The crimson throne

Raasch and Revis team up again for this intoxicating blend of real-world history, high-stakes fantasy, and romance, inviting readers to dive into the dangerous courts of sixteenth-century Scotland and the blood-soaked backstreets of London. Two teens--Alyth, a half-fae guardian to Queen Mary of Scots; Samson, a cursed street rat with too much rage and not enough time--are caught in a deadly web of political ambition and magical warfare. Though they have different agendas, they must work together to unravel a plot involving insidious magic, royal betrayal, and a growing arsenal of fae weapons capable of tipping the balance between realms. Raasch and Revis waste no time, jumping into the plot with a brutal opening scene that sets the story in motion. Narration alternates between Alyth's sharply witty perspective as she struggles to balance competing responsibilities and Samson's raw, fierce, and heartbreaking chapters. Filled with courtly intrigue, tension, and moments of beauty, this will appeal to fans of enemies-to-allies arcs, achingly slow-burn stakes, and historical fantasy that doesn't shy from heavy emotion and bloody gore.

The authors of the Witch and Hunter duology return with a biting historical fantasy series launch that fuses Tudor-era courtcraft with Celtic fae legend. Eighteen-year-old Alyth Graham, a half fae lady-in-waiting, is bound by her estranged Seelie prince father to maintain the magical barrier that separates the human and fae realms, by extension protecting Mary, Queen of Scots, from her scheming, power-hungry husband, of whom Alyth has suspicions of hiding something. When dark fae weapons infiltrate the castle and a dire prophecy foretells the barrier's collapse, Alyth's skills as Scotland's unseen guardian are put to the test. Enter street-savvy 19-year-old Samson Calthorpe, who was cursed by a fae relic to experience periods of berserker fury. Summoned by his unscrupulous father, Samson poses as a lord's secretary to recover the heavily guarded artifact that doomed him--his only hope to break the curse. Upon meeting, Alyth and Samson's immediate attraction pushes them into a wary alliance to solve the barrier mystery. Alternating first-person POVs propel their quest through magical ambushes, court corruption, and attempted regicide. Intriguing Scottish folklore imbues the period setting with texture and sets the stage for a climactic clash of magic and politics that features a sharp-tongued heroine and a sensitive hero confronting duty, destiny, and betrayal. Ages 14--up. Agents: (for Raasch) Amy Stapp, Wolfson Literary; (for Revis) Merrilee Heifetz, Writers House. (Oct.)

A fae guardian and an English spy must team up to protect Scotland from magical invaders. In the world of this duology opener, Scotland and the fae realm are magically linked; peace in the former ensures peace in the latter. So it's up to Alyth Graham, daughter of the fae prince and lady-in-waiting to Queen Mary, to protect the barrier that keeps the bloodthirsty Red Caps, fae who rebelled against the Seelie Court, out of Scotland. But when Red Cap weapons turn up in the Scottish court--and in the hands of Lord Darnley, Mary's scheming husband--Alyth knows something is very wrong. Samson Calthorpe, illegitimate son of William Cecil, Queen Elizabeth's secretary (who in this universe assumes Sir Francis Walsingham's role as spymaster), was cursed in childhood by fae magic that causes him to black out and commit violent acts. Samson is among the few humans who knows the fae are real. When Cecil offers him a chance to be rid of the curse in return for spying on Mary, Samson agrees. A chance meeting throws Samson and Alyth together. Their attraction is immediate, but Alyth senses he's hiding something. As danger mounts, the two work together and begin to care for each other. Samson's and Alyth's alternating first-person narratives keep the pace moving. The court intrigue, set against lush descriptions of Scotland, is well-balanced with the fantasy elements. Most characters are cued white. An atmospheric fantasy brimming with intrigue and heart. (content warnings, historical note)(Historical fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.