Royal fiction popularity has skyrocketed since Philippa Gregory began her Queen Series. There is a new series to recommend to patrons by Elizabeth Fremantle and the latest title is Sisters of Treason.

Sisters of Treason is the second book by this author. The first being The Queen's Gambit. This story of sisters Lady Katherine and Lady Mary Grey are forced to deal with the brutal execution of their older sibling Lady Jane Grey and a treacherous life at Court. Queen Mary's unstable succession to the throne is not a done deal but neither Lady Katherine nor Lady Mary are exactly suited to court life.

What their futures hold is known only to them and royal portrait painter Levinia Teerlinc who becomes a mentor to the sisters and aids them in navigating the dangerous ins and outs of court life. This is a great book to recommend to those interested in the stories of the Tudors and the Stuarts. Fans of Philippa Gregory will find much to like in this tale.

The writing is done well and although Queen Mary is not meant to be a likable character, she does have her moments of vulnerability where the reader can see her as more than the monster she portrays. The surviving Grey sisters are sympathetic characters that readers will enjoy watching unfold as the story progresses.

For those new to the Royal Court stories, the author has provided a list of characters, a family tree and some historical backstory to bring the reader up to speed and put the story into the historical context it needs to be fully understood.

Bookclubs interested in a discussion can visit the author's website for a great selection of reading guides and other information about her book. Of course, when recommending read alikes, it is important to check in with the patron to ensure that what you are recommending is what they actually want.

This book was checked out of my local library and I received no compensation of goods or funds for writing this review. It is my love of a good story that compels me to share with others.