About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their older teenager is ready to explore the darker, more complex realities of power, bodily autonomy, and social hierarchy through a historical lens. Set in a fictionalized Scandinavian Renaissance, the story follows a seamstress and a mute nursemaid who are trapped in a royal court defined by decay and deception. It is an unflinching look at resilience and survival in the face of systemic cruelty and physical illness. Because the narrative contains graphic violence and mature sexual situations, it is best suited for mature readers aged 15 and up who appreciate intricate world-building and are beginning to grapple with the moral ambiguities of history and human nature. It offers a profound opportunity to discuss how individuals maintain their humanity when stripped of their agency.
