THE CRIMSON THRONE (SPY AND GUARDIAN), by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis, Sourcebooks Fire, Oct. 7, 2025, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult, ages 14 and up)
Court intrigue, political maneuvering and Scottish folklore collide in The Crimson Throne, the first book in the Spy and Guardian series by Sara Raasch and Beth Revis.
Samson Calthorpe’s curse has isolated him from everyone he has ever cared about. So, when the opportunity arises to break the curse, he grabs it. All he has to do for his freedom is risk his life and become a royal spy, using every bit of the skills and resolve he’s picked up on the streets of London to infiltrate the court of the Scottish Queen and uncover a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth.
For years, Alyth Graham has been protecting Mary Queen of Scots from threats both physical and magical, including the Queen’s own husband, Lord Darnley. Alyth is more than meets the eye though, the child of a fae prince and a human mother, she is among the most powerful protectors in Scotland: guardians sworn to defend against the Red Caps, a bloodthirsty fae clan . . . that Lord Darnley is in league with to overtake Scotland.
As Alyth and Samson circle each other in the volatile and glamorous Scottish court, both seek to uncover threats to their own countries. They have one unifying link: their shared hatred and suspicion of Lord Darnley…and their undeniable pull towards each other. Using secret codes, hidden messages, and a little bit of magic, Alyth and Samson unravel a plot centuries in the making. Lord Darnley is only a pawn, and in this game, the queen takes all. —Synopsis provided by Sourcebooks Fire
The Crimson Throne is a historical romantasy set in 16th century Scotland and England and revolves around Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth I, though most of the story takes place in Scotland.
Authors Sara Raasch and Beth Revis pull from Scottish lore, imagining what role the fae would have played in the two opposing courts.
Raasch and Revis are really good at balancing history and fantasy. Although fans of one or the other might not enjoy certain elements over others, there’s enough of each to give the story weight while exploring magical systems. The world-building here is particularly strong.
Neither Alyth or Samson is particularly interesting on their own. But when they’re together, there’s a lot more banter, and the masks they are forced to wear come off.
The Crimson Throne doesn’t read like there are two authors, which is hard to pull off. However, use of more modern prose does take away from the historical aspect. Sure, it could make the book more accessible to some readers, but something is lost in its tone.
Overall, The Crimson Throne is an entertaining read that moves quickly and has an intriguing mystery running throughout.
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