I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Queen's Spade by Sarah Raughley Published by HarperTeen on January 14, 2025
Genres: YA Historical Fiction
Pages: 416
Source: the publisher
Format: E-galley
My Rating:
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Blurb:
In this riveting historical thriller that’s loosely inspired by true life events, The Count of Monte Cristo 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 that the price for vengeance isn’t just paid in blood. It means sacrificing your heart.
Loosely 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 perfect for fans of A Dowry of Blood and Grave Mercy.
My Review
Wow, this book was intense, and so so dark and full of anger and Sally’s revenge schemes and also her dream of freedom. As it says at the end of the blurb, it is loosely based on a true person. And there are so many real moments from history in it, the author did a great job of weaving true history with incredible and dark possibilities to create this tale. Reading all of Sally’s experiences that made her the way she was in this story made my heart hurt, and also made me root for her plans as well.
Yes, it is something to look and see that maybe people had reasons for the things they did. But oh the things that were done to her, as well as other people similar to her, it made it easy to understand her thirst for violence and ruin of these people who had treated her this way. So many detailed plans, things that would not be thought of this day maybe, but fit in well with the way people behaved and the things they valued in those days. Their good names, their connection to the Queen or royal family, their own wealth even.
I’ve read another book by this author and was also captured to where I could barely put it down. Obviously the author has taken these people and built a whole world of things that aren’t what really happened. But she makes it so that I wanted and did go start looking up all I could find about the names of people and if they existed and how they lived if they did. I would say another hard hitting, winning historical fiction form Sarah Raughley for sure.
About the Author
Sarah Raughley is the Nigerian-Canadian author of the Effigies series and
the Bones of Ruin trilogy. An AuroraAward finalist, Raughley is also an
English pro-fessor and public intellectual who has written for journals
such as the Walrus, CBC, and Teen Vogue. Her creative work is inspired by a messy confluence of experiences, from being a huge fan girl blerd to being a postcolonial researcher and academic.
You can find out more about her work at sarahraughley.com.
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I think I would probably love this too. I love that time period and I don’t think ice read Sarah Raughley before, but now I want to😁
It was really good! You should give this one a try!
Not my preferred genre but I enjoyed your review!
Thanks!
I love it when an author incorporates real historic events into a story and when that story captures my attention so much I don’t want to put it down, too!
Same!
Great pic Lisa. I think I’d love this for the historical bits of history weaved throughout.
Obviously a lot of this was made up, but based on the true events, you could totally see someone wanting revenge!