by Jo Walton
First published 2001
Britain in the 1960s has taken a darker path than our world knows. A young debutante finds herself thrust into deadly political games as fascist forces move to complete their grip on power. The commander of the Watch, Britain's secret police force, becomes her unexpected ally in this fight for the nation's soul. Democracy hangs by a thread as these two vastly different people must work together despite their opposing backgrounds. Political conspiracies swirl around them while personal betrayals threaten their mission at every turn. Dangerous secrets lurk behind familiar faces as the country slides toward total dictatorship. They risk their lives to expose the truth, knowing that failure means the end of free Britain forever.
Genres: dystopia, historical-fiction, political-thriller, alternate-history
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Great Britain, England
Period: Elizabeth II, 1952-
320 pages · Hardcover · Tor Books