Daughter of a fallen queen, young Princess Elizabeth lives a complicated and dangerous life. She fears her father's famous temper but loves him dearly - she would trade all her jewels just to be noticed by him! As the royal family moves palaces, court intrigue swirls around the young princess, under the threat of a French invasion... Read more

A natural storyteller with a vision of his own. THE DARK LADY, Akala's debut novel for teens, will enthuse and entertain teenagers and young adults, showing that reading is a true super-power. A PICKPOCKET WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL GIFTA PRISONER OF EXTRAORDINARY VALUE AN ORPHAN HAUNTED BY DREAMS OF THE MYSTERIOUS DARK LADYHenry is an orphan, an outsider, a thief. He is also a fifteen-year-old invested with magical powers ...This brilliant, at times brutal, first novel from the amazing imagination that is Akala, will glue you to your seat as you are hurled into a time when London stank and boys like Henry were forced to find their own route through the tangled streets and out the other side. Read more

In this thrilling adventure by bestselling author Oliver Pötzsch, thirteen-year-old Lukas has been trained as a swordsman by his father, a nobleman who was once a famed Musketeer. When the threat of war and accusations of witchcraft spread across the land, Lukas’s life is forever changed. He flees his home and vows to find his missing sister.Surviving as an outcast, Lukas encounters thieves and mercenaries, a strange astrologer, and a master swordsman. He also meets three other fencers—Giovanni, Paulus, and Jerome. Each brings a special talent to their team that leads them to the Black Musketeers, the best fighters in the army. But living with the black-armored Musketeers is nothing like they imagined. In his quest to find his sister, Lukas learns of a legendary book that holds powerful magic. As he fights to keep the Book of the Night out of the hands of his greatest enemy, Lukas discovers the secrets of his own family and what it really means to be a Musketeer. Read more

A PLAGUE - A VILLAGE - A LOCKDOWN 1665, Eyam, Derbyshire. 'Here I have set down all that I know of the Plague'It is 1665 and Mall Percival is a shepherd girl living in a Derbyshire village. She tends her flock, spends time with her best friend and teaches her young suitor to read. But one day a parcel of patterns, meant for a new dress for the pastor's wife, wings its way from London.The parcel carries an infection that spreads with horrifying speed. Herbal teas and open windows are the only defence against the sickness. Yet the villagers make a brave and selfless decision: to isolate themselves from the rest of the country. It is a lockdown that saves the neighbouring towns, but at heart-breaking cost to Mall's world.Based on the true events of the village of Eyam, this is the story of a courageous sacrifice that saved Derbyshire and beyond from a deadly virus. *SHORTLISTED FOR THE WHITBREAD PRIZE*'A pocket masterpiece' GuardianReaders love A Parcel of Patterns'I couldn't put it down''Brought me to tears too many times to count''If you think social distancing is hard in the Coronavirus pandemic, read this wonderful novel based on the true story of the village of Eyam' Read more

Their love defied kingdoms. Now, it must defy fate itself.Haunted by the memory of his forbidden love, Prince Everald risks everything to escape the suffocating grip of the English crown. With war looming and betrayal lurking in every corner, he flees the palace in disguise, shedding his title to search for the only woman who ever truly knew his heart—Abigall. Enduring grueling labor in a foreign court’s kitchen, Everald becomes a shadow among the servants, following whispers that may lead him back to her.Lady Abigall, bound to Scottish royalty and torn between loyalty and love, can’t forget the man who changed everything. Her heart still aches for Everald, but their love has placed them on a dangerous path—one where war, politics, and bloodlines threaten to tear them apart.As secrets unravel and enemies close in, Everald and Abigall must decide: will they fight for each other, or sacrifice their hearts for the sake of peace?In a world at war, love is the greatest rebellion. Read more

"A lovely, immersive, elegiac novel for a lost way of life. I revelled in the author’s gorgeous descriptions of the natural world and her knowledge of the arts of dyeing cloth using native plants, and felt as if I learned a lot from her extensive research" - Jane Johnson, author of The Black Crescent and Court of LionsThe Binding meets Weyward in this evocative 17th-century page-turnerJoan’s future looks bleak, but her new skill gives it colour…When Joan discovers her father has drunk away the family’s money, she starts to master the beautiful but tough art of cloth-dying, desperate to save her family from poverty.As her success builds, her isolation grows too - her profession stirs whispers of witchcraft, and her rivalry with her sister, Alice, deepens. But she is determined to rebuild her family’s reputation and as the colours soak into her cloth, hope starts to seep into her life too."Subtle yet powerful piece of historical fiction ... Turner's meticulous attention to historical detail but also for the clarity and simplicity with which she brings the seventeenth century to life." Goodreads, 5*"Absolutely outstanding ... Exceptional research and great authenticity transports the reader to another era” Goodreads, 5*"Excellent ... The disturbing scenarios so swiftly conjured, each short story an intriguing gem... An excellent read!" Goodreads, 5*"An unexpected treasure trove of writing. Faultless. Gently whispered, human stories with a magical, folkloric edge." Goodreads, 5*"Simply beautiful ... Left me feeling intrigued and mesmerised." Goodreads, 5* Read more

