âYou will bow before this queen.â âSara Raasch, New York Times bestselling author of Night of the Witch
âRevenge and justice have never been so satisfying!â â 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 Englandâs 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, sheâs vowed to ruin all whoâve had a hand in her afflictions. The top of her list? Her godmother, Britainâs mighty monarch, Queen Victoria herself.
Taking down the Crown means entering into a twisted game of court politics and manipulating the Queenâs inner circleâeven if that means aligning with a dangerous yet alluring crime lord in Londonâs underworld and exploiting the affections of Queen Victoriaâs own son, Prince Albert, as a means to an end. But when Queen Victoria begins to suspect Sallyâs true intentions, she plays the only card in Victorian society that could possibly cage Sally once again: marriage. Because if thereâs one thing Sally desires more than revenge, itâs her freedom. With time running out and her wedding day looming, Sallyâs vengeful game of cat and mouse turns deadly as sheâs faced with the striking revelation that the price for vengeance isnât just paid in blood. It means sacrificing your heart.
Inspired by the true story of Sarah Forbes Bonetta, Queen Victoriaâs African goddaughter, The Queenâs Spade is a lush and riveting historical thriller for fans of This Ravenous Fate, A Dowry of Blood, and Grave Mercy.