and Seymour, their dynamic was absolutely perfect. The romance that was present through this story, especially through them was wonderful.
I also really appreciated that we saw more into Cecilia's mind. She's such a complex but important character and I'm really hoping in book three we see even more of her.
Also that ending??? I can't wait to see how this is going to play out.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who loves the Tudor era, I loved reading about my favourite queens carry on their stories. I especially loved Cleves and Seymour, their dynamic was absolutely perfect. The romance that was present through this story, especially through them was wonderful.
I also really appreciated that we saw more into Cecilia's mind. She's such a complex but important character and I'm really hoping in book three we see even more of her.
Also that ending??? I can't wait to see how this is going to play out.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I almost DNFed this book cause the momentum the first book built came to a screeching halt. I wish Seymour was the PoV or at least a PoV, instead we get Cecilia who I honestly hated. She was so cartoonishly evil I was rolling my eyes during her chapters. She just felt so out of place in a book about these women taking back their power from a horrible man. She really, really didn’t need to exist. There was a perfect end to her story halfway through the book, but then again that really would have made her useless, so I would’ve cut her out entirely and made Seymour a PoV.
The other wives are fine I guess. I like Cleeves but idk about having her be with Seymour idk. The line about it being hard to seduce with a metaphorical ghost in the room felt true. Like it’s too soon after what happened with Boleyn. I feel like a little more of a slow-burn would do them good. I did love the relationship between Cleves and Johana. Probably my favourite characters in this book. Howard was fine but at times she was just kinda there.
The book picks up in the last third and it is pretty entertaining to see how things fall into place (or completely fall apart for that sweet emotion damage). The climax had a lot of great moments and sad ones too. I just didn’t really like the direction of this one, the middle was slower paced. It is more expansive when exploring the world, the god, the magic, and the wives, but it just couldn’t captivate me at all. I don’t know if I’d continue it.
The other wives are fine I guess. I like Cleeves but idk about having her be with Seymour idk. The line about it being hard to seduce with a metaphorical ghost in the room felt true. Like it’s too soon after what happened with Boleyn. I feel like a little more of a slow-burn would do them good. I did love the relationship between Cleves and Johana. Probably my favourite characters in this book. Howard was fine but at times she was just kinda there.
The book picks up in the last third and it is pretty entertaining to see how things fall into place (or completely fall apart for that sweet emotion damage). The climax had a lot of great moments and sad ones too. I just didn’t really like the direction of this one, the middle was slower paced. It is more expansive when exploring the world, the god, the magic, and the wives, but it just couldn’t captivate me at all. I don’t know if I’d continue it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Six Savage Thrones is the sequel to Six Wild Crowns by Holly Race. This book is set to release on June 16th, 2026 and is a work of sapphic, Historical Fiction/Epic Fantasy. Thank you Netgalley and Orbit Publishing for this early ebook copy. This trilogy takes a spin on the Tudor Era with King Henry’s popular past. Unfortunately, I felt like the author was talking AT the audience instead of TO the audience, but with adult content; not an appealing combination.
And some of the content just made you sit, put the book down, and think “what would possess the characters to think or act that way?” This book does stay true to the Boleyn time period environment though, so you end up FEELING as though you are one of them. Gossiping, plotting, scandalous acts; words turn into high stakes when it's a King being wronged. There is one character (who shall not be named) I find absolutely insufferable. Whether that's the whole point of her motif or not, I will never know. The high stakes REMAIN high stakes though, which I appreciate. You never have to worry about if a character is growing soft… or a conscience. 2.75 ⭐
And some of the content just made you sit, put the book down, and think “what would possess the characters to think or act that way?” This book does stay true to the Boleyn time period environment though, so you end up FEELING as though you are one of them. Gossiping, plotting, scandalous acts; words turn into high stakes when it's a King being wronged. There is one character (who shall not be named) I find absolutely insufferable. Whether that's the whole point of her motif or not, I will never know. The high stakes REMAIN high stakes though, which I appreciate. You never have to worry about if a character is growing soft… or a conscience. 2.75 ⭐
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This sequel to Six Wild Crowns returns with POV narration from Cleves, Howard, and a new character we haven’t heard much from, the King’s sister Cecilia. The five remaining queens learn more about the nature of their powers and conspire to reclaim it for themselves. Meanwhile, Cecilia returns to Elben after decades abroad with hopes of claiming a castle for herself.