Marieke and the boys from Saint Sebastian’s are back! And they’re in for one tough winter …When 15-year-old Marieke wakes up with a blinding headache and an arrow in her chest, only one thing is certain: she’s a girl again, and one who’s now deeply indebted to her beloved Tristan’s bitter rival Taran.Marieke Verbeke has miraculously survived through the first year of Journeyman trials at the all-male archers’ guild of Saint Sebastian, the premier institution of Ardennes and the very place which must house her father’s brutal killers. Disguised as a boy and serving as a squire, against all odds she even helped the dashing young Journeyman Tristan win the honors robbed from her own father: permanent guild membership and veteran status. But she’s no closer to finding out the truth about her father’s past or to bringing his murderers to justice, and she lost her own chance to stand for Journey when she missed the apprentice trials. To make matters worse, she can’t shake the feeling that the half-remembered words of a delirious dream are trying to tell her something – it’s a warning, and in it, Tristan is in danger.Marieke made a vow to see Tristan become the prince’s next Guardsman, without ever letting him find out she’s a girl who loves him. To see her oath through to the end, she’s going to have to decipher her dream’s message — even if that means wintering with the boys at Brecelyn’s castle, where she’ll have to watch both Tristan and Taran chasing after the beautiful Melissande at close quarters. She also knows she can’t stay away from the guild forever, even though it will mean antagonizing Taran. With Tristan surely now in last place in the competition rankings, time is running out for Marieke to find a way for him to win — and to take an unexpected second chance to make her own mark on Saint Sebastian’s.All of this would be enough, but the year is 1347. With the Black Death sweeping through northern Europe, figuring out how to save Tristan from elimination while navigating a treacherous relationship with his arch-rival is soon to be the least of Marieke’s problems.The saga of Marieke continues in this second installment of the Archers of Saint Sebastian series, the story of a girl in disguise in an all-male archers’ guild in 14th-century Belgium. For fans of Robin Hood, Mulan, Twelfth Night, and Princess Bride, Squires is a light-hearted historical adventure with all the action and humor of Journeys and twice the romance! Praise for Journeys, the Archers of Saint Sebastian I:“One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. The novel is so finely crafted I savored every page … the plot holds mystery, intrigue, romance, and plenty of action. I really didn’t know what was coming next most of the time and appreciated that.” — Claudia Oltean, the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union“...[an] impressive knowledge of longbow shooting, displayed at its best in the three competitions that structure the plot. The prose is excellent.” — Historical Novel Society“This story has it all--a heroine to root for, intrigue, romance, humor, archery, & swoon-worthy boys. What more could you ask for, besides more from Jeanne Roland?" — Goodreads reviewer“I couldn't stop reading. The characters are so fun to read.” — Goodreads reviewer“This book might just become my new comfort book.” — Goodreads reviewer“The tension is breathtaking at every turn.” – Goodreads reviewer“It felt like I was reading the most romantic prose in my life.” – Goodreads reviewer“I would give it a solid 6 stars, it was breathtaking … it is by far the best book I’ve read in years. The ending was glorious!” – Goodreads reviewer Read more

CATHERINE OF ARAGON is a thrilling story-diary set among the pomp, plots and political wrangling of the Tudor court. It is 1501, and Eva is making the greatest trip of her life - from Spain to London as lady-in-waiting to the Spanish bride of Arthur, Prince of Wales, Catherine of Aragon. But Prince Arthur does not have long to live. What will happen to Catherine, his new wife, then? A thrilling story-diary set among the pomp, plots and political wrangling of the Tudor court. Read more

