She forgot sometimes that they were not as the others. They were not women, or ladies, or girls. They were something primeval; something fundamental; as unforgiving as the desert sun or frozen tundra. They were witches. [loc. 1107]
This novella is a prequel to Dawson's 'Her Majesty's Royal Coven' series (of which I've read and enjoyed Her Majesty's Royal Coven, the first book). Queen B is set in 1536 and begins with the beheading of Anne Boleyn, mourned by the remaining witches in her coven. Lady Grace Fairfax is determined to wreak vengeance on the woman she holds responsible for Anne's death; Jane Rochford, Anne's sister-in-law, is now the de facto leader of the coven; and the traitor witch who claims to have Cromwell's ear is fleeing for her life.
The story alternates between 1526, when Grace first came to court, and 1536, when witchhunters such as Ambrose Fulke stalk the ladies of the coven. Court life, with its machinations and alliances, is vividly depicted, though the witches also venture into the slums of Bermondsey to hear a prophet speak.
I found this rather disappointing. It didn't have the verve of the modern-day setting, and some of the dialogue was horribly anachronistic ('show ponies', 'see you later for a bevy', 'it's OK'). If the book had been longer, perhaps the characters could have been explored in more depth: as it was, only Grace, Jane and Cecilia really came to life. The ending -- with Grace assuming a new name to care for the infant Elizabeth -- is intriguing, and might be the start of a new series. Queen B, however, doesn't really explore the genesis of the covens. An overly narrow glimpse of an interesting world.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance review copy, in exchange for this full honest review. UK Publication Date is 18 JUL 2024.
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