The Queen's Command - by Sarah Raughley (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The Inheritance Games meets Bridgerton in the riveting companion novel to The Queen's Spade, where our heroine must play a deadly game and risk everything to get to the truth that's poisoning Victorian England's royal court.

Favored by Queen Victoria, Vicky Davies has survived royal courts, financial ruin, and the loss of her mother, Sarah Forbes Bonetta -- the famous African princess turned royal goddaughter -- but Cheltenham Ladies' College is about to test her in new and wicked ways.

Every Thursday evening, the senior girls play a secret game and Vicky just became their latest pawn. Truths must be confessed, commands obeyed, and whoever claims the coveted title of winner will have her wish granted, no matter how outrageous and seemingly impossible it may be.

But when the game yields frightening and fatal results, Vicky vows to put an end to this ghoulish tradition that twists minds and makes enemies out of friends. With dangerous foes closing in and truths that could shatter her world clawing to the surface, Vicky must uncover the secrets buried not only in Cheltenham but by her own mother. In a school where survival is a gamble, will she emerge victorious -- or fall victim to its deadly game?

Review Quotes

"With a voice that pulls you in from the very first page, Sarah Raughley has penned an inventive thriller that defiantly looks history in the eye." - Angie Thomas, New York Times bestselling author

"A thrilling and emotionally layered novel about a young woman of infamous parentage, entangled in a high-stakes game of truth or dare. The Queen's Command isn't just a story of revenge and but also one of reconciliation, growth, and self-discovery." - Krystal Marquis, New York Times bestselling author of The Davenports Series

"Delivers a rich blend of political intrigue, elegant prose, and character-driven tension, anchored by a spirited heroine navigating a world of power and control." - Ryan Douglass, New York Times bestselling author of The Taking of Jake Livingston

"A harrowing story for when revenge on your enemies isn't enough--you need vengeance against history itself." - Jenni Howell, New York Times bestselling author of Boys with Sharp Teeth

"Every page brims with rage and grief, but the only thing more harrowing than Ina's journey is the knowledge that it was based in reality. You will bow before this queen." - Sara Raasch, New York Times bestselling author of Night of the Witch

"Murder, desire, and Machiavellian plotting combine in this unflinching page-turner. Revenge and justice have never been so satisfying!" - Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lunar Chronicles

"Bold, incisive, and deliciously ruthless. Revenge catharsis at its finest." - Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Imogen, Obviously

"A gripping exploration of revenge, justice, and the fierce power of feminine rage." - June Hur, New York Times bestselling author of A Crane Among Wolves

"A thoughtful, powerful, unputdownable adventure!" - Kamilah Cole, bestselling author of So Let Them Burn and This Ends in Embers

"Raughley deftly weaves together information about and critiques of colonialism, power, and racism. The novel's true strength is Sally's character development: Arya Stark meets Starr Carter, weaving a web of destruction despite her grief in order to reclaim her dignity. Revenge, murder, and political intrigue will captivate readers." - Kirkus Reviews

"Formidable narrator Ina and her campaign foster drive and dread while the brilliantly rendered, racially diverse supporting cast injects conflict at every turn." - Publishers Weekly

"This has all the drama of a pure vengeance thriller, and Ina is an absolute stellar anti-hero, unrelentingly ruthless and terrifyingly capable." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A vivid and vicious historical revenge thriller" - Booklist

"If you appreciate shows like Shonda Rhimes' Queen Charlotte or movies like Amma Asante's Belle, you will fly through the pages of this riveting historical novel." - Essence

"Introduces readers to an incredible true story and broadens it into a powerful tale that readers seeking historical fiction and high-stakes mystery are sure to enjoy." - BookPage (starred review)