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The Folger Spotlight

'Queen B' by Juno Dawson

Folger Book Club convenes on Thursday, June 5 with a discussion of Queen B by Juno Dawson. To get ready for the conversation, we compiled some introductory information on this propulsive prequel to the Her Majesty’s Royal Coven trilogy.

On View: Elise Ansel
Abstract gold, grey, and red painting on a black background

On View: Elise Ansel

In this small solo exhibition, artist Elise Ansel uses a feminist framework to reinterpret Henry Fuseli’s Macbeth Consulting the Vision of the Armed Head (1793), held in the Folger collection.
Fri, Oct 3 – Sun, Nov 9, 2025
Rose Exhibition Hall

What is Queen B about?

The next spellbinding installment of Juno’s “irresistible” fantasy series Her Majesty’s Royal Coven (Lana Harper) takes us back to the reign of Henry VIII and the origins of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven under the beautiful, the bewitching, Anne Boleyn. 

It’s 1536 and the Queen has been beheaded.

Lady Grace Fairfax, witch, knows that something foul is at play—that someone had betrayed Anne Boleyn and her coven. Wild with the loss of their leader—and her lover, a secret that if spilled could spell Grace’s own end— she will do anything in her power to track down the traitor. But there’s more at stake than revenge: it was one of their own, a witch, that betrayed them, and Grace isn’t the only one looking for her. King Henry VIII has sent witchfinders after them, and they’re organized like they’ve never been before under his new advisor, the impassioned Sir Ambrose Fulke, a cold man blinded by his faith. His cruel reign could mean the end of witchkind itself. If Grace wants to find her revenge and live, she will have to do more than disappear.

She will have to be reborn.

In this gripping, propulsive, sultry short novel, Juno Dawson takes us back to the bloody beginnings of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven to show us the strength, steel and sacrifice it takes to make a sisterhood.

Critical Reception

“Giving the reader the space to feel who these characters are and why they do the things they do makes Queen B shine.”—Grimdark Magazine

“By seeing through multiple lenses of the court and of Anne Boleyn herself, Queen B manages to balance historical fiction and fantasy deftly.”—Utopia State of Mind

Why did we choose this book?

The Folger Shakespeare Library’s collection explores not only Shakespeare’s life and works, but also the plays’ historical context, source material, critical and performance histories, and the ways in which they inspire and are adapted by contemporary novelists.

Queen B offers a fun, fast-paced origin story for the popular ‘Her Majesty’s Royal Coven’ series set in the court of King Henry VIII. The mother of Queen Elizabeth I, Anne Boleyn would have been remembered by Shakespeare’s audiences and her time on the throne is shown in Shakespeare’s play, Henry VIII.

About the author: Juno Dawson

From Penguin Random House

Juno Dawson is a bestselling novelist, screenwriter, and journalist. Juno’s books include the global bestsellers, This Book is Gay and Clean. She also writes for television and has multiple shows in development both in the UK and US. An occasional actress and model, Juno appeared on HBO’s I May Destroy You.

Content Transparency

Queen B includes potentially sensitive subjects. Expand below for a full list of content (may include spoilers).

Support the Folger Shop

Photo by Erika Nizborski

Folger Book Club selections are now available through the Folger shop! Purchase online or in-person at the Folger Shakespeare Library located at 201 East Capitol St SE.

Purchase your copy of Queen B

We would like to thank the following organization for its generous support of this program

Junior League of Washington

Join us for an upcoming event

On View: Elise Ansel
Abstract gold, grey, and red painting on a black background

On View: Elise Ansel

In this small solo exhibition, artist Elise Ansel uses a feminist framework to reinterpret Henry Fuseli’s Macbeth Consulting the Vision of the Armed Head (1793), held in the Folger collection.
Fri, Oct 3 – Sun, Nov 9, 2025
Rose Exhibition Hall
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