Holly Race’s debut adult fantasy Six Wild Crowns arrives like a dragon breathing fire through the hallowed halls of traditional Tudor retellings. This isn’t merely another historical fantasy about Henry VIII and his wives—it’s a radical reimagining that transforms familiar figures into complex women wielding ancient magic in a world where dragons soar overhead and goddesses whisper from forgotten caves.
Set in the fantasy kingdom of Elben, Race constructs a polyamorous monarchy where King Henry must marry six queens to maintain the mystical barrier protecting his realm. Yet beneath this divine mandate lies a truth that threatens to shatter everything: the power was never his to begin with.
Character Development: Beyond Historical Stereotypes
Race’s greatest triumph lies in her nuanced portrayal of the queens, particularly her dual protagonists Boleyn and Seymour. These aren’t the simplified archetypes of popular history—the ambitious homewrecker and the meek nursemaid—but fully realized women with their own desires, fears, and agency.
Boleyn emerges as a brilliant strategist whose intellectual curiosity drives her to uncover ancient truths. Her transformation from a woman seeking royal favor to someone questioning the very foundations of her society feels authentic and earned. Race captures her internal struggle between the security of her position and the revolutionary implications of what she discovers with remarkable psychological depth.
Seymour, meanwhile, defies every expectation. Far from the submissive figure of historical stereotype, she’s revealed as a complex woman capable of both fierce loyalty and devastating betrayal. Her evolution from spy to revolutionary creates some of the novel’s most compelling moments, particularly as her relationship with Boleyn shifts from rivalry to something deeper and more revolutionary.
The supporting queens—Howard, Cleves, Parr, and even the deceased Blount—are given genuine personalities rather than serving as mere plot devices. Each brings distinct motivations and perspectives that enrich the narrative’s exploration of women navigating patriarchal power structures.
World-Building: Where Magic Meets Monarchy
Race’s Elben feels both familiar and wonderfully strange. The author seamlessly weaves Tudor court intrigue with fantastical elements, creating a world where dragons perform ceremonial dances and ancient goddesses slumber in crystal caves. The bordweal—the magical barrier protecting the kingdom—serves as both plot device and metaphor for the ways women’s power has been channeled through and constrained by male authority.
The magic system, rooted in the goddess Medren rather than the masculine deity Cernunnos, provides the novel’s central revelation. This isn’t simply fantasy window dressing but a fundamental reimagining of power dynamics that gives weight to the queens’ rebellion. When Boleyn discovers ancient queens entombed in crystal, whispering truths about the real source of the kingdom’s protection, the moment carries genuine narrative and thematic impact.
Themes: Power, Truth, and Revolutionary Love
Six Wild Crowns tackles weighty themes with impressive sophistication. The central question—who truly holds power and how is it maintained—resonates throughout every plot thread. Race explores how historical narratives are crafted by those in power, how women’s contributions are erased or minimized, and how revolutionary truth can emerge from the most unlikely sources.
The romance between Boleyn and Seymour develops organically from political alliance to something deeper and more transformative. Their relationship isn’t merely added representation but integral to the novel’s exploration of how love can become a revolutionary act. The climactic dance scene, where their connection literally manifests as divine magic, represents one of fantasy’s most powerful depictions of queer love as world-changing force.
Writing Style: Elegant Prose with Tudor Flair
Race demonstrates remarkable skill in adapting her prose to match the grandeur and complexity of her subject matter. Her writing carries echoes of Tudor eloquence without feeling archaic or inaccessible. She particularly excels in intimate moments—whether depicting Boleyn’s scholarly investigations or Seymour’s underwater escapes—bringing visceral reality to fantastical circumstances.
The dual perspective structure works exceptionally well, allowing readers to experience both characters’ distinct voices and viewpoints. Race manages the challenging task of making both protagonists sympathetic while acknowledging their flaws and complicated choices.
Critical Considerations
While Six Wild Crowns succeeds admirably in most respects, it isn’t without minor weaknesses. The pacing occasionally falters in the middle sections, particularly during political maneuvering sequences that, while necessary for world-building, sometimes slow narrative momentum. Additionally, some secondary characters could benefit from deeper development—particularly Henry himself, who sometimes feels more like a symbol of patriarchal authority than a fully realized antagonist.
The novel’s ambitious scope occasionally works against it. Race juggles numerous plot threads—court intrigue, magical discovery, romantic development, and political rebellion—and while she largely succeeds, certain elements feel slightly underdeveloped. The goddess Medren, despite her crucial importance to the plot, remains somewhat abstract compared to the vividly realized human characters.
Similar Reads and Author Context
Six Wild Crowns marks Race’s transition from young adult to adult fantasy, building on her previous works while exploring more mature themes. Her background in YA fiction serves her well in creating accessible yet sophisticated storytelling that doesn’t sacrifice complexity for readability.
Readers who enjoyed these titles will likely appreciate Race’s work:
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – for epic fantasy with strong female characters and dragons
- The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow – for historical fantasy exploring women’s power and sisterhood
- She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan – for bold historical reimagining with queer themes
- The Mask of Mirrors by M.A. Carrick – for intricate court politics and magical systems
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – for complex women challenging historical narratives
Final Verdict: A Remarkable Achievement
Six Wild Crowns represents exactly the kind of bold, intelligent fantasy the genre needs. Race has created something genuinely revolutionary—a novel that honors its historical inspirations while fearlessly dismantling the myths that have shaped our understanding of these remarkable women.
This is fantasy with purpose, using its magical elements not for escapism but for examination. By giving the Tudor queens agency, power, and the ability to rewrite their own stories, Race has crafted both an entertaining epic and a meaningful exploration of how history is written and by whom.
The novel succeeds as both intimate character study and sweeping fantasy epic, offering romance, political intrigue, magical revelation, and revolutionary hope in equal measure. While it may not achieve perfection in every element, its ambition, intelligence, and emotional resonance mark it as one of the year’s standout fantasy debuts.
Six Wild Crowns proves that the best historical fantasy doesn’t just retell the past—it reimagines what might have been possible if women had been allowed to claim the power that was always rightfully theirs. Race has given these legendary queens their voices back, and the result is nothing short of magical.