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7 Books to Read if You’re Missing CW’s Reign
CW’s Reign, following the life of Mary, Queen of Scots, lasted four emotional, dramatic seasons, concluding earlier this year. While the show had its faults *side-eyes the season 1 wardrobe*, the characters never failed to win over hearts (and occasionally rip them to shreds with certain character deaths). Reign‘s portrayals of Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth I, and Queen Catherine de Medici will remain some of my most beloved versions, historical accuracy aside. For those who, like myself, are missing the delicious intrigue of the French, English, and Scottish courts, the luscious romance, and the fierce historical ladies, here are a few books to comfort you in this time of mourning.
Reign: The Prophecy and Reign: Hysteria, by Lily Blake
If you’re not ready to leave the Reign world completely, Lily Blake has two novels for you. The Prophecy is set after Mary’s marriage to Francis, when the plague is nigh. Mary remains within the castle, but those closest to her heart are beyond its protective gates, and no title or social status prevents the plague from taking its victims. Hysteria also follows a tale of darkness, but this time the source is possibly supernatural. Rumors fly that Satan’s horseman are killing villagers. Accusations of witchcraft can mean death, and when a young girl is imprisoned, Mary and her friends work to prove her innocence.
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Maid of Secrets, by Jennifer McGowan
If your favorite part of Reign was Elizabeth’s court or Catherine de Medici’s secret group of women trained to seduce and protect, Jennifer McGowan’s series couldn’t be a better match for you. Against the setting of Queen Elizabeth’s castle, orphan Meg survives via petty theft. When she tries to steal from a nobleman, she is taken to Elizabeth…and made a member of the Maids of Honor, the queen’s secret society of defenders and spies. While Meg’s particular set of skills are a perfect match for the job, she soon finds herself overwhelmed by the political plots and threats that surround her. She must learn to trust herself and decide where her loyalties lie if she wants to survive.
Dark Breaks the Dawn, by Sara B. Larson
Want the royal drama with a little less history and a lot more magic? Check out Sara B. Larson’s latest fantasy, Dark Breaks the Dawn. Princess Evelayn of Eadrolan, the Light Kingdom, is now eighteen. She has full access to her magical powers, and she’s enjoying that feeling. However, all is not as bright as she would wish. The queen is away at the war front, and King Bain of the Dark Kingdom of Dorjhalon is plotting something deadly. With the help of a handsome lord and a few friends, Evelayn prepares to defend the kingdom she loves at any price.
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Bewitching Season, by Marissa Doyle
If you’re not set on the time period of Reign but still want something historical with a good amount of humor and a dash of magic, I suggest Bewitching Season, by Marissa Doyle. It’s set in 1837 London, a time and place where titled youths were seeking marriages, status, and wealth. With the upcoming season, one might think Persephone Leland would be eager to don gowns and flirt with the best—and one would be wrong. All Persy wants to do is study magic, but when her governess in magic is kidnapped, she and her twin sister must navigate ballrooms in pursuit of more than just husbands…a task that becomes much less boring for Persy when a plot is afoot.
My Lady Jane, by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
As far as historical shows go, Reign is not exactly the most accurate. However, viewers are often rewarded by liberties taken with the historical record, which can result in deeper character development and, in some cases, absolute fun. In the same vein, My Lady Jane, following the doomed queen-to-be Lady Jane Grey, of 16th-century England, veers sharply from history. In this alt England, a certain sect of people, known as Edians, have the ability (or the curse) to shapeshift, while those who cannot are known as Verities. The tension between the two groups is heavy, and into the middle of this conflict comes Lady Jane; her royal betrothed, who spends much of his time as a horse; and a royal court rendered with humor, wit, and intrigue.
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Long May She Reign, by Rhiannon Thomas
After Mary, Queen of Scots, was made queen as a young child, the rest of her life was spent adjusting to different courts and different political roles. In Long May She Reign, Freya, twenty-third in line to the throne, never imagined becoming queen in her wildest dreams. She only longed for a chance to get away from court, work on her scientific experimentation, and perhaps stop disappointing her father. But when a gruesome banquet leaves the king, his nearest heirs, and hundreds of others dead, Freya is suddenly given a crown and expected to rule. Much like Mary, Freya must learn exactly who her enemies and allies are before she loses her head (literally).