The Chosen Queen Format: Hardback

Before the sword in the stone, before the rise of Arthur, there was Igraine—the woman whose choices would shape the fate of Camelot.

In this bold, feminist 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.

At a royal gathering, King Uther Pendragon’s lust for Igraine ignites a firestorm. When he acts on his obsession, it triggers a chain of war and treachery that Merlin claims is foretold by prophecy: Igraine is fated to bear the Once and Future King. But destiny has a dark price.

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—Morgause and Morgan—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.

Chosen by the Goddess, the King, and prophecy—Igraine must ultimately choose herself. And with that choice, she will unleash a legacy of love and vengeance that echoes through the ages.

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.