Traitor's Kiss

Traitor's Kiss is a compelling historical fiction novel that plunges readers into the dangerous world of young Elizabeth I after the death of Henry VIII. Elizabeth must contend with whispers of her late mother's witchcraft, a perilous quest for truth, and the unsettling advances of her stepfather, Thomas Seymour. The book explores themes of resilience, identity, and justice as Elizabeth fights to clear her name and understand her past, culminating in her implication in a treason plot. Parents should be aware of the sensitive topic of unwanted advances, which is handled with care but is a central plot point, as well as scenes involving Bedlam and political peril.

Based on the captivating true story of the young Elizabeth I, as she struggles to survive the treacherous world of Tudor England. After the death of her father, Henry VIII, a young Elizabeth journeys to London to live with her father's widow, Katherine Parr, and her new husband, Thomas Seymour, brother-in-law to King Edward. Surrounded by malicious whisperings of her late mother's witchcraft, Elizabeth is desperate to escape suspicion and discover the truth about her mother. A young stranger asserting Anne's Boleyn's innocence sends her on search a that takes her on a dangerous midnight journey to Bedlam, the hospital for the insane, to meet her mother's former lady-in-waiting. This encounter changes the way she views her mother - and herself. Meanwhile, at home, Elizabeth's reputation is increasingly under threat, as her stepfather, Thomas Seymour makes unwanted advances toward her. Her stepmother witnesses a kiss and Elizabeth is sent back to Hertfordshire in disgrace. Here she falls seriously ill and rumours abound that she is hiding a pregnancy. When Thomas Seymour is arrested for treason in a plot to overthrow King Edward, Elizabeth is implicated by association. Now it is up to her to defend her integrity and her life. Suggested level: secondary.