Writing Powerful Queens, Kings, and Rulers in Fantasy

“Power doesn’t corrupt. It reveals.” — Often true in life, always true in fiction.

Let’s be honest: we’ve all read a fantasy book where the so-called “ruler” is more cardboard than crown. Bland, stiff, and strangely uninspiring — even though they supposedly command empires. But when it’s done right? A fantasy queen or king can be utterly magnetic. You remember them. You quote them. You might even accidentally start modeling your own confidence after them (I’ve been there).

Writing a powerful ruler isn’t just about giving them a title, a throne, or an entourage of whispering advisors. It’s about crafting someone who feels like they belong in power — and then challenging the hell out of that power.

Let’s dig into what makes a monarch memorable — and how you can write one that reigns over your reader’s imagination.

👑 Power Is More Than Position

Powerful rulers don’t just inherit their authority. They wear it, wield it, and sometimes wrestle with it. Whether your queen was born into the role, conquered it, or had it thrust upon her, her presence must earn the reader’s respect.

Ask yourself:

• How do they carry themselves?
• How do others react in their presence?
• Do they inspire fear, admiration, loyalty — or all three?

A ruler’s power isn’t just about political control. It’s emotional, psychological, and symbolic. When they speak, people listen. When they act, kingdoms shift. And when they fall? That tremor should ripple through your entire story world.

🧠 Rulers Are Strategists First

Real power means long games, not tantrums. A well-written ruler understands diplomacy, leverage, timing, and sacrifice. Even if they rule by sword, they know when to smile — and when to strike.

Give them depth:

• What’s their ultimate goal?
• What lines won’t they cross — and which ones are just blurry suggestions?
• Who do they trust, and who’s just a useful pawn?

Think of Queen Sabran from The Priory of the Orange Tree — layered, conflicted, vulnerable beneath all the poise. Or Nyktos in A Shadow in the Ember, whose godly power doesn’t erase his doubts, or his very calculated use of threats and warmth.

We remember rulers who are three steps ahead — but still fallible enough to surprise us.

👸 Emotion Is Not a Weakness

This is especially crucial for queens or female rulers. Power doesn’t have to come at the expense of femininity, softness, or emotional complexity. Some of the most iconic fictional rulers feel deeply — love, rage, guilt — and that doesn’t lessen their strength. It amplifies it.

Don’t strip your character of emotion to prove their authority. Show how they channel it:

• Grief turned into justice.
• Rage held like a weapon.
• Love used to bind allies or break enemies.

Think of how Feyre evolves into High Lady in A Court of Mist and Fury — her emotions are her transformation. Her vulnerability becomes her authority.

🏰 The Throne Is a Cage (or a Crown of Thorns)

Great rulers aren’t just powerful. They’re trapped by that power. Every decision carries weight. Every misstep has consequences. Show us the pressure.

Let your characters wrestle with:

• The loneliness of command.
• The burden of expectation.
• The fear of losing everything they built.

And then let them choose anyway. That’s where real power lives — in choice.

Even the most tyrannical ruler should believe they’re the hero of their own story. Power can corrupt, sure — but it can also clarify. Show the costs. Show the justifications. Show the cracks.

⚔️ Power in Action

Dialogue and description matter, but we believe in rulers because of what they do. Use scenes that:

• Show them making difficult decisions.
• Put them in conflict with their council, their heirs, or their conscience.
• Test their values under fire.

Let their strength be proven, not told. A king who weeps privately but commands clearly? That’s compelling. A queen who gambles everything on a final siege, not because she wants glory — but because she believes no one else will? That’s unforgettable.

💬 Final Thoughts

When I write rulers, I start with this question: would I follow them? Not just because they’re strong — but because they’re real. Flawed. Brilliant. Burdened. Dangerous. Necessary.

Make your rulers unforgettable by making them fully human — even when they’re not. Show their control, but also their chaos. Their leadership, but also their loneliness. Give them thrones, yes — but give them stories that demand they deserve it.

That’s how you write powerful queens, kings, and rulers in fantasy.