A bewitching and powerful tale of sparkling magic, spellbinding mystery and a friendship worth risking everything for, perfect for fans of Tamzin Merchant, Abi Elphinstone and Anna James.Thomasina and Anne are looking for adventure when their friend, Henry, disappears – snatched by a mysterious creature, and dragged into the depths of the River Thames.Determined to save him, the girls venture into the deep, and discover the enchanting Free Waters: a vast, glittering underwater city, home to mermaids and sirens. But the Free Waters are threatened by an evil Sea Queen. It is she who has Henry – and the girls must complete three treacherous and impossible magical tasks if they are to save his life …An unputdownable and exciting new tale from the bestselling author of The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair. Read more

Lady Abigall McLeod has spent her life bound by duty, her fate sealed in an arranged marriage to the stoic and ambitious Gotherum. But after the devastating loss of her brother, she longs for something more—something that feels like freedom.One fateful night, while fleeing an unexpected pursuer, she collides with a mysterious stranger in the dark. Their connection is immediate, electric, and all-consuming. What she doesn’t know is that he is Prince Everald of England—the very enemy her people are sworn to fight.Neither Abigall nor Everald reveal their true identities, and in the fleeting moments they steal together, love blossoms amidst deception and war. But as tensions between their nations rise and their secret affair grows more dangerous, betrayal lurks in the shadows. With Adelena, Everald’s cunning betrothed, plotting to secure her place at the English court, and Gotherum watching Abigall’s every move, their love may not only cost them their hearts—it may cost them their lives.Torn between love and loyalty, will Abigall choose passion or duty? Or will destiny decide for her? Read more

From the author of the bestselling Morganville Vampires series comes an exciting retelling of the classic love story, Romeo and Juliet 'A plague! A plague on both your houses!' In the Houses of Montague and Capulet, there is only one goal: power. The boys are born to fight and die for honor and - if they survive - marry for influence and money, not love. The girls are assets, to be spent wisely. Their wishes are of no import. Their fates are written on the day they are born. Benvolio Montague, cousin to Romeo, knows all this. He expects to die for his cousin, for his house, but a spark of rebellion still lives inside him. At night, he is the Prince of Shadows, the greatest thief in Verona - and he risks all as he steals from House Capulet. In doing so, he sets eyes on convent - bound Rosaline, and a terrible curse begins that will claim the lives of many in Verona - Read more

“A happy ending? Why, my boy, I positively guarantee it!”— Gilles, in Masters: The Archers of Saint Sebastian III16-year-old Marieke is hoping against hope that these words can somehow prove prophetic. But things are looking grim for her and her beloved Tristan, the boy for whom she’s been serving as a squire while in disguise as a boy at the elite Archers’ Guild of St. Sebastian. She’s sworn a sacred vow to help Tristan win the guild competitions to become the prince’s newest Guardsman, without ever letting him discover that she’s really a girl — a girl who loves him.With the final Journeyman competitions fast approaching, time is running out for Marieke to find a way to keep her oath, and to accomplish the goal for which she went to St. Sebastian’s in the first place: to learn the truth about what really happened there long ago to her father. But the hardest thing of all will surely be figuring out an answer to the question she’s been avoiding ever since she stepped foot inside the guild: what in the world can come ‘after,’ once she has to leave St. Sebastian’s?It's time for answers, revelations, and confessions —it’s time for confrontations, catastrophes, and triumphs —And most of all, it’s time for there to be a winner, and to find out once and for all who is really the best shot who’s ever been at St. Sebastian’s.Guards: The Archers of Saint Sebastian IV is the stunning conclusion of the Archers of Saint Sebastian tetralogy. This series is a continuous story, so you’ll want to have read Journeys, Squires, and Masters, before reading Guards!Praise for Journeys and the Archers of Saint Sebastian series:“This storytelling has you like a fly on the wall!” – Amazon reviewer“An absolute favorite. I just finished the three first books and I haven’t had so much delight in reading I think EVER! Funny, exhilarating, suspenseful, roooommmaaanntic. (Not in a smutty way… a melt your heart, will they or won’t they kind of way.) I am dying for book 4! … I’ve fallen in love with each of these characters and feel like I’ve been on this “journey” with them.” – Amazon reviewer“One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. The novel is so finely crafted I savored every page … the plot holds mystery, intrigue, romance, and plenty of action. I really didn’t know what was coming next most of the time and appreciated that.” — Claudia Oltean, the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union“...[an] impressive knowledge of longbow shooting, displayed at its best in the three competitions that structure the plot. The prose is excellent.” — Historical Novel Society“I couldn't stop reading. The characters are so fun to read.” — Goodreads reviewer“This book might just become my new comfort book.” — Goodreads reviewer“The tension is breathtaking at every turn.” – Goodreads reviewer“I would give it a solid 6 stars, it was breathtaking … it is by far the best book I’ve read in years!” – Goodreads reviewer“This story is riveting. So well written with deep characters and realistic adventures. I have reread this series many times. As an avid reader, I get tired of the same old plots. This is refreshingly new. The angst. . . Oh the angst.” – Amazon reviewer“This is the best series of books I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited! I can’t believe I got to read them for free because they are quality writing! No cookie cutter plot or characters in these books, just great originality and superb writing. I’ve read each multiple times!” — Amazon reviewer“A MASTERPIECE in every way. A MASTERPIECE that ranks among ALL beautifully-written books, right up there with the literary jewels of the masters.” – Amazon reviewer Read more

