The Usurper's Throne

A Spanish princess arrives with hope in her heart, but England hides a deadly secret.

When Catherine of Aragon finally reaches English shores, months behind schedule and battered by a violent storm, her future as the bride of Prince Arthur seems uncertain. Lost, delayed, and far from home, she is met not by celebration but by suspicion... and a kingdom on edge.

King Henry VII is determined to secure the Tudor dynasty at any cost, and a marriage alliance with Spain is crucial. While the court rejoices, not all within the palace walls are loyal. A secret assassin moves unseen, with one goal: the death of Prince Arthur and the destruction of the fragile alliance his marriage promises.

Catherine knows little of English customs, but finds surprising comfort in the quiet kindness of Queen Elizabeth of York, who becomes her first ally in a land of political traps and courtly intrigue. But as Catherine and Arthur grow unexpectedly close, she stumbles upon whispers of a plot that could cost them everything.

Lady Margaret Pole, sister to the executed traitor Edward, Earl of Warwick, oversees the princess's household. With her brother recently beheaded on the king's command, Margaret walks a fine line between loyalty and grief, struggling to serve the crown while mourning all she has lost.

As tensions mount, Sir Thomas Lovell, the king's ruthless enforcer, leaves a bloody trail in pursuit of those who would challenge the Tudor succession. When a chilling discovery threatens the royal couple's safety, Catherine must summon courage she never knew she had and fight to protect her dearest friend from a deadly fate.

Rich with court intrigue, danger, and forbidden loyalty, this gripping tale of betrayal and resilience unfolds in the frozen wilds of Wales, where the fate of England's future princess, and the entire Tudor line, hangs in the balance. Perfect for readers of Tudor historical fiction, royal suspense, and fans of Philippa Gregory, C. J. Sansom, and Hilary Mantel.