Orphaned as a baby because of her mother, Queen Katherine Parr’s, imprudent marriage, Mary Seymour believes that romantic love clouds even the strongest woman’s ability to reason. Therefore, she vows never to fall in love, and under no circumstances will she marry. Lady Strange, her mysterious new guardian, offers the young woman an extraordinary alternative to marriage: Mary is to become a white magician who will join Queen Elizabeth’s court and ensure the success of the Virgin Queen’s reign.
Accompanied by her magical hound, Perseus, Mary sets out to learn the properties of different stones and the art and precision of natural spells. Soon after her sixteenth birthday, she is invited to join Elizabeth’s court as a lady-in-waiting. Upon her arrival, Mary realizes that Elizabeth’s court is rife with the men and women who are vying for power. The most dangerous of all is Edmund Seymour, Mary’s disturbingly handsome cousin. From the moment she meets Edmund, Mary has to fight her growing attraction, especially once she discovers that he is a black magician, the dark mirror of her own self. But, despite the threat Edmund poses to Mary, he seems to be the only one who truly understands her. When Edmund becomes involved in a plot against the queen, Mary finds her beliefs tested in ways she never could have imagined.
The Red Queen's Daughter is published by Hyperion on October 2, 2007. Click here to see a picture of the paperback cover, released on April 28, 2009.
Order the book online today at Amazon or Barnes and Nobles.
Participate in A Splendidly Red Contest:
Can't get enough of Mary and her tales? Between the 1st of June and September 25, Jacqueline Kolosov invites you to write what happens AFTER The Red Queen’s Daughter ends. Envision the beginning of the next book. To do so, send an overview of how the book would begin in roughly 500-1,000 words to poppiesbloom@usa.net. The most enchanted beginning will earn the winner the SPLENDIDLY RED prize and a posting on Jacqueline's blog. Check out her blog for more information.
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