The Rival Queen

'Fascinating, poignant and beautifully written' CAROL MCGRATH

'It kept me riveted until the last page' BARBARA ERSKINE

As a mere infant, Elizabeth - the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn - is considered the royal and rightful heiress to the English throne. But when her mother is executed for treason, everything changes.

Declared a bastard, Elizabeth is disinherited and banished from Court. Suddenly, she is living a life of constant danger: the threat of death looms over her and her enemies lurk close, deeming her an easy and feeble target.

But what they fail to understand is Elizabeth's power has never lain in her title - it has been in her quick wit and determination. She knows, more than anything, that she must never let anyone get to close to her throne - not even a husband. And to the Court and country's horror, she knows she must live - and she must one day rule - as the Virgin Queen . . .

In this brand new series, Sunday Times bestselling author Anne O'Brien pulls back the veil on one of the most celebrated monarchs in English history, Queen Elizabeth I. Who was she? Who did she love? And how did she change the course of the nation's history?

PRAISE FOR ANNE O'BRIEN
'An enthralling insight into the Wars of the Roses . . . A superb read' CLARE MARCHANT
'A fascinating story. . .Told with assurance and knowledge of the period' ELIZABETH CHADWICK
'Tremendous and engrossing' NICOLA CORNICK
'Be warned: it's incredibly addictive' TRACY BORMAN
'Anne O'Brien gets right inside the heads of her medieval characters' JOANNA HICKSON