The revered Katherine Parr, the widow of King Henry the Eighth who was known for her intelligence and spiritualism, created a stir of controversy when she secretly married the ambitious Thomas Seymour, a man known for his greed and womanizing ways --- which included the rumored wooing of the young Princess Elizabeth, the dowager queen’s stepdaughter. Regardless, Katherine was passionately in love and gave birth to her only child, Mary Seymour.

Unfortunately, the girl was orphaned when Katherine died from complications of childbirth and Thomas was executed on the charge of treason nearly two years later. She became the ward of her mother’s best friend and lady-in-waiting, the Duchess of Suffolk, and seemed destined to lead the quiet life of a commoner. What happened afterwards has remained a mystery --- until now.

When Mary is nine years old, the Duchess of Suffolk dies in a freak riding accident (she crashed into a tree since she apparently had eyes only for her lover, the handsome Master of the Horse). Mary vows never to fall in love or marry, for she is convinced that love is what caused the untimely deaths of her mother and guardian and that they might have led very different lives if they had not become “intoxicated by love.” However, Mary’s own life is uncertain because she has no one left to care for her.

Lady Strange walks into her life, becoming her new guardian, and tells the young girl that she has a special destiny. Delighted and intrigued, Mary travels with her loyal wolfhound, Jack, to her guardian’s estate of Moonsway. The woods and gardens are a welcome sanctuary for Mary and her dog. However, she understands that the rest of her life won’t have a normal path. Lady Strange is a white magician and believes, according to an ancient prophecy, that Mary is destined to become a white magician and possibly ensure the success of the future reign of a “Virgin Queen.”

Lady Strange gives Mary a strong education that few girls and women are fortunate to have in England during the 16th century. Along with knowledge of various languages, history and literature, Mary is taught the properties of alchemy and how to “read” people’s auras. This knowledge is especially important in determining trustworthiness in a fickle environment such as that of a royal court.

Shortly after Mary’s 16th birthday, she receives the news that she anxiously has been waiting for: Queen Elizabeth has requested her presence at court and invited her to become a lady-in-waiting. Despite having met Elizabeth only once before at the queen’s coronation, Mary is surprised by the kinship between them and how much Elizabeth loved Mary’s mother, the woman who had once cared for her as her own daughter. Mary wants to form a bond with her pseudo-sister but must keep her vocation a secret. With guidance from her wise guardian and mysterious canine companion, Persesus, she won’t be alone in fulfilling her secret endeavor.

However, Mary is confronted with an unpleasant surprise when she learns that one of her fellow ladies-in-waiting, Frances Howard, may have been bewitched by Edmund Seymour, Mary’s older cousin --- and rumored black magician --- bringing consequences that may threaten Frances’s future and affect the queen’s court, if the young white magician doesn’t find a solution to fix the complicated situation.

Mary’s vows --- to her vocation, herself and her queen --- are soon tested when the smug yet charismatic Edmund takes an interest in her, and she finds herself drawn into a web of social and political intrigue as well as dangerous magic.

While a thrilling work of fiction, THE RED QUEEN’S DAUGHTER gives a glimpse of what Queen Elizabeth I’s court may have been like with references to key historical characters and the belief system of the 16th century. Undoubtedly, Jacqueline Kolosov has created a vivid and haunting work of historical fiction and fantasy that will interest readers of various genres.