Julia is a professional nerd who can be spotted in the wild lounging with books in the park in Brooklyn, NY. She has a BA in International Studies from the University of Chicago and an MA in Media Studies from Pratt Institute. She loves fandom, theater, cheese, and Edith Piaf. Find her at juliarittenberg.com.
From the author of the bestselling Clytemnestra comes another intoxicating excursion into ancient history, bringing to life the brutal and captivating world of Assyria—and the one destined to rule it. This is the story of an orphan girl raised on the outskirts of an empire, the governor she married, and the king who loved them both. Caught up in politics and violence, she trains in war and diplomacy. And with each move, she rises in rank, embroiled in a game of power, desire, and betrayal, until she ascends to the only position that will ever keep her safe: Queen.
There are 43 countries today with existing monarchies. Fifteen countries fall under the Commonwealth of Nations of the United Kingdom, so they still acknowledge King Charles III as head of state (for now). One of the great disappointments of these contemporary monarchies is that they’re rarely as fun as fictional portrayals of court intrigue. In real life, the prospect of a divinely ordained ruler taking over sounds like a prank. Most monarchies are symbolic in nature these days.
One of my favorite historical romance authors, KJ Charles, often uses the structure of the aristocracy to criticize class inequality in the United Kingdom throughout the past. Historical novels are an excellent method of reckoning with the past, and historical fiction with court intrigue is a great way to peel back the curtain on the monarchy.
For the purposes of fiction, court is a powder keg of competing desires and status seekers. Court could be an entirely closed environment: your reputation within the walls of a castle was extremely important. Courtiers were jostling for the monarch’s favor or plotting to undermine the current ruler to install another in power.
Historical novels with court intrigue span countries and historical periods, so there are plenty to satisfy cravings for juicy royal in-fighting. Here are but a few excellent titles for your TBR.
Ancient History
Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel
This book integrates a royal plot with mythological fantasy. Ganga, goddess of the river, marries a king after she’s cursed to live as a mortal. The young deities who lived by the river in her goddess domain pissed off the wrong sage, so during her marriage, she gave birth to a prince. Prince Devavrata is Ganga’s son and, unfortunately, is stuck with the effects of her curse too. Even though she has to leave him, Ganga still does her best to protect her son from the curse and the court.
Empress by Shan Sa
Empress Wu was the only empress in China’s dynastic history. During the reign of the Tang Dynasty in the seventh century, the imperium was extremely powerful. Before she was empress, the young Heavenlight Wu had to work her way up through the court from concubine to nun, to emperor’s favorite, and finally to ruler of China.
Medieval Plots
A Court of Betrayal by Anne O’Brien
The history of royals jostling for power and overthrowing each other has far-reaching implications outside the throne room. In the early 1300s, when Queen Isabella overthrew her husband Edward II, she took power with her lover, Roger Mortimer, at her side. In this story, we get the story of the wife Roger left behind in the Welsh Marches, Joan de Geneville. When Isabella and Roger’s regime crumbles, Joan is forced to fight for her survival amidst the battle for dominance in the English court.
The Royal Rebel by Elizabeth Chadwick
During one of England and France’s many conflicts in the 1300s, the king’s cousin, Jeanette of Kent, travels to Belgium for an aristocratic marriage. When she arrives, she falls in love with Thomas Holland, a knight. Despite their different stations, they fall in love and get married. Thomas then goes to war, and Jeanette is forced to marry again. When Thomas returns from war, they have to fight for their union to be recognized.
The King’s Mother by Annie Garthwaite
The Wars of the Roses were bloody and full of dramatic betrayals in the interest of power. This book follows King Edward when he gained power in 1461 at age 18 with the help of his mother, Cecily. She’s committed to keeping her son in power and fighting off every challenge to his power and threat to his life.
Bring Up the Bodies by Hillary Mantel
The follow-up to her amazing novel Wolf Hall, this book is Hillary Mantel’s compelling examination of the dissolution of Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne Boleyn. After upending the entirety of England to marry Anne, Henry’s eyes wander again. Anne Boleyn and her family square up against Thomas Cromwell, who’s raring to bring her down so Henry VIII can marry Jane Seymour instead. The court of Henry VIII was full of backstabbing and conspiracy, and it’s an even wilder ride with Mantel’s prose.
1800s and on
Empress Orchid by Anchee Min
In the Forbidden City in the waning days of the Ch’ing Dynasty, jostling for the emperor’s favor is a dangerous game. Tzu Hsi, also known as Orchid, arrives there as a teenager to establish her fortune. She joins the court as a member of the emperor’s harem and trains herself in the art of seduction to gain his favor. After she gives birth to a son for the emperor, she becomes the Empress and even takes power, ruling in the place of her regent son after the Emperor is killed in a coup.
The Diary of Sarah Forbes Bonetta: A Novel by Victoria Princewill
The real Sarah Forbes Bonetta was a West African princess who was orphaned and then given as a “gift” to a captain of the British Royal Navy. When she met Queen Victoria, the Queen took pity on her and named her her goddaughter. This fictional diary follows Sarah’s life in England as a favored woman in the court of Queen Victoria and what it was like to be caught between cultures.
If you’re still hungry for courtly infighting, you can dive into fantasy royals, medieval historical fiction, and books about the British royal family.
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