The Chosen Queen: speculative fiction from a feminist viewpoint

The Chosen Queen: a feminist take on Arthurian legend by local author

Sam Davey is well known in the area as the founder of Hastings Book Festival and she is also the current chair of Hastings Writers Group. Two years ago she stepped back from organising the festival in order to focus on her own writing – a series of books about Arthurian legend. The first of the Pendragon Prophecy series will be launched in Hastings next week. Erica Smith recommends you add The Chosen Queen to your summer reading list.

Sam Davey photograph by Caitlin Lock

Sam Davey is a woman of vision and action. When she realised there was potential for a feminist exploration of Arthurian legend, she thought big, pitched her idea to American publishers Diversion Books and landed a multiple book deal. The Chosen Queen is distributed in the UK by Simon and Schuster. You can hear Sam reading from the book and answering your questions at Waterstones in Hastings on 17 July.

The Chosen Queen focuses on Arthur’s mother, Igraine, who is happily married to the Duke of Cornwall and has no idea that Vivian (aka The Lady of the Lake) and Merlin have decided that she should be the woman to bear the son of King Uther Pendragon – the child who will become King Arthur.

In this bold reimagining of Arthurian legend, Igraine steps out of the shadows of myth to reclaim her story – a tale forged in magic, betrayal, and the brutal cost of prophecy.

Raised in the mystical traditions of Avalon, Igraine is more than just a princess—she’s a force of nature. Her marriage to the Cornish war duke Gorlois is one of rare passion and political unity, but when Gorlois turns his back on the old magic, cracks begin to form—not just in their bond, but in the fragile peace of Britain itself.

As kingdoms clash and alliances crumble, Igraine rises as the spiritual and political heart of Tintagel. She leads the women abandoned by war, trains her daughters in the old ways, and dares to dream of a future shaped by women’s power. But on the eve of a sacred Solstice celebration, a devastating deception will force Igraine to confront the true cost of her fate.

Sam’s decision to put a woman at the heart of her narrative instantly gives a refreshing viewpoint on a well-known legend. Whilst there are both swords and sorcery in the novel, it is a far cry from the clichés of Arthurian legend where the women are simply beautiful princesses. When the book begins, Igraine is already a mother to two young daughters and her relationships with them are described beautifully. But she is no stay-at-home-mum – she was educated by the Lady of the Lake herself – and has learned to think politically as well as to use magic.

I am not a regular reader of speculative fiction but Sam’s version of Arthurian legend absorbed me. I realised that seeing the future by ‘scrying’ into a bowl of water – or using meditation to take over the mind of a sentient creature in order to travel – is simply the science fiction of ancient times. I enjoyed the way that genuine details of early history were mixed with the fantasy elements.

The Chosen Queen is a fast and enjoyable read that set my mind buzzing with questions.

Erica Smith will be in conversation with Sam Davey at Hastings Waterstones in Priory Meadow from 5 to 6pm on Thursday 17 July. Tickets are £3 and the price is redeemable against the cost of the book. More information on the Waterstones website.
The Chosen Queen is now on sale in Waterstones and other independent bookshops – or you can listen to the audiobook version available on Audible.

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