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    The Quarter Queen

    A Novel

    Author Kayla Hardy
    Hardcover
    $30.00 US
    Ballantine Group | Ballantine Books
    6.4"W x 9.53"H x 1.3"D   | 20 oz | 12 per carton
    On sale Mar 31, 2026 | 384 Pages | 9780593976760
    FOC Mar 2, 2026 | Catalog February 2026
    Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies

    A Voodoo witch must navigate a magically and racially divided nineteenth-century New Orleans to save her mother—and the soul of the city itself—in this lush debut novel inspired by the life of Marie Laveau.

    “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)

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

    In 1843 New Orleans, the reigning Voodoo queen is Marie Laveau, feared by her enemies and followers alike. Her daughter, Marie "Ree" Laveau the Second, is everything her cutthroat and principled mother is not—spoiled and entitled, with a wickedly rebellious streak—and defies her mother at every turn. But Ree’s world is turned upside down when she finds Marie comatose in the bayou, cursed by exiled Voodoo king Jon the Conjurer—Marie’s former teacher, lover, and greatest enemy.

    As Marie hovers on the brink of death, Ree races to uncover the secrets of her mother’s life in search of a cure and gradually uncovers a web of alliances, dangers, and deception. What’s worse, Henryk Broussard, Ree’s long-missing childhood best friend, returns as a witch hunter of the Church, tasked with investigating her. With so many enemies circling, including a puritanical-minded Brotherhood of alchemists and the slave-holding mayor of the city, Ree must confront the past and face her mother’s demons that have now become her own—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 portrait of a mother and daughter who have struggled all their lives to understand one another, and a captivating exploration of racism, family, and womanhood.
    © courtesy of 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. View titles by Kayla Hardy
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    “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

    “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

    “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

    About

    A Voodoo witch must navigate a magically and racially divided nineteenth-century New Orleans to save her mother—and the soul of the city itself—in this lush debut novel inspired by the life of Marie Laveau.

    “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)

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

    In 1843 New Orleans, the reigning Voodoo queen is Marie Laveau, feared by her enemies and followers alike. Her daughter, Marie "Ree" Laveau the Second, is everything her cutthroat and principled mother is not—spoiled and entitled, with a wickedly rebellious streak—and defies her mother at every turn. But Ree’s world is turned upside down when she finds Marie comatose in the bayou, cursed by exiled Voodoo king Jon the Conjurer—Marie’s former teacher, lover, and greatest enemy.

    As Marie hovers on the brink of death, Ree races to uncover the secrets of her mother’s life in search of a cure and gradually uncovers a web of alliances, dangers, and deception. What’s worse, Henryk Broussard, Ree’s long-missing childhood best friend, returns as a witch hunter of the Church, tasked with investigating her. With so many enemies circling, including a puritanical-minded Brotherhood of alchemists and the slave-holding mayor of the city, Ree must confront the past and face her mother’s demons that have now become her own—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 portrait of a mother and daughter who have struggled all their lives to understand one another, and a captivating exploration of racism, family, and womanhood.

    Creators

    © courtesy of 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. View titles by Kayla Hardy

    Praise

    “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

    “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

    “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

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