The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels: Book 1
Publication Date: October 20, 2026
Royal Witch: the gripping new novel from the international bestselling author.
Ambition. Sorcery. Treason. How far will one woman dare to go?
1420. Eleanor Cobham arrives at the court of Henry V. Pretty but not highborn, she hopes for nothing more than to marry well.
It is a golden age for England, its royal family’s dynasty stretching across Europe. But chaos waits in the shadows. Betrayals and shifts of power change the flourishing world Eleanor has stepped into.
Working in the household of a Countess who commands her own army, Eleanor begins to see for the first time what a woman is capable of…what men’s promises are truly worth.
As the safe, comfortable future she’d envisioned begins to shift, Eleanor changes with it. Now she must use her wits to survive – and to rise. Her newfound ambition will to carry her further than any woman before has dared. But if she is to rule England itself, she will need to turn to darker arts..
With more than 30 historical fiction books to her credit, including 17 known as The Plantagenet and Tudor Novels, author Philippa Gregory has once again delivered a richly detailed look at women hidden by history.
Royal Witch centers on Philippa Gregory, the second wife of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester and younger brother of Henry V. Her story, though, wouldn’t be complete without understanding the role of Jacqueline, Countess of Hainault.
While historical details about women in the 15th century are somewhat meager, the author brings to life a character immersed in alchemy and magic. In other words, she’s a witch and necromancer.
Along the way, familiar names and places denoted in history provide a sense of direction for readers. Young Eleanor’s character evolves tremendously throughout the story as she learns how to take what she wants.
Full of intrigue, Royal Witch introduces Eleanor Cobham, who leverages secrets and ambition to make her place in the world.
Philippa Gregory is an internationally renowned historian and novelist. She holds a PhD in eighteenth-century literature at the University of Edinburgh and is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff, an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck University of London and she was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to literature and to charity. Her novels have been adapted for stage and screen and in 2023 she published her groundbreaking history book, Normal Women – 900 Years of Making History, which was also released as a podcast, a teen edition and a series for young children.
