#del-rey — Public Fediverse posts

Book Review: The Witch Queen by Heather Walter

The Witch Queen served with apples, because what Snow White retelling would be complete without apples?

Title: The Witch Queen (Crimson Crown #2)

Author: Heather Walter

Publisher: Del Rey

Publication date: August 11, 2026

Genre: Fantasy

The Witch Queen is the second in the Crimson Crown duology, a retelling of Snow White from the Evil Queen’s perspective. Where the first book set up who Ayleth is, where she comes from, and how she gains the crown, The Witch Queen follows Ayleth as she tries to get her revenge on the witches that scorned her while dealing with a stepdaughter trying to reclaim her crown. This was long, and sometimes it felt a little too stuffed, but it wove a wonderful story between Ayleth and Blodwyn, harkening back to the fairy tale without feeling out of place or forced.

Three years after the events of the first book, Ayleth has a tenuous rule over the kingdom. The witches have fled to a neighboring kingdom, escaping Ayleth and her shadowy Huntsman, who would take their magic from them, leaving them as little more than shells. Blodwyn has been sent to her Aunt Margaret, her father’s sister, to recover from illness and grief. But now war with the neighboring kingdom has shifted tides, and Ayleth needs Margaret’s forces if she’s to win. So she invites Margaret back home, but is unprepared when Margaret brings Blodwyn with her. She’s even more caught off guard when Blodwyn declares she’s returned to call for Braxos’ Trials. If Blodwyn successfully passes all three tests, she’ll take her rightful crown, and Ayleth will no longer be the prophesied queen she believes she is. When Gavin, son of one of the most powerful and influential courtiers, also declares he’ll take part, Ayleth sees an opening, and takes it. But, as the trials unfold and Ayleth’s doom seems certain, the kingdom is attacked by an unknown force bent on destroying them all.

There’s a lot going on in The Witch Queen. It’s a long, almost winding story, following Ayleth’s path to the end while weaving in elements of Snow White’s story. Because of the length of this book, nothing is ever rushed, and it was actually quite fun to read, but there is a lot stuffed into this. There’s the tension between Ayleth and Blodwyn, the scheming aunt who was never given any attention as a princess, a tentative blooming relationship between Blodwyn and Gavin, the witches who want to destroy Ayleth, the looming battle with the neighboring kingdom, the fractured romance between Ayleth and Jacquetta, and a long-dead princess seemingly come back to wreck havoc in her quest for revenge. Somehow, it all worked. I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the conclusion to the Evil Queen’s story. I thought it did a lovely job of painting the Evil Queen in a sympathetic light, and I loved the way the story ended. But, looking back, it felt like it was doing a little too much, turning this into a story of villain after villain after villain. It felt like the Evil Queen, the villain in the Snow White story, was just a victim and not a villain at all.

The story was framed around the trials, which made it feel easier to digest. There are these three trials Blodwyn and her fellow male contenders must go through, each dealing with a different aspect of ruling. In between is a lot of down time, presumably for the contenders to prepare for the next test, but mostly so the rest of the story can unfold. I often felt a little stuck in the weeds with Ayleth. With so much going on, she has to split her attention. She’s fighting battles on so many fronts. Someone always seems to be out to get her. But the trials kept the story neat and orderly, which I appreciated. They also highlighted the tension between Ayleth and Blodwyn, and their separate romantic pursuits. I liked the clear direction, I liked the stakes they represented, and it made it easier to deal with all the other things going on at the same time.

I adored Ayleth and Blodwyn. Their relationship has some very nice touches in the first book, and I loved seeing how the three years apart didn’t really help them. It was prickly here, but, since both of them get to tell their stories, it’s easy to see there’s still some care between them. Despite how close in age they were, there is a glimmer of a stepmother-stepdaughter relationship where they want to care about and love each other because they both were so ignored, but their assumptions about each other and the secrets between them keep getting in the way. But, when they did work together, they were lovely and I loved it. It was nice to see both of them grow over the course of the story, though I also struggled with Blodwyn being sixteen; there were times when she felt older and times when she felt younger, and it just made it difficult for me to pin her down.

At first, I loved all the villainry. After all, this is supposed to be a retelling from the villain’s perspective. Except Ayleth is less a villain and more someone who just wants to be accepted and loved for who she is, just like Blodwyn and Margaret. These three women were quite powerful, and they showed just how powerful they are in a male-dominated world, which was wonderful to see. But everyone seemed to be a villain. Everyone seemed to be scheming. One villain would pop up, but then it’s eventually explained and everything is fine. And then another villain will pop up, and the cycle would repeat. There were so many villains, so many people scheming. Eventually, it felt a little over the top and I could have done with one or two fewer villains.

The Witch Queen is a fantastic story of villains. It’s just the main villain is more of a hurting heart than a villain while everyone else around her is either evil or scheming or both. It made the story a little bloated and, eventually, a little annoying. But I liked the ups and downs between Ayleth and Blodwyn, I liked how The Witch Queen showed just how powerful women are if they’re bold enough to claim it, and I liked how the Snow White elements were neatly woven in instead of forced.

How many cups of tea will you need?

4 cups

Amazon | Bookshop (The Lily Cafe is a Bookshop affiliate and may earn a small commission if you use this link to make a purchase)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Head over to the Bookshelf to check out my reviews of books from the Big 5 and self-published, indie, and small press books.

This blog is my home base, but you can also find me on:

Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Book Review: The Witch Queen by Heather Walter

The Witch Queen served with apples, because what Snow White retelling would be complete without apples?

