American Royals meets The Winnerโs Curse in the first book of a dazzling duology from New York Timesย bestselling author Brittany Cavallaro about revolution, love, and friendship in a reimagined American monarchy.
The year is 1893, and war is brewing in the First American Kingdom. But Claire Emerson has a bigger problem. Claireโs father is a sought-after inventor, but he believes his genius is a gift granted to him by his daughterโs touch, so he keeps Claire under his control.
As their province prepares for war, Claire plans to escape, even as her best friend, Beatrix, tries to convince her to stay and help with the growing resistance movement that wants to see a woman on the throne.
When her fatherโs weapon fails to fire on the Worldโs Fairโs opening day, Claire is taken captive by Governor Remy Duchamp, St. Cloudโs young, untried ruler. Remy believes that Claireโs touch bestows graces heโs never had, and with political rivals planning his demise, Claire might be his only ally.
The last thing that Claire has ever wanted is to be someone elseโs muse, but she finally has a choice: Will she quietly remake her world from the shadowsโor bring it down in flames?
Brittany Cavallaro is the New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Charlotte and the Charlotte Holmes novels. With Emily Henry she wrote the young adult thriller Hello Girls. Cavallaro is also the author of the poetry collections Girl-King and Unhistorical and is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in poetry. She lives in Michigan, where she teaches creative writing at Interlochen.
Julia Whelan is a screenwriter, lifelong actor, and award-winning audiobook narrator. She graduated with a degree in English and creative writing from Middlebury College and Oxford University. While she was in England, her flirtation with tea blossomed into a full-blown love affair, culminating in her eventual certification as a tea master.