For fans of The Selection and the Bachelor TV Series.“Sweet and wholesome while also holding a fair amount of slow-burn, spicy romantic zest.”-Reader Views-------The Royal Matchmaking Competition: Prince ZadkielOne prince charming searching for his true love.Twelve beautiful damsels, elves, a dwarf & a commoner competing for the prince's hand in marriage.One shadow lurking behind the scenes, trying to assassinate the royal family and take control of the empire.Warning: if you’re susceptible to falling in love with handsome and charming princes, turn back now or you’ll never recover. Prince Zadkiel’s charismatic personality will have you begging for more. Read at your own risk!--Extended BlurbPrince Zadkiel has to find a wife to fulfill a treaty. Twelve damsels from all over the realm enter a competition to test their compatibility with the prince. The winner of the daily competition enjoys a private date with him in the hopes of being chosen as his bride. But the stakes grow higher when different kingdoms expect Zadkiel to chose their daughter . . . or else.A dark figure keeps following them around and begins to attack the contestants and the prince on their dates. Meanwhile, the cities wanting to liberate themselves from the empire, take advantage of the situation and attempt to make a final stand against the crown. The charming fae prince soon realizes there’s a possibility he’ll never inherit the throne or get the chance to choose his bride.--A brilliant romantic comedy about an elven prince searching for true love as twelve beautiful maidens compete for his attention. This slow-burn romance is about love, internal discovery, and achieved with a dash of humor.Readers DO NOT need to read book one of the series first. This story starts off with fresh new characters and a few occasional returning.--A sense of humor & amusement required.Genres: romantic comedy, young adult, fae romance, royalty fiction, elves, fairy tales & folklore, rom-com, slow burn, Renaissance, historical fiction, social issues, civil and human rights issues, marriage, coming of age.No triggers: no cussing or sexually explicit content. PG13 appropriate. Read more

A harsh winter is coming. With it, a dark and pitiless magic…Lukas wants only two things: to rebuild his castle home in time to make it through the coming winter and to reconnect with the sister who was stolen from him in a plot against his family.But then an astrologer appears with foreboding news: his old adversary, Inquisitor Waldemar von Schönborn, has stolen three royal artifacts, which are required to coronate a new German emperor. With these valuable objects—the sword, the crown, and the scepter—he could blackmail the empire. The treasures are currently hidden in three different places in the old imperial city of Prague.To protect his homeland and help him find the artifacts, Lukas will need his three best friendsu—all members of the elite fighting group known as the Black Musketeers. He’ll also need his feisty little sister, Elsa, whose magical gifts may be the key to stopping the inquisitor’s latest scheme.They head for Prague immediately, but the adventure that awaits them there will put their courage and their friendship to the ultimate test. Read more

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRANFORD BOASE AWARD NOMINATED FOR THE 2022 CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL Set in the 17th century, a breathtaking debut, and a potential prize-winner, about the power of women, witchcraft, fury, revenge and the ties that bind us. After witnessing the brutal murder of her mother by witch-hunters, Evey vows to avenge her and track down the killers. Fury burns in her bright and strong. But she has promised her mother that she will keep Dill, her little sister, safe.As the lust for blood and retribution rises to fever pitch, will Evey keep true to the bonds of sisterhood and to the magick that is her destiny?Praise for Witch: 'A story that captures sibling rivalry so perfectly and tells its tale so beautifully I didn't want it to finish' JASBINDER BILAN'Raw, mystical and beautifully told. A striking debut' KIRSTY APPLEBAUM'An assured debut of sisterhood and fury' THE BOOKSELLER'A book filled with enchantment, in every sense. Dark, exciting and pacy, Witch brilliantly balances magic and realism' ANTHONY MCGOWAN, author of Carnegie-winning LARK'There is real magic here, though what leaps off the page is the creepy atmosphere and the raw emotion of a grieving, raging girl ... Perfect reading for a dark, stormy night' IRISH TIMES WEEKEND Read more

