The Queen's Spade - Hardcover

by Sarah Raughley (Author)

"You will bow before this queen." --Sara Raasch, New York Times bestselling author of Night of the Witch

"Revenge and justice have never been so satisfying!" -- Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Lunar Chronicles

In this riveting historical thriller inspired by true-life events, Belladonna meets Bridgerton as revenge, romance, and twisted secrets take center stage in Victorian England's royal court when Sally, a kidnapped African princess and goddaughter to Queen Victoria, plots her way to take down the monarchy that stole her from her homeland.

A young lady can take only so many injuries before humiliation and insult forge a vow of revenge. . . .

The year is 1862 and murderous desires are simmering in England. Nineteen-year-old Sarah Bonetta Forbes (Sally), once a princess of the Egbado Clan, desires one thing above all else: revenge against the British Crown and its system of colonial "humanitarianism," which stole her dignity and transformed her into royal property. From military men to political leaders, she's vowed to ruin all who've had a hand in her afflictions. The top of her list? Her godmother, Britain's mighty monarch, Queen Victoria herself.

Taking down the Crown means entering into a twisted game of court politics and manipulating the Queen's inner circle--even if that means aligning with a dangerous yet alluring crime lord in London's underworld and exploiting the affections of Queen Victoria's own son, Prince Albert, as a means to an end. But when Queen Victoria begins to suspect Sally's true intentions, she plays the only card in Victorian society that could possibly cage Sally once again: marriage. Because if there's one thing Sally desires more than revenge, it's her freedom. With time running out and her wedding day looming, Sally's vengeful game of cat and mouse turns deadly as she's faced with the striking revelation that the price for vengeance isn't just paid in blood. It means sacrificing your heart.

Inspired by the true story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, Queen Victoria's African goddaughter, The Queen's Spade is a lush and riveting historical thriller for fans of This Ravenous Fate, A Dowry of Blood, and Grave Mercy.

• Based on a True Story: Inspired by the real-life Sarah Forbes Bonetta, this novel reimagines the story of Queen Victoria's African goddaughter as a thrilling tale of vengeance.
• A High-Stakes Revenge Plot: Sally has a list, and the Queen herself is at the top. She'll play a deadly game of cat and mouse within the royal court to ruin the monarchy that stole her life.
• A Morally Grey Antiheroine: Forget heroes--Sally desires one thing above all else: retribution. She'll manipulate princes and align with criminals to get what she wants, no matter the cost.
• Dangerous Alliances: To take down the Crown, Sally must step into London's underworld and forge a partnership with an alluring and powerful crime lord who has his own secrets.
• Royal Secrets and Intrigue: When the Queen suspects Sally's true intentions, she forces her into a marriage plot, turning the court into a gilded cage and a battlefield for freedom.