by Mark Steyn
First published 2023
A Ruritanian king in exile finds himself vacationing in modern London when an extraordinary request arrives. The unpopular English monarch needs a double for his upcoming coronation, and fate has provided the perfect candidate. This displaced royal must navigate a Britain where Brexit remains unfinished business and COVID lockdowns have transformed the kingdom into something as fantastical as any fictional realm. The plotting courtiers and would-be usurpers surrounding the throne present dangers at every turn. What begins as a simple masquerade becomes a test of honor and duty in a land that proves more foreign than expected. As the coronation approaches, the Ruritanian discovers that standing in for another king means more than just wearing a crown. In this strange modern England, where Eastern European capitals seem more normal than London itself, he must choose between safety and service. The weight of two kingdoms rests on his shoulders as he confronts what it truly means to be royal in an age when everything familiar has been turned upside down.
Genres: historical-fiction, contemporary, political-thriller, alternate-history
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, masquerade
Setting: Britain, England, London
Period: 21st-century
408 pages · Hardcover · Stockade Books