There were parts of this that I enjoyed, but the ending was a bit much for me to swallow. I don’t want to spoil anything for those who want to read, but it seemed to take the story into a different category and didn’t make much sense to me. Cecilia was also pretty unnecessary - in a book about women reclaiming their power from the myriad violences of patriarchy, do we also need a female sociopath who also does all the terrible things the men do? For me, personally, does not add much to the story and kind of muddies the waters.
Anyway, not sure that I will have the energy for a third one of these.
Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to review an e-ARC.
There were parts of this that I enjoyed, but the ending was a bit much for me to swallow. I don’t want to spoil anything for those who want to read, but it seemed to take the story into a different category and didn’t make much sense to me. Cecilia was also pretty unnecessary - in a book about women reclaiming their power from the myriad violences of patriarchy, do we also need a female sociopath who also does all the terrible things the men do? For me, personally, does not add much to the story and kind of muddies the waters.
Anyway, not sure that I will have the energy for a third one of these.
Thanks to Netgalley and Orbit Books for the opportunity to review an e-ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I landed on 4/5 stars. Though it follows a 5/5 score in Six Wild Crowns, this middle chapter still (while good) doesn’t quite hit the same high. Think royal drama spiced with spells, tangled alliances at every turn. Female hearts pull toward each other amid chaos. Dragons show up too, the kind that burn more than just bridges. Power shifts like sand underfoot. Choices ripple without warning. The past refuses to stay buried. Truth hides behind silk and smoke. A crown weighs heavier each page. Magic hums beneath skin and stone alike…
This time it's Howard and Cleves who catch the light, just when the Bordweal begins to crack at the edges. As the spell binding the six queens weakens, so too does the realm’s grip on peace — pulling them both into a web tightening by breaths. Danger grows not in shouts but silences, each moment heavier than the last.
Out of nowhere, Howard stood out— hardly anyone expects much from someone so young, yet there’s a quiet edge to her that shifts the room. Paired with Cleves, things click; she keeps her feet flat on the ground while seeing straight through how systems pull strings. Power? She knows its rhythm, feels when it might swing back hard. Together they spark something rare. The story grabs what history said about them, twists it sideways into magic and myth, gives old names fresh breath without losing their core shape.
Truth is, I kept thinking about the other queens. Their presence was faded, with less impact than before, almost like whispers in a storm. Yet Henry’s closest allies stepped forward, filling space in ways that surprised me. A twist arrived quietly, one I never expected, built on moments that came out of nowhere.
At first glance, the story feels heavy. With tangled power struggles sitting alongside a crumbling magical order, things start overlapping. Each character's path adds another layer, making moments blur into one another. Still, none of it feels accidental - just dense.
Yet what makes the tale hold together is how tightly it sticks to the people living it. Watching Howard’s disorder bump against Cleves’ precision turned their unraveling into something intimate, not a distant spectacle. The narrative doesn’t lean on chases or fights; instead, mood builds quietly, almost without notice. What stands out is the quiet pressure of holding on to who you are inside a place where everything familiar might vanish by morning.
I received this book as an ARC via NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit!
This time it's Howard and Cleves who catch the light, just when the Bordweal begins to crack at the edges. As the spell binding the six queens weakens, so too does the realm’s grip on peace — pulling them both into a web tightening by breaths. Danger grows not in shouts but silences, each moment heavier than the last.
Out of nowhere, Howard stood out— hardly anyone expects much from someone so young, yet there’s a quiet edge to her that shifts the room. Paired with Cleves, things click; she keeps her feet flat on the ground while seeing straight through how systems pull strings. Power? She knows its rhythm, feels when it might swing back hard. Together they spark something rare. The story grabs what history said about them, twists it sideways into magic and myth, gives old names fresh breath without losing their core shape.
Truth is, I kept thinking about the other queens. Their presence was faded, with less impact than before, almost like whispers in a storm. Yet Henry’s closest allies stepped forward, filling space in ways that surprised me. A twist arrived quietly, one I never expected, built on moments that came out of nowhere.
At first glance, the story feels heavy. With tangled power struggles sitting alongside a crumbling magical order, things start overlapping. Each character's path adds another layer, making moments blur into one another. Still, none of it feels accidental - just dense.
