Description

A sparkling magical adventure from a Hugo Award-winning author. In Zen Cho’s The True Queen we travel to Regency London, Fairyland and an enchanted island. Sisters are separated, plots thicken and there’s a new contender for the throne of Fairy.

‘A sheer delight from beginning to end’ – Samantha Shannon, author of The Bone Season.

Fairyland’s future lies in doubt . . .
The enchanted island of Janda Baik, in the Malay Archipelago, has long been home to witches. And Muna and her sister Sakti wake on its shores under a curse, which has quite stolen away their memories. Their only hope of salvation lies in distant Britain, where the Sorceress Royal runs a controversial academy for female magicians. But the pair travel via the formidable Fairy Queen’s realm, where Sakti simply disappears.

To save her sister, Muna must learn to navigate Regency London’s high society and trick the English into believing she’s a magical prodigy. But when the Sorceress Royal’s friends become accidentally embroiled in a plot – involving the Fairy Queen’s contentious succession – Muna is drawn right in. She must also find Sakti, break their curse and somehow stay out of trouble. But if fairyland’s true queen does finally return, trouble may find her first . . .

‘A joyous mash-up of Jane Austen and high fantasy’ – M. R. Carey, author of The Girl with All the Gifts.

This standalone adventure is set in the same world as Zen Cho’s award-winning novel – The Sorcerer to the Crown.

Publisher Review

Totally immersive, an utterly enjoyable experience . . . A story full of humour, heartbreak, and hope - Cho captivates once more -- Karen Lord I sat up all night racing to finish it (again). Another magnificent outing from Zen Cho . . . Clever, funny, and compulsively readable - I loved it! -- Lavie Tidhar A joyous mash-up of Jane Austen and high fantasy -- M. R. Carey A sheer delight from beginning to end. Cho perfectly conjures the opulence, absurdity and conflict of the period -- Samantha Shannon Just finished this beauty - intricate, inventive and joyful. What a five-star treat! -- Vic James Complex and rich - the sort of book that if it was a MasterChef dish, all the judges would be asking for more -- Genevieve Cogman A delightful follow-up to Sorcerer to the Crown! Cho applies her characteristic wit and charm to a tale of cursed sisters - a story I found as enchanting as her Faerie Court -- S. A. Chakraborty A captivating debut . . . tells an entertaining story with wit and consummate skill -- Guardian on The Sorcerer to the Crown An enchanting cross between Georgette Heyer and Susannah Clarke, full of delights and surprises. Zen Cho unpins the edges of the canvas and throws them wide -- Naomi Novik on The Sorcerer to the Crown A winning combination of magic and thrill -- Washington Post on Sorcerer to the Crown