Title: The Witch Queen (Crimson Crown #2)

Author: Heather Walter

Publisher: Del Rey

Publication date: August 11, 2026

Genre: Fantasy

The Witch Queen is the second in the Crimson Crown duology, a retelling of Snow White from the Evil Queen’s perspective. Where the first book set up who Ayleth is, where she comes from, and how she gains the crown, The Witch Queen follows Ayleth as she tries to get her revenge on the witches that scorned her while dealing with a stepdaughter trying to reclaim her crown. This was long, and sometimes it felt a little too stuffed, but it wove a wonderful story between Ayleth and Blodwyn, harkening back to the fairy tale without feeling out of place or forced.

Three years after the events of the first book, Ayleth has a tenuous rule over the kingdom. The witches have fled to a neighboring kingdom, escaping Ayleth and her shadowy Huntsman, who would take their magic from them, leaving them as little more than shells. Blodwyn has been sent to her Aunt Margaret, her father’s sister, to recover from illness and grief. But now war with the neighboring kingdom has shifted tides, and Ayleth needs Margaret’s forces if she’s to win. So she invites Margaret back home, but is unprepared when Margaret brings Blodwyn with her. She’s even more caught off guard when Blodwyn declares she’s returned to call for Braxos’ Trials. If Blodwyn successfully passes all three tests, she’ll take her rightful crown, and Ayleth will no longer be the prophesied queen she believes she is. When Gavin, son of one of the most powerful and influential courtiers, also declares he’ll take part, Ayleth sees an opening, and takes it. But, as the trials unfold and Ayleth’s doom seems certain, the kingdom is attacked by an unknown force bent on destroying them all.

There’s a lot going on in The Witch Queen. It’s a long, almost winding story, following Ayleth’s path to the end while weaving in elements of Snow White’s story. Because of the length of this book, nothing is ever rushed, and it was actually quite fun to read, but there is a lot stuffed into this. There’s the tension between Ayleth and Blodwyn, the scheming aunt who was never given any attention as a princess, a tentative blooming relationship between Blodwyn and Gavin, the witches who want to destroy Ayleth, the looming battle with the neighboring kingdom, the fractured romance between Ayleth and Jacquetta, and a long-dead princess seemingly come back to wreck havoc in her quest for revenge. Somehow, it all worked. I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the conclusion to the Evil Queen’s story. I thought it did a lovely job of painting the Evil Queen in a sympathetic light, and I loved the way the story ended. But, looking back, it felt like it was doing a little too much, turning this into a story of villain after villain after villain. It felt like the Evil Queen, the villain in the Snow White story, was just a victim and not a villain at all.

The story was framed around the trials, which made it feel easier to digest. There are these three trials Blodwyn and her fellow male contenders must go through, each dealing with a different aspect of ruling. In between is a lot of down time, presumably for the contenders to prepare for the next test, but mostly so the rest of the story can unfold. I often felt a little stuck in the weeds with Ayleth. With so much going on, she has to split her attention. She’s fighting battles on so many fronts. Someone always seems to be out to get her. But the trials kept the story neat and orderly, which I appreciated. They also highlighted the tension between Ayleth and Blodwyn, and their separate romantic pursuits. I liked the clear direction, I liked the stakes they represented, and it made it easier to deal with all the other things going on at the same time.

I adored Ayleth and Blodwyn. Their relationship has some very nice touches in the first book, and I loved seeing how the three years apart didn’t really help them. It was prickly here, but, since both of them get to tell their stories, it’s easy to see there’s still some care between them. Despite how close in age they were, there is a glimmer of a stepmother-stepdaughter relationship where they want to care about and love each other because they both were so ignored, but their assumptions about each other and the secrets between them keep getting in the way. But, when they did work together, they were lovely and I loved it. It was nice to see both of them grow over the course of the story, though I also struggled with Blodwyn being sixteen; there were times when she felt older and times when she felt younger, and it just made it difficult for me to pin her down.

At first, I loved all the villainry. After all, this is supposed to be a retelling from the villain’s perspective. Except Ayleth is less a villain and more someone who just wants to be accepted and loved for who she is, just like Blodwyn and Margaret. These three women were quite powerful, and they showed just how powerful they are in a male-dominated world, which was wonderful to see. But everyone seemed to be a villain. Everyone seemed to be scheming. One villain would pop up, but then it’s eventually explained and everything is fine. And then another villain will pop up, and the cycle would repeat. There were so many villains, so many people scheming. Eventually, it felt a little over the top and I could have done with one or two fewer villains.

The Witch Queen is a fantastic story of villains. It’s just the main villain is more of a hurting heart than a villain while everyone else around her is either evil or scheming or both. It made the story a little bloated and, eventually, a little annoying. But I liked the ups and downs between Ayleth and Blodwyn, I liked how The Witch Queen showed just how powerful women are if they’re bold enough to claim it, and I liked how the Snow White elements were neatly woven in instead of forced.

How many cups of tea will you need?

4 cups

Amazon | Bookshop (The Lily Cafe is a Bookshop affiliate and may earn a small commission if you use this link to make a purchase)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Head over to the Bookshelf to check out my reviews of books from the Big 5 and self-published, indie, and small press books.

This blog is my home base, but you can also find me on:

Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Book Review: The Witch Queen by Heather Walter

The Witch Queen served with apples, because what Snow White retelling would be complete without apples?

Title: The Witch Queen (Crimson Crown #2)

Author: Heather Walter

Publisher: Del Rey

Publication date: August 11, 2026

Genre: Fantasy

The Witch Queen is the second in the Crimson Crown duology, a retelling of Snow White from the Evil Queen’s perspective. Where the first book set up who Ayleth is, where she comes from, and how she gains the crown, The Witch Queen follows Ayleth as she tries to get her revenge on the witches that scorned her while dealing with a stepdaughter trying to reclaim her crown. This was long, and sometimes it felt a little too stuffed, but it wove a wonderful story between Ayleth and Blodwyn, harkening back to the fairy tale without feeling out of place or forced.

