Title: The Chosen Queen Author: Sam Davey
Pages: 352
Publication Date: June 3, 2025
Publisher: Diversion Books
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy
Synopsis:
Igraine, destined mother of King Arthur, takes center stage for a powerful, feminist retelling of Camelot.
The stories of Camelot do not begin with the sword in the stone—but rather with a twisted chain of murder, magic, and deceit.
Igraine is happily married to Gorlois, Duke of Cornwall, even though his withdrawal from the Mysteries and the Goddess have created a strain between them, as well as friction between her and her mentor, the Lady of the Lake. While they are visiting Uther Pendragon, King of Britain, at his castle, Uther makes it obvious to the entire court that he desires Igraine to be his queen. Later, he grabs her in the hall, and when Igraine informs Gorlois of what happened, he gathers his people and abruptly leaves the festivities, later declaring war on Uther. England has only recently found peace, and Merlin pleads with Gorlois to pledge allegiance to Uther. But Gorlois’ pride will keep him bent toward war, no matter the cost to his people.
Igraine bravely assumes the role of leader at Tintagel Castle, encouraging the women left behind to continue working the fields to show their devotion to the Goddess and instructing her two daughters to harness their own powers. She plans a grand summer solstice celebration, inviting their allies. On the eve of the solstice, Gorlois unexpectedly returns to Tintagel. But it is only after she lies with who she thinks is her beloved husband that Igraine learns the full extent of the devious plot of Merlin and the Lady of the Lake.
Igraine is chosen by the Goddess, by the Lady of the Lake, by Merlin, by Uther Pendragon . . . but in the end, she will choose her own fate.
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I enjoy stories and films that revolve around Arthurian legends and was excited to read The Chosen Queen, which is told from Igraine’s perspective. Arthur’s mother is not usually a well-defined character, and she is often glossed over in Arthurian tales, so I appreciated the focus on her story for a change.
The premise of exploring Camelot’s beginnings through the eyes of a woman often silenced in myth was what drew me in, and there are definitely strong moments. The writing is immersive and atmospheric, and it’s very easy to get pulled into this rich and vividly depicted world. I also appreciated the careful attention to ritual, magic, and the tension between old beliefs and new. The court politics and intrigue, manipulations, and lies are in abundance, and it’s interesting to see how Igraine maneuvers through it.
Igraine’s journey is compelling, and I especially liked her subtle resistance to being treated like a vessel by the people around her, including Uther, Merlin, and even the Lady of the Lake. I also liked seeing her determination, leadership, and devotion to her daughters and the women she leads at Tintagel. There are definite messages about female empowerment and the bonds between women. Igraine and Gorlois’s relationship is another intriguing aspect of Igraine’s character and development. Despite their differences in regard to their faith, you can tell they deeply love each other, and their relationship contrasts well with Uther and Igraine’s.
Overall, the story is a thoughtful and layered perspective on a familiar legend, and I appreciated the chance to see these events unfold through Igraine’s eyes. That being said, the pacing was a bit uneven for me. There were stretches where it felt like there was a lot of reflection and not a lot happened, and it started to feel a little repetitive. It definitely added depth to the characters, political conflicts, and relationships, though.
Sam Davey is a prize-winning author of fantasy and speculative fiction – both short stories and novels. Her short stories have appeared in a number of anthologies, the most recent being “Breaking Through The Penumbra”, Cicada Song Press, July 2025), and her latest novel is a feminist retelling of the origins of Camelot – entitled The Chosen Queen (June 2025, Diversion Books/Simon & Schuster).
When not writing, Sam works at London’s Royal Opera House as Head of Transformation (unfortunately, no magic wands are available).
She lives by the sea in Bexhill, East Sussex and is the founder of the Hastings Book Festival and chair of the Hastings Writers Group.
