Is “The Queen Who Crowns” Based on a Novel?

I went down a full-blown rabbit hole trying to figure it out myself. If you’re watching The Queen Who Crowns and thinking, This has to be based on some epic novel, right?, I hear you. I thought the same thing.

This drama is packed with so much palace intrigue, cutthroat power moves, and slow-burn tension that I was fully convinced it came straight from the pages of a historical masterpiece.

But plot twist: The Queen Who Crowns is not based on a novel.

Nope. Not a book, not a webtoon, not even a dusty old manuscript locked away in a palace archive.

It was written specifically for television—which means the only way to experience its brilliance is by watching it unfold on screen.

Royal Power Plays: The Real History Behind The Drama

I was convinced this had to be based on some grand historical novel, but nope!

The Queen Who Crowns is rooted in real Korean history, specifically the Joseon Dynasty, and trust me, the real events are just as intense as the drama. And if you’re not familiar with Joseon-era politics—it was a ruthless era where family loyalty could turn into betrayal overnight, and queens weren’t just pretty ornaments in the palace.

And let me tell you, Queen Wongyeong was that woman. She wasn’t just some decorative royal sitting around sipping tea—oh no. She was a power player, pulling strings behind the scenes like a seasoned political mastermind.

How did I not know this woman existed sooner? She navigated a world where even the slightest misstep could mean exile—or worse.

How did I not know this woman existed sooner? She navigated a world where even the slightest misstep could mean exile—or worse.

And yet, she held her own, influencing royal politics in ways that still have historians talking. If I had a time machine, I’d be in Joseon, watching her in action firsthand.

Her husband, Yi Bang-won (future King Taejong), wasn’t just swinging swords on the battlefield—he was surviving in a brutal political system where power was never guaranteed.

In fact, the infamous ‘First Strife of Princes’ was a bloody power struggle that saw Yi Bang-won eliminate his own brothers to secure his place as the next king. Talk about high-stakes family drama! The drama doesn’t just hint at royal tension; it dives headfirst into a world where loyalty is fleeting, and ambition rules everything.

This isn’t some fluffy love story with a tiara-wearing damsel. It’s a gritty, high-stakes political drama about a queen who refused to be a footnote in history.

Why This Drama Feels Like A Bestseller In Motion

I totally get it—I had the exact same thought and even Googled it mid-episode to check if I had missed some secret bestseller. The drama gives major book-to-screen adaptation vibes, and I was fully convinced I had missed some literary gem. Here’s why:

• A Leading Lady Who Steals the Show – Queen Wongyeong isn’t just the king’s wife; she’s a force of nature. Smart, strategic, and fearless, she plays the game better than half the men in the palace—and she’s not afraid to let them know it. I found myself rooting for her like she was my best friend, screaming at the screen every time she outmaneuvered another political rival.
• Palace Politics That Keep You Up at Night – Secret alliances, betrayals, and a throne hanging by a thread? This drama has enough tension to make you forget to blink. If it were a novel, it would be one of those all-nighters where you tell yourself, Just one more chapter… until the sun comes up. Been there, done that.
• The Emotional Gut Punch – The relationships are complex, the stakes are sky-high, and the heartbreak is real. If this were a novel, it would be the kind that leaves you clutching your chest, staring at the ceiling, wondering how fictional characters just wrecked your entire soul. Trust me, I’ve had to pause more than once just to breathe after certain scenes.

From Joseon To Your Screen: The History Behind The Hype

Even without a book to flip through, the scriptwriters of The Queen Who Crowns have pulled off something magical. They’ve taken real history, sprinkled in some dramatization, and turned it into a series that feels like it belongs on the bestseller list.

And let me be honest with you—just because there’s no novel now doesn’t mean I won’t be first in line to buy it if someone decides to write one. If a book adaptation ever drops, I’m buying it immediately, no questions asked.

I can already picture myself curled up with a warm drink, annotating every single power move and heart-wrenching moment.

She was one of the few queens in Korean history who actively influenced royal politics, despite a society that tried to keep women in the shadows.

I’ll be trying to piece together every real-life historical event like it’s my new obsession. She was one of the few queens in Korean history who actively influenced royal politics, despite a society that tried to keep women in the shadows.

That, my friends, is why this drama feels so groundbreaking. (Been there. No regrets. Would do it again.)

The Verdict: No Novel? No Problem!

Nope, The Queen Who Crowns isn’t based on a novel. But honestly? It might as well be. With its gripping storytelling, compelling characters, and deliciously intense drama, it gives us everything we love about historical fiction—just in visual form.

Now, let me ask you—would you read this story if it were a novel? Because I’d be the first to pre-order it and annotate every single page. Let’s be real, I’d probably start a book club just to talk about it non-stop.

So tell me—would you read this if it were a novel? Or are you just as obsessed with Googling historical figures after watching K-dramas as I am?

Drop your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe for more K-drama deep dives!