The Crimson Throne

By Sara Raasch and Beth Revis

Book Overview

Powerless meets Reign in this new historical romantasy from the New York Times bestselling authors of Night of the Witch.

Samson Calthorpe's curse has isolated him from everyone he has ever cared about. So, when the opportunity arises to break the curse, he grabs it. All he has to do for his freedom is risk his life and become a royal spy, using every bit of the skills and resolve he's picked up on the streets of London to infiltrate the court of the Scottish Queen and uncover a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth.

For years, Alyth Graham has been protecting Mary Queen of Scots from threats both physical and magical, including the Queen's own husband, Lord Darnley. Alyth is more than meets the eye though, the child of a fae prince and a human mother, she is among the most powerful protectors in Scotland: guardians sworn to defend against the Red Caps, a bloodthirsty fae clan . . . that Lord Darnley is in league with to overtake Scotland.

As Alyth and Samson circle each other in the volatile and glamorous Scottish court, both seek to uncover threats to their own countries. They have one unifying link: their shared hatred and suspicion of Lord Darnley...and their undeniable pull towards each other. Using secret codes, hidden messages, and a little bit of magic, Alyth and Samson unravel a plot centuries in the making. Lord Darnley is only a pawn, and in this game, the queen takes all.

"A biting historical fantasy series launch that fuses Tudor-era courtcraft with Celtic fae legend... ...confronting duty, destiny, and betrayal" --Publishers Weekly

"An atmospheric fantasy brimming with intrigue and heart." --Kirkus Reviews

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1464236135
• ISBN13: 9781464236136
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.1"
• Age Range: 14 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 9 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

History with the touch of the fae

It was interesting to read this story, steeped in both history and magic in a way as to seem quite real. I liked the way real historical people were portrayed, some of the tinged with a touch of the fae but also real things that happened during this tumultuous time in the Tudor era with Mary Queen of Scots, and Queen Elizabeth. I enjoyed the way the fae were interwoven into the historical setting, giving extra depth and a bit of glamour to the courts of the humans. Mary Queen of Scots was portrayed in an interesting way and it was cool to see how she reacted to the betrayal of her husband and how she would behave. I also really liked Alyth, half fae and guardian of the wall of Scotland to keep out the vicious Red Caps. She was totally awesome and so focused on protecting her queen and the land where she lives, despite the lack of help from her father and how she is able to get assistance from other fae for aid in the protecting. I also liked Samson with his own search for a cure for his curse. He was very capable and while I think the relationship between Alyth and Samson was was to quick and not all that believable, I do think they work well together and I really hope they can keep that working after the ending of this first book! I had fun reading this and will definitely be looking forward to the next book to see what Alyth and Samson will do to save Scotland from the evil machinations of the Red Caps and their leader, The High Blade!