“When you play the Game of Thrones, you win, or you die.” As Cersei Lannister iconically remarks in Game of Thrones, it’s no secret that the life of royalty is no fairytale. Behind gilded palace walls lie a political minefield of power struggles, conspiracies, and court drama, with potentially deadly consequences. And even for those who’ve won the game; power, influence and wealth are notoriously fickle, and they spend the rest of their life fighting to keep it. 

Of course, what makes life so treacherous for them, is what makes these stories so fun for us to read about (as long as there’s minimal risk of losing our own heads). So, whether you’re in it for the opulence, the scandals, or the machiavellian power struggles, our book challenge theme for November, “A book with a King or Queen in the Story” lets you follow the royally messed up lives of these royals from fantasy kingdoms to the real life monarchs throughout history.  

As always, visit our webpage to learn more about our Book Challenge or if you’ve read a book fitting our Book Challenge themes, put in your name for a chance to win a prize!

 

A Game of Thrones – George R. R. Martin 

The aristocratic Stark family faces its ultimate challenge in the onset of a generation-long winter, the poisonous plots of the rival Lannisters, the emergence of the Neverborn demons, and the arrival of barbarian hordes.

 

Antoinette’s Sister – Diana Giovianzzo

Engaged to King Ferdinand IV of Naples after his intended contracts smallpox and dies, Charlotte, the sister of Marie Antoinette, tries to navigate her new country, home and court in the time of political uprisings and royal executions.

 

The Familiar – Leigh Bardugo 

In the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil. Determined to seize one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the lines between magic, science, and fraud are never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition’s wrath.

 

The Way of Kings – Brandon Sanderson 

Introduces the world of Roshar through the experiences of a war-weary royal compelled by visions, a highborn youth condemned to military slavery and a woman who would save her impoverished house.

 

All our Yesterdays: A novel of Lady Macbeth – Joel H Morris

Scotland, the 11th Century. Born in a noble household and granddaughter of a forgotten Scottish king, a young girl is married at fifteen to the Mormaer of Moray, she experiences firsthand the violence of a sadistic husband and a kingdom constantly at war. To survive with her young son in a superstitious realm, she must rely on her own cunning and wit, especially when her husband’s downfall inadvertently sets them free. Suspicious of the dark devices that may have led to his father’s death, her son watches as his mother falls in love with the enigmatic thane Macbeth.

 

The Queen of the Tearling – Erika Johansen

Coming out of exile to ascend her rightful throne, Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn, with a cadre of soldiers and the magical Tearling sapphire to protect her, makes a daring decision that evokes the wrath of the evil Red Witch, forcing her to embark on a quest to save her kingdom and fulfill her destiny.

 

Daughter of the Moon Goddess: a novel – Sue Lynn Tan 

A debut fantasy inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm and sets her on a dangerous path–where choices come with deadly consequences, and she risks losing more than her heart.

 

The Crystal Cave – Mary Stewart

Born the bastard son of a Welsh princess, Myridden Emrys — or as he would later be known, Merlin — leads a perilous childhood, haunted by portents and visions. But destiny has great plans for this no-man’s-son, taking him from prophesying before the High King Vortigern to the crowning of Uther Pendragon . . . and the conception of Arthur — king for once and always.

 

Woven in Moonlight – Isabel Ibañez

Ximena is the decoy Condesa, a stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal. Her people lost everything when the usurper, Atoc, used an ancient relic to summon ghosts and drive the Illustrians from La Ciudad. When Atoc demands the real Condesa’s hand in marriage, it’s Ximena’s duty to go in her stead. She relishes the chance, as Illustrian spies have reported that Atoc’s no longer carrying his deadly relic. If Ximena can find it, she can return the true aristócrata to their rightful place.

 

Clytemnestra: A novel – Costanza Casati

A stunning debut following Clytemnestra, the most notorious villainess of the ancient world and the events that forged her into the legendary queen. Set in the world of Ancient Greece, this is a thrilling tale of power and prophecies, of hatred, love, and of an unforgettable Queen who fiercely dealt out death to those who wronged her.