The Chosen Queen

“Arthurian legend has long been a deep well from which myriad retellings have been drawn. Davey’s first entry in her Pendragon Prophecies series adds to this body by centering Igraine, Arthur’s mother. A devoted wife to the duke of Cornwall and mother to two young daughters, Igraine is caught up in a web of life-altering political machinations when King Uther Pendragon takes notice of her. This Britain is one at the end of Roman rule, with great changes afoot. Merlin may be a powerful magician and the mysteries of the goddess celebrated, but other powers, particularly Christianity, are on the rise, and these competing systems inform much of the tragedy to come. The focus on the roles of women—Igraine and her sister Elaine, Lady of the Lake Vivian—and the futures promised by Igraine’s daughters Morgan and Morgause—may remind Arthurian fans of Marian Zimmerman Bradley’s Mists of Avalon, though the world here is more grounded in its detail and interpersonal relationships. A great opening chapter for a series providing a refreshing twist on a classic story.”
—Booklist

“Attending to gaps in the Arthurian legends with care, Sam Davey’s captivating fantasy novel The Chosen Queen delves into the dangerous web of politics, religion, and magic that led to the birth of King Arthur….Elegant and intricate, the novel fills a recent void for feminist fantasy audiences, fleshing out Igraine beyond her traditional role as a mere vessel for Arthur’s birth and refreshing the timeless atmosphere of Tintagel with everyday details….The compelling historical fantasy novel The Chosen Queen breathes life into an overlooked figure of Arthurian legend, giving her dimension and personality.”
—Foreword Reviews

“[A] welcome and refreshing retelling of the story of Igraine, mother of King Arthur, in her own voice….Complex characters who engage in behavior that is sometimes honorable and sometimes atrocious for many different reasons, and a swift unfolding of events that could be viewed as either inevitable or purposeful, drive this powerful story forward. Highly recommended for all Arthuriana fans wishing to explore or newly imagine the prequel days to the ascendancy of King Arthur through the compelling voice of one remarkable woman.”
—The Historical Novel Society

“The pain and strength of Igraine, Duchess of Cornwall and mother of the legendary King Arthur, shines vividly in these pages. Her richly drawn character is entirely relatable–across more than a thousand years. Hers is a story of a woman rising to stark challenges and refusing to be a puppet to others. It is a story heartbreakingly relevant to the present…a story that deserves to be told and is, masterfully, in The Chosen Queen.”
—Sophie Perinot, author of Medicis Daughter and coauthor of Ribbons of Scarlet

“In the tradition of Marion Zimmer Bradley, Sam Davey brings to life the tale of King Arthur’s conception from a female perspective. Igraine, a character previously little acknowledged, emerges as the titular ‘Chosen Queen,’ determined not to become a pawn in the political machinations of the Lady of the Lake, Merlin, and Uther Pendragon.”
—Judith G. Benz, Ph.D., Teaching Professor of German and University of Notre Dame’s Medieval Institute Fellow

Sam Davey is the founder of the Hastings Book Festival and Chair of the Hastings Writers Group. She is Festival Producer at Creative Tunbridge Wells and has worked as a civil servant and at the Royal Opera House. She lives with her husband on the southeast coast of England.

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