“I’ve recently sworn to make a whole string of impossibilities possible this year”— Marieke (disguised as the squire Marek)Marieke Verbeke has survived a tough winter packed with plague, violence, bitter disappointment, and heartache. But like her beloved archers’ guild of Saint Sebastian, though she may be battered, she’s not broken. Everything she’s suffered has left her more determined than ever to help handsome Journeyman archer Tristan defeat his arch-rival Taran in the guild archery competitions. Only the six best boys are left, with two more to be cut in the upcoming trial. The problem is, Tristan is currently at the bottom of the rankings. Keeping him from elimination will take more than a brilliant plan — it’ll take a miracle. But with the help of some old friends and some new faces, there is one thing of which Marieke is certain: she’s going to find a way to make Tristan the prince’s newest Guardsman — even if it means having to face down the boy who broke her heart in the process.Join Marieke and all your favorite boys from Saint Sebastian’s as they head into their veteran year of competitions in this exciting third installment of the Archers of Saint Sebastian tetralogy.Old mysteries will be solved and new questions raised, as our dauntless heroine proves that when you hit rock bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up from the ashes.Masters is part of a continuous four-book series. If you’re new to the adventure, you’ll want to start with Journeys: the Archers of Saint Sebastian. Read more

One of the best-loved adventures of all time.When young D'Artagnan comes to Paris to seek his fortune, he is challenged to a duel with not one, but three of the king's Musketeers. But Athos, Porthos and Aramis become his trusted friends as he tries to prove himself worthy of becoming a fourth Musketeer. Read more

No one looks kindly on the killer of a king."Fast-paced and refreshing." - SLJ, starred review"The perfect blend of history and dark fantasy." - Mary Taranta, author of Shimmer and Burn"Thrilling, romantic, and addictive." - Rosalyn Eves, author of Blood Rose Rebellion"The only cure is to finish it." - Lyndsay Ely, author of Gunslinger GirlAfter unwittingly helping her mother poison King Louis XIV, seventeen-year-old alchemist Mirabelle Monvoisin is forced to see her mother's Shadow Society in a horrifying new light: they're not heroes of the people, as they've always claimed to be, but murderers. Herself included. Mira tries to ease her guilt by brewing helpful curatives, but her hunger tonics and headache remedies cannot right past wrongs or save the dissenters her mother vows to purge. Royal bastard Josse de Bourbon is more kitchen boy than fils de France. But when the Shadow Society assassinates the Sun King and half of the royal court, he must become the prince he was never meant to be in order to save his injured sisters and the petulant dauphin. Forced to hide in the sewers beneath the city, Josse's hope of reclaiming Paris seems impossible--until his path collides with Mirabelle's. She's a deadly poisoner. He's a bastard prince. They are sworn enemies, yet they form a tenuous pact to unite the commoners and former nobility against the Shadow Society. But can a rebellion built on mistrust ever hope to succeed? Read more

A fallen aristocratic teenager is forced to live on the violent streets of Tudor London. Facing betrayal, famine, freezing weather, and the vicious street gangs that terrorise the city, John Howard faces the fight of his life in order to survive and prove his innocence.England, 1536. As the son of a rich earl, hardship is something sixteen-year-old John Howard has never known. But his privileged life descends into chaos when his vindictive stepmother accuses him of poisoning her older child. And when his father declares him guilty and prepares to banish him to France, John flees his punishment into the capital’s cutthroat alleyways.With his fortunes turned, the now-lowly street urchin spends his time dodging brutal gangs and evading execution in the shadows with an outlawed group of homeless kids. But the runaway young man must rise up from his dark existence to lead an attack for vengeance when a group of his friends are hunted down and murdered.Can this exiled noble save his misfit crew from a cruel death among the cobblestones?John Howard and the Underlings is the thrilling first book in the John Howard Tudor historical fiction series. If you like Renaissance settings, unlikely leaders, and rediscovering family, then you’ll love J.C. Jarvis’s gritty tale.Buy John Howard and the Underlings to survive a dangerous bloodline today! Read more

A gorgeous historical novel inspired by an iconic symbol of Italy, from the grand dame of the genre. Evocative and full of passion, Tilt is perfect for fans of the romantic era.Pisa, 1299. In the male-dominated world of Renaissance Italy, Netta is an ambitious young woman and the last in the line of a great family of sculptors and stone-carvers. Determined to throw off the shackles of marriage, Netta sets out to take up her family's legacy and work on fixing the city's leaning tower. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 12+ Read more