Yet what makes the tale hold together is how tightly it sticks to the people living it. Watching Howard’s disorder bump against Cleves’ precision turned their unraveling into something intimate, not a distant spectacle. The narrative doesn’t lean on chases or fights; instead, mood builds quietly, almost without notice. What stands out is the quiet pressure of holding on to who you are inside a place where everything familiar might vanish by morning.
I received this book as an ARC via NetGalley. Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you loved Six Wild Crowns, Six Savage Thrones absolutely delivers.
Going into this, I was already invested in this world and these queens, and getting an ARC made me even more excited but this sequel really builds on everything the first book set up. The stakes feel higher, the tension is sharper, and the political maneuvering is so addictive.
As a Tudor history lover, this series scratches that itch in the best way. It's clearly inspired, but not in a way that feels predictable. It takes those familiar dynamics and twists them into something fresh, dramatic, and honestly hard to put down.
Cleves, Howard, and Cecilia's POVs were such interesting juxtapositions for me. Each of them brings something different to the story, and I loved seeing their perspectives expand the world and deepen the emotional weight of everything happening. The shifting alliances and underlying tension between them kept me fully locked in.
Thank you to Holly Race and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Going into this, I was already invested in this world and these queens, and getting an ARC made me even more excited but this sequel really builds on everything the first book set up. The stakes feel higher, the tension is sharper, and the political maneuvering is so addictive.
As a Tudor history lover, this series scratches that itch in the best way. It's clearly inspired, but not in a way that feels predictable. It takes those familiar dynamics and twists them into something fresh, dramatic, and honestly hard to put down.
Cleves, Howard, and Cecilia's POVs were such interesting juxtapositions for me. Each of them brings something different to the story, and I loved seeing their perspectives expand the world and deepen the emotional weight of everything happening. The shifting alliances and underlying tension between them kept me fully locked in.
Thank you to Holly Race and Orbit Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
You enjoy historical fantasies that lean more toward fantasy than history. You have an appreciation for dragons in your fantasy tales. You have a particular fondness for the Tudor court. You read (and enjoyed) Six Wild Crowns. You liked the story told by Boleyn and Seymour, but now you are ready to hear from more of Henry's wives (and maybe even a sister). Six Savage Thrones conveys the continuation of the tale that you have been waiting for. Cleves, Howard, and Cecilia carry on the narrative of the Queens of Elben with more intrigue, drama, romantic interludes, and treachery than Six Wild Crowns, then top it off with a twisted ending that will leave you more than desirous for the third book in this trilogy and not just to find out what the titular sextet will be.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Orbit Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Orbit Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As someone who is obsessed with all things Tudor, and as someone who read and loved Six Wild Crowns, I couldn't wait to dig into this sequel. And it delivered! There were power shifts, magical dragons, magic mirrors - but the real standout was definitely Howard. I loved her character development in this book. She went from the ditzy rose without a thorn, to a full, powerful equal to her sister queens.
I didn't care much for Cecilia's character but I did think she was an interesting juxtaposition for Howard. Cecilia is a spoiled, narcissist character, just like her brother.
I honestly can't wait for the next book.
I didn't care much for Cecilia's character but I did think she was an interesting juxtaposition for Howard. Cecilia is a spoiled, narcissist character, just like her brother.
I honestly can't wait for the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Very disappointing. Cleves was a tiresome character despite how I wanted to like her, and she had no chemistry with S. Speaking of - I would much, much rather have read a book with S as the main narrator. This was a whole mess. Between characters being left alive for incredibly stupid reasons and others obviously dying as a result and Howard wandering around, this was an unfun experience. Book 1 set up something so cool and it went so, so downhill from there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was just a fun wild ride. Book One established the world, set up the relationships, the queens and the rules of magic. This one dived right in with an unexpected but scorching love story. A high-fantasy rendering of the Tudor court under Henry VIII and his queens. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh, how I love this series. Six Savage Thrones picks up immediately where Six Wild Crowns left off, and it features multiple points of view that we didn't get to hear from in the first book. Surprisingly, Queen Howard quickly became my favorite of the six queens; I loved the character development that took place, and I loved how much she grew as both a person and as a queen. I'm excited for the final installment!
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews