Six Wild Crowns is the first book in the historical fantasy series Queens of Elben, a Tudor inspired proposal written by Holly Race, published by Orbit Books. An excellent and possibly unique take that lifts from the inspiration of Henry VIII's wives to weave a complex epic fantasy that puts the focus on the political intrigue, in a plot that is an absolute ride built around two memorable female main characters.

Boleyn has always been driven by ambition; her defiance and boldness attracted King Henry to marry him, thinking she might be the one that gives him a son. He thinks she will be the Queen he really loves, even if all six wives are needed to maintain the bordweal around Elben.
On the other side, we have Seymour, gifted as lady-in-waiting to Queen Boleyn by other of the rival queens; not a position she desired, but her proximity to Boleyn also ends drawing Henry's attention, even if the flame that really attracts her is the one the own Boleyn's project. Eventually, we will see how Seymour is also risen to one of the six wives of Henry.
Two characters that act as the foundations and main POVs for a complex and ambitious story that will untangle the secrets behind the island and the own King's magic, the religion behind Cerunnos and how the Queens are important by themselves, with a role that is being usurped and drained in the name of Elben.

Holly Race's characters are nothing short of marvelous, complex and well-fleshed. Queen Boleyn herself is ambitious, but also brave; she's definitely in love with Henry, but also is fiercely protective of those close to her. A bit more free-spirited than other women due to her raising; we can see her going far from what she believes is correct, even sometimes taking big gambles that can backfire her.
Interestingly, Queen Seymour might start being a bit of the opposite: self-deprecating, with little trust in herself as a result of how her family always treated her as non-more than a mare that should be used to secure their position in Elben; however, we can also see how through her interactions with Boleyn, how that flame ignites Seymour's own inside, bringing change and liberating her from the chains that society put over her. Her own love for Boleyn moves her to risk all for the Queen, even if her feelings are not corresponded.
The rest of the queens have a more secondary role, however, playing key roles in a movement that is only being hinted at the ending of this novel; there's much potential in the background, especially on Queen Howard. Henry himself is ambitious, trying to secure his legacy, obsessed with having a male sibling; draining the power to fuel the expansionist dreams that will also put his name into history.

Six Wild Crowns is told using a dual POV, emphatizing the differences between Boleyn and Seymour, but also highlighting the parallels that will eventually draw them together. The setting itself is great, inspired by England but drawing also from Celtic mythology to create Elben and its customs; the whole novel takes the opportunity to examine how women are forced into roles by the society and how they are stripped of their individuality (especially in the case of the first daughters of each house, having to take the name of the house), all in order to fulfill the expectations set by men. Seeing how our characters go against those roles and unearth the truth behind Cerunnos and the bordweal is simply amazing.
Race's prose lands a bit on the purple side, with detailed descriptions, that however, makes submerging yourself into Elben extremely smooth. The pacing is a bit of a slowburn, using the first half to set up the pieces in the chessboard, but trust me, the pay-off deserves it totally.

Six Wild Crowns is an excellent novel, that takes its inspiration on the wives of Henry VIII to deliver an amazingly rich story about empowerment and breaking the mold, how collaboration is vital for it; a book that will delight those that like character driven political fantasy. A starter that leaves me longing for more of those Crowns, whose story I hope to hear next!