Three years after the events of the first book, Ayleth has a tenuous rule over the kingdom. The witches have fled to a neighboring kingdom, escaping Ayleth and her shadowy Huntsman, who would take their magic from them, leaving them as little more than shells. Blodwyn has been sent to her Aunt Margaret, her father’s sister, to recover from illness and grief. But now war with the neighboring kingdom has shifted tides, and Ayleth needs Margaret’s forces if she’s to win. So she invites Margaret back home, but is unprepared when Margaret brings Blodwyn with her. She’s even more caught off guard when Blodwyn declares she’s returned to call for Braxos’ Trials. If Blodwyn successfully passes all three tests, she’ll take her rightful crown, and Ayleth will no longer be the prophesied queen she believes she is. When Gavin, son of one of the most powerful and influential courtiers, also declares he’ll take part, Ayleth sees an opening, and takes it. But, as the trials unfold and Ayleth’s doom seems certain, the kingdom is attacked by an unknown force bent on destroying them all.

There’s a lot going on in The Witch Queen. It’s a long, almost winding story, following Ayleth’s path to the end while weaving in elements of Snow White’s story. Because of the length of this book, nothing is ever rushed, and it was actually quite fun to read, but there is a lot stuffed into this. There’s the tension between Ayleth and Blodwyn, the scheming aunt who was never given any attention as a princess, a tentative blooming relationship between Blodwyn and Gavin, the witches who want to destroy Ayleth, the looming battle with the neighboring kingdom, the fractured romance between Ayleth and Jacquetta, and a long-dead princess seemingly come back to wreck havoc in her quest for revenge. Somehow, it all worked. I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the conclusion to the Evil Queen’s story. I thought it did a lovely job of painting the Evil Queen in a sympathetic light, and I loved the way the story ended. But, looking back, it felt like it was doing a little too much, turning this into a story of villain after villain after villain. It felt like the Evil Queen, the villain in the Snow White story, was just a victim and not a villain at all.

The story was framed around the trials, which made it feel easier to digest. There are these three trials Blodwyn and her fellow male contenders must go through, each dealing with a different aspect of ruling. In between is a lot of down time, presumably for the contenders to prepare for the next test, but mostly so the rest of the story can unfold. I often felt a little stuck in the weeds with Ayleth. With so much going on, she has to split her attention. She’s fighting battles on so many fronts. Someone always seems to be out to get her. But the trials kept the story neat and orderly, which I appreciated. They also highlighted the tension between Ayleth and Blodwyn, and their separate romantic pursuits. I liked the clear direction, I liked the stakes they represented, and it made it easier to deal with all the other things going on at the same time.

I adored Ayleth and Blodwyn. Their relationship has some very nice touches in the first book, and I loved seeing how the three years apart didn’t really help them. It was prickly here, but, since both of them get to tell their stories, it’s easy to see there’s still some care between them. Despite how close in age they were, there is a glimmer of a stepmother-stepdaughter relationship where they want to care about and love each other because they both were so ignored, but their assumptions about each other and the secrets between them keep getting in the way. But, when they did work together, they were lovely and I loved it. It was nice to see both of them grow over the course of the story, though I also struggled with Blodwyn being sixteen; there were times when she felt older and times when she felt younger, and it just made it difficult for me to pin her down.

At first, I loved all the villainry. After all, this is supposed to be a retelling from the villain’s perspective. Except Ayleth is less a villain and more someone who just wants to be accepted and loved for who she is, just like Blodwyn and Margaret. These three women were quite powerful, and they showed just how powerful they are in a male-dominated world, which was wonderful to see. But everyone seemed to be a villain. Everyone seemed to be scheming. One villain would pop up, but then it’s eventually explained and everything is fine. And then another villain will pop up, and the cycle would repeat. There were so many villains, so many people scheming. Eventually, it felt a little over the top and I could have done with one or two fewer villains.

The Witch Queen is a fantastic story of villains. It’s just the main villain is more of a hurting heart than a villain while everyone else around her is either evil or scheming or both. It made the story a little bloated and, eventually, a little annoying. But I liked the ups and downs between Ayleth and Blodwyn, I liked how The Witch Queen showed just how powerful women are if they’re bold enough to claim it, and I liked how the Snow White elements were neatly woven in instead of forced.

How many cups of tea will you need?

4 cups

Amazon | Bookshop (The Lily Cafe is a Bookshop affiliate and may earn a small commission if you use this link to make a purchase)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Head over to the Bookshelf to check out my reviews of books from the Big 5 and self-published, indie, and small press books.

This blog is my home base, but you can also find me on:

Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Book Review: The Witch Queen by Heather Walter

The Witch Queen served with apples, because what Snow White retelling would be complete without apples?

Title: The Witch Queen (Crimson Crown #2)

Author: Heather Walter

Publisher: Del Rey

Publication date: August 11, 2026

Genre: Fantasy

The Witch Queen is the second in the Crimson Crown duology, a retelling of Snow White from the Evil Queen’s perspective. Where the first book set up who Ayleth is, where she comes from, and how she gains the crown, The Witch Queen follows Ayleth as she tries to get her revenge on the witches that scorned her while dealing with a stepdaughter trying to reclaim her crown. This was long, and sometimes it felt a little too stuffed, but it wove a wonderful story between Ayleth and Blodwyn, harkening back to the fairy tale without feeling out of place or forced.

Three years after the events of the first book, Ayleth has a tenuous rule over the kingdom. The witches have fled to a neighboring kingdom, escaping Ayleth and her shadowy Huntsman, who would take their magic from them, leaving them as little more than shells. Blodwyn has been sent to her Aunt Margaret, her father’s sister, to recover from illness and grief. But now war with the neighboring kingdom has shifted tides, and Ayleth needs Margaret’s forces if she’s to win. So she invites Margaret back home, but is unprepared when Margaret brings Blodwyn with her. She’s even more caught off guard when Blodwyn declares she’s returned to call for Braxos’ Trials. If Blodwyn successfully passes all three tests, she’ll take her rightful crown, and Ayleth will no longer be the prophesied queen she believes she is. When Gavin, son of one of the most powerful and influential courtiers, also declares he’ll take part, Ayleth sees an opening, and takes it. But, as the trials unfold and Ayleth’s doom seems certain, the kingdom is attacked by an unknown force bent on destroying them all.

