The Quarter Queen, Kayla Hardy
The Quarter Queen, Kayla Hardy
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The Quarter Queen

Author: Kayla Hardy

Narrator: Angel Pean, Adenrele Ojo

Unabridged: 16 hr 16 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/31/2026


Synopsis

Sinners meets The Witcher in this debut fantasy novel of two witches battling for the soul of New Orleans—an “intoxicating” mix of magic, love, and intrigue (Sarah Penner, The Lost Apothecary).

“A riveting read that does not shy away from both the light and the dark aspects of the supernatural.”—Essence (Most Anticipated Books of 2026)

A Book Riot, Reactor, and Read Between the Spines Best Book of the Month Pick!

All are welcome to see the Quarter Queen in her forbidden court . . . at your own peril.

In 1843 New Orleans, Voodoo queen Marie Laveau is feared by all. Her rebellious daughter Ree defies her mother at every turn, until she finds Marie comatose under a wicked curse cast by exiled Voodoo king Jon the Conjurer—Marie’s former teacher, lover, and greatest enemy.

As Ree uncovers dark secrets and faces dangerous enemies, including her childhood friend turned witch hunter, she must confront her mother’s past and her own destiny—or die trying.

Told in alternating timelines between Ree in the present and Marie’s rise to power twenty-five years earlier, The Quarter Queen is an intimate yet epic tale of love, family, power, and the deadly cost of correcting the sins of the past.

About The Author

Kayla Hardy is a mythology expert and multi-hyphenate author and screenwriter of Louisiana Creole descent. She earned her PhD in creative writing and African American literature from SUNY Binghamton University. Dr. Hardy is an adjunct professor at SUNY Binghamton University and is an accomplished scholar of Black folklore, mythology, and Voodoo. The Quarter Queen is her first novel.


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Quotes

“An edgy, intoxicating novel pulsing with the dark heartbeat of 1840s New Orleans and a fiery mother-daughter dynamic I won’t soon forget . . . Readers will devour this!”—Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary

“A riveting read that does not shy away from both the light and the dark aspects of the supernatural, while highlighting aspects of New Orleans’ history.”Essence

“The perfect historical fantasy with a supernatural flair. Full of political intrigue, Voodoo, betrayals and alliances, and a complex mother-daughter dynamic, Kayla Hardy has written a tale for the ages.”Ms. Magazine

“Kayla Hardy’s meditation on maternal legacy and political intrigue, flavored with a heaping spoonful of Creole Voodoo, is truly something special.”—Todd Harris, creator of Eyes of Wakanda

“A mesmerizing tale of a Voodoo queen and her daughter, secret magic orders, religious persecution, political intrigue, and a slave rebellion in the making—a fantastic read that left me wanting more!”—P. Djèlí Clark, Nebula Award–winning author of A Master of Djinn

“Fans of Anne Rice’s vampire novels will love this eventful imagining of the coming-of-age of Marie (‘Ree’) Laveau II, the heir to the spiritual legacy of the famous Marie Laveau, the ‘Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.’”—Historical Novel Society

“A vibrant and dazzling historical fantasy, this rich and absorbing novel captivated me from the first page to the last.”—Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of Ariadne

The Quarter Queen is a delight. It is the sort of book I read slowly because such novels are few and far between these days. Kayla Hardy is an incredible talent—a gifted storyteller with rich, generous, bold prose—and utterly fearless.”—Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, author of A Girl Is a Body of Water

“This incredibly lush tale brings new life to an iconic figure from American history. . . . A beautiful, atmospheric debut.”—O. O. Sangoyomi, author of Masquerade

“Hardy’s debut historical fantasy is steeped in the magic of Black folklore, featuring several Voodoo spirits and competing forms of magic. The book builds suspense with several moving parts, two different perspectives, and plenty of revelations to keep readers turning pages. Perfect for fans of Nalo Hopkinson and Leslye Penelope.”Booklist