by Susann Cokal
First published 2016
Princess Sophia's wedding approaches in the Scandinavian city of Skyggehavn. The palace buzzes with preparations for lavish celebrations. Seamstress Ava Bingen works among the wedding finery when a needle prick triggers a cascade of dangerous events. She finds herself bound to the fate of Midi Sorte, a mute nursemaid who serves in the royal chambers. Both women orbit the unstable Queen Isabel, whose madness casts shadows over the court. The palace conceals treacherous currents beneath its glittering surface. Courtiers scheme for advantage while servants struggle to survive. Ava and Midi must read the hidden meanings behind every gesture and alliance. One wrong step could destroy them both. As wedding festivities unfold, the two women discover that their survival depends on each other in a world where power devours the vulnerable.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, mystery, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Skyggehavn, Scandinavia
Period: 19th-century
576 pages · Paperback · Candlewick Press
Content warnings: mental-illness, violence