There’s a lot going on in The Witch Queen. It’s a long, almost winding story, following Ayleth’s path to the end while weaving in elements of Snow White’s story. Because of the length of this book, nothing is ever rushed, and it was actually quite fun to read, but there is a lot stuffed into this. There’s the tension between Ayleth and Blodwyn, the scheming aunt who was never given any attention as a princess, a tentative blooming relationship between Blodwyn and Gavin, the witches who want to destroy Ayleth, the looming battle with the neighboring kingdom, the fractured romance between Ayleth and Jacquetta, and a long-dead princess seemingly come back to wreck havoc in her quest for revenge. Somehow, it all worked. I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the conclusion to the Evil Queen’s story. I thought it did a lovely job of painting the Evil Queen in a sympathetic light, and I loved the way the story ended. But, looking back, it felt like it was doing a little too much, turning this into a story of villain after villain after villain. It felt like the Evil Queen, the villain in the Snow White story, was just a victim and not a villain at all.

The story was framed around the trials, which made it feel easier to digest. There are these three trials Blodwyn and her fellow male contenders must go through, each dealing with a different aspect of ruling. In between is a lot of down time, presumably for the contenders to prepare for the next test, but mostly so the rest of the story can unfold. I often felt a little stuck in the weeds with Ayleth. With so much going on, she has to split her attention. She’s fighting battles on so many fronts. Someone always seems to be out to get her. But the trials kept the story neat and orderly, which I appreciated. They also highlighted the tension between Ayleth and Blodwyn, and their separate romantic pursuits. I liked the clear direction, I liked the stakes they represented, and it made it easier to deal with all the other things going on at the same time.

I adored Ayleth and Blodwyn. Their relationship has some very nice touches in the first book, and I loved seeing how the three years apart didn’t really help them. It was prickly here, but, since both of them get to tell their stories, it’s easy to see there’s still some care between them. Despite how close in age they were, there is a glimmer of a stepmother-stepdaughter relationship where they want to care about and love each other because they both were so ignored, but their assumptions about each other and the secrets between them keep getting in the way. But, when they did work together, they were lovely and I loved it. It was nice to see both of them grow over the course of the story, though I also struggled with Blodwyn being sixteen; there were times when she felt older and times when she felt younger, and it just made it difficult for me to pin her down.

At first, I loved all the villainry. After all, this is supposed to be a retelling from the villain’s perspective. Except Ayleth is less a villain and more someone who just wants to be accepted and loved for who she is, just like Blodwyn and Margaret. These three women were quite powerful, and they showed just how powerful they are in a male-dominated world, which was wonderful to see. But everyone seemed to be a villain. Everyone seemed to be scheming. One villain would pop up, but then it’s eventually explained and everything is fine. And then another villain will pop up, and the cycle would repeat. There were so many villains, so many people scheming. Eventually, it felt a little over the top and I could have done with one or two fewer villains.

The Witch Queen is a fantastic story of villains. It’s just the main villain is more of a hurting heart than a villain while everyone else around her is either evil or scheming or both. It made the story a little bloated and, eventually, a little annoying. But I liked the ups and downs between Ayleth and Blodwyn, I liked how The Witch Queen showed just how powerful women are if they’re bold enough to claim it, and I liked how the Snow White elements were neatly woven in instead of forced.

How many cups of tea will you need?

4 cups

Amazon | Bookshop (The Lily Cafe is a Bookshop affiliate and may earn a small commission if you use this link to make a purchase)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Head over to the Bookshelf to check out my reviews of books from the Big 5 and self-published, indie, and small press books.

This blog is my home base, but you can also find me on:

Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Book Review: The Witch Queen by Heather Walter

The Witch Queen served with apples, because what Snow White retelling would be complete without apples?

Title: The Witch Queen (Crimson Crown #2)

Author: Heather Walter

Publisher: Del Rey

Publication date: August 11, 2026

Genre: Fantasy

The Witch Queen is the second in the Crimson Crown duology, a retelling of Snow White from the Evil Queen’s perspective. Where the first book set up who Ayleth is, where she comes from, and how she gains the crown, The Witch Queen follows Ayleth as she tries to get her revenge on the witches that scorned her while dealing with a stepdaughter trying to reclaim her crown. This was long, and sometimes it felt a little too stuffed, but it wove a wonderful story between Ayleth and Blodwyn, harkening back to the fairy tale without feeling out of place or forced.

Three years after the events of the first book, Ayleth has a tenuous rule over the kingdom. The witches have fled to a neighboring kingdom, escaping Ayleth and her shadowy Huntsman, who would take their magic from them, leaving them as little more than shells. Blodwyn has been sent to her Aunt Margaret, her father’s sister, to recover from illness and grief. But now war with the neighboring kingdom has shifted tides, and Ayleth needs Margaret’s forces if she’s to win. So she invites Margaret back home, but is unprepared when Margaret brings Blodwyn with her. She’s even more caught off guard when Blodwyn declares she’s returned to call for Braxos’ Trials. If Blodwyn successfully passes all three tests, she’ll take her rightful crown, and Ayleth will no longer be the prophesied queen she believes she is. When Gavin, son of one of the most powerful and influential courtiers, also declares he’ll take part, Ayleth sees an opening, and takes it. But, as the trials unfold and Ayleth’s doom seems certain, the kingdom is attacked by an unknown force bent on destroying them all.

