Ambition. Sorcery. Treason. How far will one woman dare to go?

1420. Eleanor Cobham arrives at the court of Henry V. Pretty but not highborn, she hopes for little more than to marry well.

England is in a golden age - but beneath the glittering surface, ancient rivalries fester and chaos lurks in the shadows.

And chaos, Eleanor discovers, creates opportunities. Appointed lady-in-waiting to a Countess who commands her own army, she begins to see what a woman can truly become.

She dares to dream of real power. Perhaps even the crown itself. But for that, she must turn to darker arts. And the higher she climbs, the darker the path becomes...

Philippa Gregory tells a breathtaking story of sorcery, ambition and one woman's extraordinary rise.

'An extraordinary storyof an ambitious woman's rise and fall... a rewardingand complexnovel' The Times

'Gregory makes brilliant use of what historical material there is, recreating Eleanor's treasonous queenly questas a tale of ill wishing, courtly machinationsand secretive rituals' Daily Mail

'With rich historical detail, Gregory masterfully weavestogether courtly intriguewith Eleanor's fierce pursuitto shape her destiny in a world determined to deny it'Booklist

'A detailed portraitof the bold lifeof a woman overlooked by historians'Kirkus Reviews

'Vividly bringing to lifefour overlooked historical women, this is a scandalous mixof courtly ambition, midwiferyand witchcraft' Woman&Home