First published 2016
The Duchess of Tremontaine commands her salon with beauty and razor-sharp intelligence, but dangerous currents swirl beneath the elegant surface. Her husband conducts a risky liaison with a brilliant young scholar, while a foreign visitor navigates the treacherous world of duels and court intrigue. Meanwhile, a mathematical prodigy stands on the verge of discoveries that could reshape their world. Ancient deceptions begin surfacing, forcing each player to choose between loyalty and survival. In this glittering realm where chocolate flows and swords flash, every conversation carries hidden meaning and every alliance masks potential betrayal. The stakes climb higher as personal desires collide with political necessity, testing the bonds between lovers, spouses, and allies. This collection gathers the first seven episodes of the serial that serves as a prequel to Ellen Kushner's Riverside series.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, mystery, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, political-intrigue
Setting: Tremontaine, Riverside
Period: Prequel
278 pages · Kindle Edition · Serial Box