You may know about the French court in the 16th century, either from European history classes or historical dramas like Reign. But we bet you’ve never seen the story told like Erin Cotter’s new historical fiction novel, A Traitorous Heart!
A Traitorous Heart follows seventeen-year-old Jacqueline “Jac” d’Argenson-Aunis, who finds herself playing matchmaker between her ex-lover and the French Princess Marguerite “Margot” de Valois and the King of Navarre Henry de Bourbon. But the more Jac secretly helps Henry win over Margot’s hand, the more she starts to fall for him.
We’ve been in our historical fiction bag lately, if we do say so ourselves. Will 2025 be the year it climbs the rank of our favorite genres? We can’t tell yet, but it has a promising start so far. Here are three reasons you should read A Traitorous Heart by Erin Cotter!
Book Overview: A Traitorous Heart
Content warnings: murder, attempted murder, death, war, graphic violence, torture, blood, corpses, human bones and organs, physical abuse, vomiting, drinking, kidnapping (Please read at your discretion!)
Summary: Paris, 1572. Seventeen-year-old Jacqueline “Jac” d’Argenson-Aunis is lady-in-waiting to her best friend and former lover, the French Princess Marguerite “Margot” de Valois, but she dreams of more. If Jac plays her cards right, one day, she’ll become a full member of the Societas Solis, a secret society of spies—just like her uncle and guardian, Viscount Gabriel d’Argenson-Aunis.
But it’s hard to think about her own ambitions while France is on the brink of war, and the only thing that might save the country is an alliance—a marriage between the Catholic Princess Margot and Henry, the awful son of the Huguenot queen. Who would be the perfect person to play matchmaker? Jac, of course.
Jac resents lying to her best friend almost as much as she resents the brazen and arrogant King Henry, but it’s her one chance to prove to the Societas Solis that she belongs among their ranks before her uncle can marry her off or worse. The more time Jac spends in the French Court’s clandestine corners, though, the more she starts to wonder if Henry is…not as terrible as she once believed. And the Societas Solis may not be what they seem.
Politics. Spies. Chaos in the French court. Perhaps even witchcraft? Everything’s more dangerous when love is involved.
All The Political Drama
One of the main reasons we love A Traitorous Heart is getting a taste of the juicy drama between the French royal family and the visiting Navarre diplomats. We at THP love reading about royal politics, especially when they’re inspired by real-life historical figures. Margot and Henry’s betrothal is integral to keeping the peace between the Catholics and the Huguenots. Insert a secret spy society and the Queen Mother Catherine de’ Medici’s otherworldly schemes, and the plan erupts into scandal and chaos.
Henry’s Devotion To Jac
Jac’s clandestine meetings with King Henry to help him win Margot’s favor start as part of Jac’s first spy assignment. But these shared moments turn into a budding friendship and romantic tension that we could feel all the way on the other side of the page! Henry would do anything for Jac (literally anything). He’s been smitten with her since their first meeting in the stables. We fell for his kind and honorable personality way more quickly than Jac did. And his devotion to her has raised our own standards significantly.
The Ending Everyone Deserves
So, how does this royal wedding/love triangle get resolved in A Traitorous Heart? We won’t spoil the ending too much. Henry finds a way for all three of them to get everything they want in life. Margot realizes her dream of opening a school, while Jac and Henry find an arrangement that keeps their love strong. After Jac and Margot address their romantic past and how it ended years ago, they remain best friends. Henry has a kingdom and armies to lead, but he visits Jac as much as he can. And the rest is history (sort of).
Erin Cotter’s A Traitorous Heart transforms the 16th-century French court with espionage, sorcery, and a love triangle that has raised our standards for romance everywhere.
A Traitorous Heart by Erin Cotter goes on sale January 7th, and you can order a copy of it here!
What do you think about Erin Cotter’s A Traitorous Heart? Are you diving into more historical fiction this year? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
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