A breathtaking story of sorcery, ambition and one woman's extraordinary rise to the top, from the award-winning Sunday Times bestselling author, new for 2026

1420. Eleanor Cobham arrives at the court of Henry V. Pretty but not highborn, she hopes for little more than to marry well.

England is in a golden age - but beneath the glittering surface, ancient rivalries fester and chaos lurks in the shadows.

And chaos, Eleanor discovers, creates opportunities. Appointed lady-in-waiting to a Countess who commands her own army, she begins to see what a woman can truly become.

She dares to dream of real power. Perhaps even the crown itself. But for that, she must turn to darker arts. And the higher she climbs, the darker the path becomes...

Philippa Gregory tells a breathtaking story of sorcery, ambition and one woman's extraordinary rise.

Autorentext

Philippa Gregory is a historian and novelist renowned for combining rich research with powerful storytelling. Through her writing, she reveals the women history tried to forget - and whose stories are more relevant today than ever. Her novels have sold millions of copies worldwide and been adapted for stage, television and film.

In 2023 she published her critically acclaimed non-fiction book *Normal Women,*a new social history of women in England for 900 years. It has also been adapted as a podcast, teen edition and children's edition. In 2026, Boleyn Traitor won Fiction Book of the Year at the British Book Awards.

Philippa Gregory was awarded a CBE for services to literature and charity in 2021.

www.philippagregory.com

Klappentext

**Ambition. Sorcery. Treason. How far will one woman dare to go?**1420. Eleanor Cobham arrives at the court of Henry V. Pretty but not highborn, she hopes for little more than to marry well.

England is in a golden age - but beneath the glittering surface, ancient rivalries fester and chaos lurks in the shadows.

And chaos, Eleanor discovers, creates opportunities. Appointed lady-in-waiting to a Countess who commands her own army, she begins to see what a woman can truly become.

She dares to dream of real power. Perhaps even the crown itself. But for that, she must turn to darker arts. And the higher she climbs, the darker the path becomes...

Philippa Gregory tells a breathtaking story of sorcery, ambition and one woman's extraordinary rise.