There’s a lot going on in The Witch Queen. It’s a long, almost winding story, following Ayleth’s path to the end while weaving in elements of Snow White’s story. Because of the length of this book, nothing is ever rushed, and it was actually quite fun to read, but there is a lot stuffed into this. There’s the tension between Ayleth and Blodwyn, the scheming aunt who was never given any attention as a princess, a tentative blooming relationship between Blodwyn and Gavin, the witches who want to destroy Ayleth, the looming battle with the neighboring kingdom, the fractured romance between Ayleth and Jacquetta, and a long-dead princess seemingly come back to wreck havoc in her quest for revenge. Somehow, it all worked. I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the conclusion to the Evil Queen’s story. I thought it did a lovely job of painting the Evil Queen in a sympathetic light, and I loved the way the story ended. But, looking back, it felt like it was doing a little too much, turning this into a story of villain after villain after villain. It felt like the Evil Queen, the villain in the Snow White story, was just a victim and not a villain at all.

The story was framed around the trials, which made it feel easier to digest. There are these three trials Blodwyn and her fellow male contenders must go through, each dealing with a different aspect of ruling. In between is a lot of down time, presumably for the contenders to prepare for the next test, but mostly so the rest of the story can unfold. I often felt a little stuck in the weeds with Ayleth. With so much going on, she has to split her attention. She’s fighting battles on so many fronts. Someone always seems to be out to get her. But the trials kept the story neat and orderly, which I appreciated. They also highlighted the tension between Ayleth and Blodwyn, and their separate romantic pursuits. I liked the clear direction, I liked the stakes they represented, and it made it easier to deal with all the other things going on at the same time.

I adored Ayleth and Blodwyn. Their relationship has some very nice touches in the first book, and I loved seeing how the three years apart didn’t really help them. It was prickly here, but, since both of them get to tell their stories, it’s easy to see there’s still some care between them. Despite how close in age they were, there is a glimmer of a stepmother-stepdaughter relationship where they want to care about and love each other because they both were so ignored, but their assumptions about each other and the secrets between them keep getting in the way. But, when they did work together, they were lovely and I loved it. It was nice to see both of them grow over the course of the story, though I also struggled with Blodwyn being sixteen; there were times when she felt older and times when she felt younger, and it just made it difficult for me to pin her down.

At first, I loved all the villainry. After all, this is supposed to be a retelling from the villain’s perspective. Except Ayleth is less a villain and more someone who just wants to be accepted and loved for who she is, just like Blodwyn and Margaret. These three women were quite powerful, and they showed just how powerful they are in a male-dominated world, which was wonderful to see. But everyone seemed to be a villain. Everyone seemed to be scheming. One villain would pop up, but then it’s eventually explained and everything is fine. And then another villain will pop up, and the cycle would repeat. There were so many villains, so many people scheming. Eventually, it felt a little over the top and I could have done with one or two fewer villains.

The Witch Queen is a fantastic story of villains. It’s just the main villain is more of a hurting heart than a villain while everyone else around her is either evil or scheming or both. It made the story a little bloated and, eventually, a little annoying. But I liked the ups and downs between Ayleth and Blodwyn, I liked how The Witch Queen showed just how powerful women are if they’re bold enough to claim it, and I liked how the Snow White elements were neatly woven in instead of forced.

How many cups of tea will you need?

4 cups

Amazon | Bookshop (The Lily Cafe is a Bookshop affiliate and may earn a small commission if you use this link to make a purchase)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Head over to the Bookshelf to check out my reviews of books from the Big 5 and self-published, indie, and small press books.

This blog is my home base, but you can also find me on:

Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

https://www.europesays.com/ie/440885/ 15 years after ‘Video Games,’ Lana Del Rey has an actual video game song #DavidArnold #DelRey #Éire #Entertainment #IE #IoInteractive #Ireland #JamesBond #LanaDelRey #Music #VideoGame

Titelbild von Michael Whelan für
"Crystal Singer" von Anne McCaffrey
Ballantine/Del Rey books, August 1982
(AmeS)

#sciencefiction #Ballantine #DelRey #AnneMcCaffrey #MichaelWhelan

Titelbild von Michael Whelan für
"Crystal Singer" von Anne McCaffrey
Ballantine/Del Rey books, August 1982
(AmeS)

#sciencefiction #Ballantine #DelRey #AnneMcCaffrey #MichaelWhelan

https://www.europesays.com/es/429712/ Somos autocríticos con nuestros errores en la Copa, otros estamentos, como el arbitral, también lo deben ser #arbitros #autocriticos #Baloncesto #Basketball #copa #CopaDelRey #CopaDelReyDeBaloncesto #DelRey #Deportes #errores #ES #España #martinez #pedro #PedroMartínez #RealMadrid #semifinal #Spain #Sports #ValenciaBasket

https://www.europesays.com/es/415593/ Vitoria-Gasteiz, posible nueva sede de la Copa del Rey de baloncesto 2027 #acb2027 #Baloncesto #Basketball #copa #DelRey #Deportes #ES #España #gasteiz #organizar #postula #Spain #Sports #Vitoria

Here is my Review of Light Bringer w/ Spoilers:
https://youtu.be/jrpWvBGF0Vc #LightBringer #RedRisingSeries #PierceBrown #DelRey #SciFi #Drama #Action #Book #Review

Here is my Review of Dark Age w/ Spoilers: https://youtu.be/TLfyBOaQrsA #DarkAge #RedRisingSeries #PierceBrown #DelRey #SciFi #Drama #Action #Book #Review

Selections from what customers at Booklovers’ Gourmet are reading

Every other week, we ask local bookstores what their customers have been picking up in the preceding month.…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Books #DelRey #DialPress #EliseLoehnen #Entertainment #GrandCentralPublishing #HanselandGretel #KenFollett #KristinHannah #MarysueRucciBooks #MauriceSendak #StephenKing #WallyLamb
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/203282/

Selections from what customers at Booklovers’ Gourmet are reading

Every other week, we ask local bookstores what their customers have been picking up in the preceding month.…
#NewsBeep #News #US #USA #UnitedStates #UnitedStatesOfAmerica #Books #DelRey #DialPress #EliseLoehnen #Entertainment #GrandCentralPublishing #HanselandGretel #KenFollett #KristinHannah #MarysueRucciBooks #MauriceSendak #StephenKing #WallyLamb
https://www.newsbeep.com/us/203282/

Selections from what customers at Booklovers’ Gourmet are reading

Every other week, we ask local bookstores what their customers have been picking up in the preceding month.…
#NewsBeep #News #Books #DelRey #DialPress #EliseLoehnen #Entertainment #GrandCentralPublishing #HanselandGretel #KenFollett #KristinHannah #MarysueRucciBooks #MauriceSendak #StephenKing #UK #UnitedKingdom #WallyLamb
https://www.newsbeep.com/uk/180197/

Selections from what customers at Booklovers’ Gourmet are reading

Every other week, we ask local bookstores what their customers have been picking up in the preceding month.…
#NewsBeep #News #Books #AU #Australia #DelRey #DialPress #EliseLoehnen #Entertainment #GrandCentralPublishing #HanselandGretel #KenFollett #KristinHannah #MarysueRucciBooks #MauriceSendak #StephenKing #WallyLamb
https://www.newsbeep.com/au/191386/

« Alchemised » : d’une fanfiction Harry Potter à un contrat hollywoodien record

Née d’une fanfiction centrée sur Hermione Granger et Draco Malfoy, l’histoire intitulée à l’origine Manacled s’est transformée en roman original sous le nom Alchemised. L’ouvrage, écrit par SenLinYu, a déjà séduit Legendary Entertainment qui en a acquis les droits d’adaptation pour une somme dépassant les trois millions de dollars, avant même sa publication. Ce succès illustre la montée en puissance de la fanfiction dans l’univers littéraire et cinématographique.

Un succès viral devenu un phénomène éditorial

De « Manacled » à « Alchemised »

À l’origine, Alchemised est né sous le titre Manacled, une fanfiction de près de 900 pages publiée sur la plateforme Archive of Our Own. L’intrigue proposait une relecture sombre de l’univers de Harry Potter : Voldemort victorieux, Hermione prisonnière, et une relation troublante avec Draco Malfoy. Diffusé massivement sur Internet, le récit a rapidement rencontré un succès viral, notamment grâce à TikTok et au hashtag #BookTok.

Une transformation pour devenir un roman original

Consciente de l’intérêt croissant, l’autrice SenLinYu a retravaillé profondément son texte afin de le libérer de toute référence directe à l’univers de J.K. Rowling. Les noms des personnages ont été remplacés, des thématiques retirées, et près de 50 000 mots ont été réécrits ou supprimés. Ainsi est né Alchemised, centré sur Helena Marino, une guérisseuse et alchimiste capturée par des nécromanciens dans un monde imaginaire inédit.

Une transaction record pour l’industrie culturelle

Legendary mise gros sur l’adaptation

Le 10 septembre, The Hollywood Reporter a révélé que Legendary Entertainment avait acquis les droits d’adaptation cinématographique d’Alchemised pour plus de 3 millions de dollars. Ce montant, exceptionnel pour une œuvre encore inédite, confirme la confiance du studio dans le potentiel du roman. Il s’agit de l’un des contrats les plus élevés conclus ces dernières années pour une adaptation littéraire avant publication.

Un lancement mondial ambitieux

Le livre sera publié le 23 septembre 2025 aux États-Unis par Del Rey, filiale de Penguin Random House, puis le 1er octobre en France. Le tirage initial est colossal : 750 000 exemplaires prévus, avec des traductions en 21 langues. Ces chiffres démontrent une stratégie internationale affirmée, à la hauteur de l’investissement réalisé. La comparaison avec Fifty Shades of Grey, autre roman né d’une fanfiction et devenu un succès mondial, revient régulièrement.

Les enjeux culturels et critiques autour du projet

La légitimité de la fanfiction en question

L’affaire Alchemised dépasse le simple aspect économique. Elle illustre une tendance de fond : la reconnaissance croissante de la fanfiction comme tremplin littéraire. Des œuvres issues de communautés de fans, longtemps marginalisées, accèdent désormais aux circuits éditoriaux et aux studios de production. Mais cette légitimation ne va pas sans débats. Certains saluent une créativité populaire transformée en réussite, d’autres dénoncent un recyclage trop proche du matériau d’origine.

Un univers réinventé mais controversé

L’histoire initiale de Manacled n’a pas échappé aux critiques. Ses thématiques sombres, abordant le viol et la grossesse forcée, ont suscité de vives réactions. Dans sa nouvelle version, Alchemised conserve une atmosphère dramatique et dystopique, mais s’inscrit désormais dans un univers original, Paladia, peuplé de nécromanciens et d’intrigues de pouvoir. Le défi pour l’autrice sera de convaincre un lectorat élargi tout en échappant aux comparaisons directes avec Harry Potter et La Servante écarlate.

Une œuvre attendue entre espoir et incertitudes

Une adaptation encore mystérieuse

Si Legendary détient désormais les droits cinématographiques, aucune information n’a filtré quant au calendrier de production, au réalisateur ou au casting. L’enthousiasme affiché par le studio ne garantit pas un passage rapide sur grand écran. Le succès de l’ouvrage auprès du public sera probablement déterminant pour la concrétisation du projet.

