The Queen's Spade
by Sarah Raughley
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"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.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9780063344389
EAN:
9780063344389
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
416
Authors:
Sarah Raughley
Publisher:
HarperCollins
💕 Wards of the state. Children of the colonies. Godchildren of the Queen of England. Show pieces that say “look how progressive I am”.How much of this book is truth? The basics - sure. Queen Victoria really did have an African goddaughter, taken and given an English name and an English upbringing. The rest? I don’t know. It’s not exactly something that was taught in school.But the premise is interesting. Revenge. Revenge against those who took her from Africa. Against those who murdered her friend while she watched as a stolen child. Against those who humiliated her. Who stripped away her “Africaness” and brought her to a land where she never did fit in. All the while, telling her how lucky she was.A fabulous cast of secondary characters. Rui - a young man who chose a life in the shadows. The prince - always a disappointment of the crown. The accomplice - anything to go against her controlling mother. I’ve never hated the queen more.
The plot was intriguing. Many plot twists. Enjoyed reading it until the very end which was anticlimactic compared to the rest of the book.
Excellent story of Queen Victoria and what she did in the 1800s and the children involved from African and India countries
The Queen's Spade has the quote: "from the King of the Blacks to the Queen of the Whites". What kind of effed up compliment is that! Unfortunately it is a real quote from history. I looked up the basis of this story and Omoba Aina (Omba Ina in the book) had an interesting life. Of course, you never really know how it played out for her, but the end result def wasn't her freedom in real life. A woman, and especially a black woman's, choices and fate are never easy, especially in the 1800s.The casual insults and condescending statements by the Europeans in the book had me gasping and upset. Partly because I still hear people talk like that to and about Black people today. The crow you must eat to survive, my hats off to you Omoba (she deserves to be called her true name). Overall, I enjoyed the book and a strong female lead trying to take down a horrible cruel system that sees black and brown people as objects to control. Lots of good commentary on the slave trade and relevant view points of the aftermath.I did not like the continual references to the playing cards, but I get it you gotta draw in that book title.
Loved this! This was a joy to read. Watching Ina/Sally blaze her fiery path of revenge through Victorian England was a marvel. I loved the different set pieces as Raughley brought the time period and setting to life. And she is unflinching in calling out the horrors of the time period and laying appropriate condemnation at the feet of Queen Victoria, who is rarely held to account in fiction. Loved this.
