Overview

'A masterpiece . . . I literally didn't look up from the first page to the last' - Janice Hallett, bestselling author of The Appeal 'Enthralling, compelling and at times chilling . . . An utterly timely tale' - D. V. Bishop, award-winning author of Ritual of Fire The King's Witches by Kate Foster is a compelling and beautiful historical novel that gives voices to the women at the heart of the real-life witch trials in sixteenth-century Scotland. Women whisper secrets to each other; it is how we survive. 1589. Princess Anna of Denmark is betrothed to King James VI of Scotland. Before they can wed, Anna must pass the trial period: one year of marriage to prove herself worthy of being Scotland's new Queen. Determined to fulfil her duties to King and country, Anna resolves to be the perfect royal bride. Until she meets Lord Henry . . . By her side is Kirsten Sorenson, her loyal and pious lady-in-waiting. But, whilst tending to Anna's every need, Kirsten has her own secret motives for the royal marriage to succeed . . . Meanwhile, in North Berwick, young housemaid Jura practises the healing charms taught to her by her mother. When she realizes she is no longer safe, she escapes to Edinburgh, only to find herself caught up in the witchcraft mania that has gripped not just the capital, but the new queen . . . Will Anna, Kirsten and Jura be able to save each other and, in doing so, save themselves? *The Maiden was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction on 05/03/2024

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9781529091786

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Reviews

The Maiden is a masterpiece. A thrilling historical murder tale but so much more. Vivid, evocative and full of humanity -- Janice Hallett, bestselling author of <i>The Appeal</i>, on <i>The Maiden</i> [R]iveting . . . The tension persists until the last page -- <i>The Times</i> on <i>The Maiden</i> Kate Foster expands the slender facts of the case into something exceptional — a tense, thrilling investigation, with a decidedly feminist slant -- <i>Daily Mail</i> on <i>The Maiden</i> [H]istorical fiction at its finest -- D. V. Bishop, author of <i>City of Vengeance</i>, on <i>The Maiden</i> Brave, bold and at times deliciously indecent with vivid characters that leap from the page and demand attention -- Lizzie Pook, author of <i>Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter</i>, on <i>The Maiden</i>

The King's Witches is enthralling, compelling and at times chilling. Foster transports the reader back in time, bringing alive the forgotten and hidden voices of women in the past. An utterly timely tale that surpasses The Maiden, her rightly celebrated debut -- D. V. Bishop, author of <i>Ritual of Fire</i> With shades of The Familiars, this incredible tale of Princess Anna of Denmark's betrothal to King James VI, all set against the Scottish witch trials, had me absolutely gripped. Kate Foster has spun a beautifully written tale of love and duty, fear and courage, and I can't recommend it highly enough. I'm already beside myself to read her next! -- Jenny Ashcroft, author of <i>The Echoes of Love</i> Beautiful and brutal . . . a terrifyingly real story of how men control and fear us, and the extraordinary lengths some women have to go to in order to survive. -- Claire Evans, author of <i>The Graves of Whitechapel</i> A rich, compelling story of three women and their intersecting lives . . . I loved the combination of court intrigue and the Scottish witch trials, and how Foster skilfully uses both to explore the position of women at this point in time -- Katie Lumsden, author of <i>The Secrets of Hartwood Hall</i> [R]iveting . . . The tension persists until the last page -- <i>The Times</i> on <i>The Maiden</i> The Maiden is a masterpiece. A thrilling historical murder tale but so much more. Vivid, evocative and full of humanity -- Janice Hallett, bestselling author of <i>The Appeal</i>, on <i>The Maiden</i> Kate Foster expands the slender facts of the case into something exceptional — a tense, thrilling investigation, with a decidedly feminist slant -- <i>Daily Mail</i> on <i>The Maiden</i>

Author Information

Kate Foster has been a national newspaper journalist for over twenty years. Growing up in Edinburgh, she became fascinated by its history and often uses it as inspiration for her stories. Her first novel, The Maiden, was a feminist revisionist take on the Scottish legend of The White Lady of Corstorphine. The King's Witches is her second novel. She lives in Edinburgh with her two children.

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