Un pari sur l’avenir de la littérature issue du fandom

L’histoire d’Alchemised témoigne d’une évolution culturelle : les récits nés en ligne, partagés par des communautés passionnées, peuvent se transformer en best-sellers mondiaux et attirer Hollywood. Mais cette trajectoire pose des questions essentielles sur la légitimité, la créativité et la réception critique. L’avenir du roman et de son éventuelle adaptation cinématographique dira si ce pari audacieux était justifié.

Avec Alchemised, SenLinYu a réussi à transformer une fanfiction virale en un projet littéraire et cinématographique international. Le contrat record signé par Legendary confirme l’intérêt d’Hollywood pour ces récits issus du fandom. Reste à savoir si le roman saura conquérir le grand public au-delà des cercles de fans et s’imposer comme une œuvre à part entière.

#adaptationCinéma #Alchemised #édition #BookTok #DelRey #fanfiction #fantasy #FiftyShadesOfGrey #HarryPotter #LegendaryEntertainment #Manacled #PenguinRandomHouse #SenLinYu

Here is my Review of Iron Gold w/ Spoilers: https://youtu.be/UGIpdJgC4vQ #IronGold #RedRisingSeries #PierceBrown #DelRey #SciFi #Drama #Action #Book #Review

A giant in the editorial field.

"A woman with dwarfism, Judy-Lynn del Rey was best known for founding Del Rey Books, a science fiction and fantasy imprint that turned fantasy in particular into a major publishing category.
[...]
Judy-Lynn del Rey, you see, had very clear notions on what kind of stories people wanted to buy. For some critics, she also committed the unforgivable sin of being right."

https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

#Editors #Books #DelRey #SFF

A giant in the editorial field.

"A woman with dwarfism, Judy-Lynn del Rey was best known for founding Del Rey Books, a science fiction and fantasy imprint that turned fantasy in particular into a major publishing category.
[...]
Judy-Lynn del Rey, you see, had very clear notions on what kind of stories people wanted to buy. For some critics, she also committed the unforgivable sin of being right."

https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

#Editors #Books #DelRey #SFF

A giant in the editorial field.

"A woman with dwarfism, Judy-Lynn del Rey was best known for founding Del Rey Books, a science fiction and fantasy imprint that turned fantasy in particular into a major publishing category.
[...]
Judy-Lynn del Rey, you see, had very clear notions on what kind of stories people wanted to buy. For some critics, she also committed the unforgivable sin of being right."

https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

#Editors #Books #DelRey #SFF

A giant in the editorial field.

"A woman with dwarfism, Judy-Lynn del Rey was best known for founding Del Rey Books, a science fiction and fantasy imprint that turned fantasy in particular into a major publishing category.
[...]
Judy-Lynn del Rey, you see, had very clear notions on what kind of stories people wanted to buy. For some critics, she also committed the unforgivable sin of being right."

https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

#Editors #Books #DelRey #SFF

A giant in the editorial field.

"A woman with dwarfism, Judy-Lynn del Rey was best known for founding Del Rey Books, a science fiction and fantasy imprint that turned fantasy in particular into a major publishing category.
[...]
Judy-Lynn del Rey, you see, had very clear notions on what kind of stories people wanted to buy. For some critics, she also committed the unforgivable sin of being right."

https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

#Editors #Books #DelRey #SFF

In publishing, the people who work behind the scenes rarely get their due. But on Oct. 1, 2024, at least, one industry pioneer got the limelight. On that day, PBS aired “Judy-Lynn del Rey: The Galaxy Gal,” the first episode of its new documentary series “Renegades,” which highlights little-known historical figures with disabilities.
#DelRey #SFF #ScienceFiction #Fantasy

https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

In publishing, the people who work behind the scenes rarely get their due. But on Oct. 1, 2024, at least, one industry pioneer got the limelight. On that day, PBS aired “Judy-Lynn del Rey: The Galaxy Gal,” the first episode of its new documentary series “Renegades,” which highlights little-known historical figures with disabilities.
#DelRey #SFF #ScienceFiction #Fantasy

https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

In publishing, the people who work behind the scenes rarely get their due. But on Oct. 1, 2024, at least, one industry pioneer got the limelight. On that day, PBS aired “Judy-Lynn del Rey: The Galaxy Gal,” the first episode of its new documentary series “Renegades,” which highlights little-known historical figures with disabilities.
#DelRey #SFF #ScienceFiction #Fantasy

https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

In publishing, the people who work behind the scenes rarely get their due. But on Oct. 1, 2024, at least, one industry pioneer got the limelight. On that day, PBS aired “Judy-Lynn del Rey: The Galaxy Gal,” the first episode of its new documentary series “Renegades,” which highlights little-known historical figures with disabilities.
#DelRey #SFF #ScienceFiction #Fantasy

https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

In publishing, the people who work behind the scenes rarely get their due. But on Oct. 1, 2024, at least, one industry pioneer got the limelight. On that day, PBS aired “Judy-Lynn del Rey: The Galaxy Gal,” the first episode of its new documentary series “Renegades,” which highlights little-known historical figures with disabilities.
#DelRey #SFF #ScienceFiction #Fantasy

https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

The woman who revolutionized the fantasy genre is finally getting her due https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

But del Rey landed an even bigger success by snagging the novelization rights to a science fiction film that, at the time, few Hollywood executives believed would do well: “Star Wars.”

#SciFi #DelRey

The woman who revolutionized the fantasy genre is finally getting her due https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

But del Rey landed an even bigger success by snagging the novelization rights to a science fiction film that, at the time, few Hollywood executives believed would do well: “Star Wars.”

#SciFi #DelRey

The woman who revolutionized the fantasy genre is finally getting her due https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

But del Rey landed an even bigger success by snagging the novelization rights to a science fiction film that, at the time, few Hollywood executives believed would do well: “Star Wars.”

