Summary from publisher:
Samson Calthorpe’s curse has isolated him from everyone he has ever cared about. So, when the opportunity arises to break the curse, he grabs it. All he has to do for his freedom is risk his life and become a royal spy, using every bit of the skills and resolve he’s picked up on the streets of London to infiltrate the court of the Scottish Queen and uncover a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth.
For years, Alyth Graham has been protecting Mary Queen of Scots from threats both physical and magical, including the Queen’s own husband, Lord Darnley. Alyth is more than meets the eye though, the child of a fae prince and a human mother, she is among the most powerful protectors in Scotland: guardians sworn to defend against the Red Caps, a bloodthirsty fae clan . . . that Lord Darnley is in league with to overtake Scotland.
As Alyth and Samson circle each other in the volatile and glamorous Scottish court, both seek to uncover threats to their own countries. They have one unifying link: their shared hatred and suspicion of Lord Darnley…and their undeniable pull towards each other. Using secret codes, hidden messages, and a little bit of magic, Alyth and Samson unravel a plot centuries in the making. Lord Darnley is only a pawn, and in this game, the queen takes all.
My Thoughts: Be warned - this is the start of a story that ends just at the climax of the book. I'm already looking forward to the next installment because there was a twist at the end that I did NOT see coming. I really enjoyed the historical figures in this story. I loved the setting, the wilds of Scotland. One day, I hope to travel there. I like the power struggles between Alyth and Queen Mary; they had an interesting relationship. I enjoyed the banter between Alyth and Samson. I'm curious to see where the next book will take readers.
If you haven't read this yet, it has the same vibe:
