Book Review: The Quarter Queen by Kayla Hardy
Kayla Hardy’s *The Quarter Queen* reimagines the legendary Marie Laveau as the powerful Queen of the Quarter in mid‑1800s New Orleans, weaving magic‑laden fantasy with a meticulously researched historical backdrop. The novel follows Laveau and her daughter Ree as they navigate a looming omen, an inquisitor threat, and the fraught politics of a racially divided city. Hardy’s immersive prose delves into the complex mother‑daughter relationship, the nuances of power and privilege, and the precarious freedoms afforded to Black women in antebellum society. The book positions itself as a bold addition to the growing demand for diverse speculative fiction.
Author Spotlight: Melissa A Watkins
Melissa A. Watkins explains the genesis of her speculative short "Sarah’s Laugh," noting that the story’s surname Prosser nods to Gabriel’s Rebellion, an 1800 slave uprising in Virginia. She describes how early drafts were far more violent before she reshaped...