#SciFi #DelRey

The woman who revolutionized the fantasy genre is finally getting her due https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

But del Rey landed an even bigger success by snagging the novelization rights to a science fiction film that, at the time, few Hollywood executives believed would do well: “Star Wars.”

#SciFi #DelRey

The woman who revolutionized the fantasy genre is finally getting her due https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-240198

But del Rey landed an even bigger success by snagging the novelization rights to a science fiction film that, at the time, few Hollywood executives believed would do well: “Star Wars.”

#SciFi #DelRey

I can’t remember which #scififantasy books I’ve read were from #DelRey. But I have definitely read the book in this article’s screenshot image (The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey).

https://gizmodo.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-2000511317

#DragonridersOfPern

I can’t remember which #scififantasy books I’ve read were from #DelRey. But I have definitely read the book in this article’s screenshot image (The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey).

https://gizmodo.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-2000511317

#DragonridersOfPern

I can’t remember which #scififantasy books I’ve read were from #DelRey. But I have definitely read the book in this article’s screenshot image (The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey).

https://gizmodo.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-2000511317

#DragonridersOfPern

I can’t remember which #scififantasy books I’ve read were from #DelRey. But I have definitely read the book in this article’s screenshot image (The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey).

https://gizmodo.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-2000511317

#DragonridersOfPern

I can’t remember which #scififantasy books I’ve read were from #DelRey. But I have definitely read the book in this article’s screenshot image (The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey).

https://gizmodo.com/the-woman-who-revolutionized-the-fantasy-genre-is-finally-getting-her-due-2000511317

#DragonridersOfPern

Do you like weird fiction? Strange Tales? These novellas are not necessarily horror, but they do bite when you least expect it. 4 out of 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 to Spin a Black Yarn by Josh Malerman. My review is posted at
https://wellwortharead.blogspot.com/2023/08/spin-black-yarn-by-josh-malerman.html
#horrorcommunity
#bookreview #spinablackyarn
#joshmalerman
#delrey #bookstodon @bookstodon

Do you like weird fiction? Strange Tales? These novellas are not necessarily horror, but they do bite when you least expect it. 4 out of 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 to Spin a Black Yarn by Josh Malerman. My review is posted at
https://wellwortharead.blogspot.com/2023/08/spin-black-yarn-by-josh-malerman.html
#horrorcommunity
#bookreview #spinablackyarn
#joshmalerman
#delrey #bookstodon @bookstodon

Do you like weird fiction? Strange Tales? These novellas are not necessarily horror, but they do bite when you least expect it. 4 out of 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 to Spin a Black Yarn by Josh Malerman. My review is posted at
https://wellwortharead.blogspot.com/2023/08/spin-black-yarn-by-josh-malerman.html
#horrorcommunity
#bookreview #spinablackyarn
#joshmalerman
#delrey #bookstodon @bookstodon

Do you like weird fiction? Strange Tales? These novellas are not necessarily horror, but they do bite when you least expect it. 4 out of 5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 to Spin a Black Yarn by Josh Malerman. My review is posted at
https://wellwortharead.blogspot.com/2023/08/spin-black-yarn-by-josh-malerman.html
#horrorcommunity
#bookreview #spinablackyarn
#joshmalerman
#delrey #bookstodon @bookstodon

Jezebel: Sex. Celebrity. Politics. With Teeth: What's Lana Del Rey Doing Working at Waffle House? https://jezebel.com/whats-lana-del-rey-doing-working-at-waffle-house-1850664111 #Jezebel #chemtrailsoverthecountryclub #normanfuckingrockwell #entertainmentculture #karinacisnerosjuarez #didyouknowthatthere #wafflehouse #lanadelrey #starbucks #delrey #rey

Jezebel: Sex. Celebrity. Politics. With Teeth: What's Lana Del Rey Doing Working at Waffle House? https://jezebel.com/whats-lana-del-rey-doing-working-at-waffle-house-1850664111 #Jezebel #chemtrailsoverthecountryclub #normanfuckingrockwell #entertainmentculture #karinacisnerosjuarez #didyouknowthatthere #wafflehouse #lanadelrey #starbucks #delrey #rey

Jezebel: Sex. Celebrity. Politics. With Teeth: What's Lana Del Rey Doing Working at Waffle House? https://jezebel.com/whats-lana-del-rey-doing-working-at-waffle-house-1850664111 #Jezebel #chemtrailsoverthecountryclub #normanfuckingrockwell #entertainmentculture #karinacisnerosjuarez #didyouknowthatthere #wafflehouse #lanadelrey #starbucks #delrey #rey

Jezebel: Sex. Celebrity. Politics. With Teeth: What's Lana Del Rey Doing Working at Waffle House? https://jezebel.com/whats-lana-del-rey-doing-working-at-waffle-house-1850664111 #Jezebel #chemtrailsoverthecountryclub #normanfuckingrockwell #entertainmentculture #karinacisnerosjuarez #didyouknowthatthere #wafflehouse #lanadelrey #starbucks #delrey #rey

Mi amor 🥰 tan hermosa 🤩 https://youtu.be/yZwB2Xchs98 #DelRey

Mi amor 🥰 tan hermosa 🤩 https://youtu.be/yZwB2Xchs98 #DelRey

Bericht van de Twentse Delrey distillery:
Altijd al gedroomd van een eigen vat whisky, lokaal gemaakt in Twente? DAT IS NU MOGELIJK! Stuur een mail naar [email protected] om te informeren naar alle mogelijkheden. Cheers en fijn weekend!

#delreydistillery #delrey #whisky #twente #madeinthenetherlands #lokaal #mais #gerst #tarwe #passionfordistilling #dutchwhisky #eigenvatwhisky

St.バレンタイン's デイ　ですねぃ。
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#バレンタインデー
#stvalentinesday
#delrey