Royal Witch

'Consistently brilliant, fascinating and compelling' Bridget Collins

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 little more than to marry well.

England is in a golden age – but beneath the glittering surface, ancient rivalries fester and chaos lurks in the shadows.

And chaos, Eleanor discovers, creates opportunities. Appointed lady-in-waiting to a Countess who commands her own army, she begins to see what a woman can truly become.

She dares to dream of real power. Perhaps even the crown itself. But for that, she must turn to darker arts. And the higher she climbs, the darker the path becomes…

Philippa Gregory tells a breathtaking story of sorcery, ambition and one woman's extraordinary rise.

'An extraordinary story of an ambitious woman’s rise and fall … a rewarding and complex novel’ The Times

'Gregory makes brilliant use of what historical material there is, recreating Eleanor’s treasonous queenly quest as a tale of ill wishing, courtly machinations and secretive rituals' Daily Mail

'With rich historical detail, Gregory masterfully weaves together courtly intrigue with Eleanor’s fierce pursuit to shape her destiny in a world determined to deny it' Booklist

'A detailed portrait of the bold life of a woman overlooked by historians' Kirkus Reviews

'Vividly bringing to life four overlooked historical women, this is a scandalous mix of courtly ambition, midwifery and witchcraft' Woman&Home

Reader praise for Royal Witch:

‘Captivating from start to finish’ ★★★★★

‘Outstanding … Filled with drama, ambition, betrayal and strong female characters’ ★★★★★

‘Compelling and immersive’ ★★★★★

‘Philippa Gregory is so skilled at this meticulous and detailed imagining of women who were important in their time but who are largely forgotten by history … Totally gripping’ ★★★★★

‘Brilliantly researched and thoroughly enjoyable’ ★★★★★

‘Eleanor is such a nuanced and deep character … Absolutely brilliant’ ★★★★★

‘A wonderfully complicated main character’ ★★★★★

‘Transportive and evocative’ ★★★★★

About the author

Philippa Gregory is a historian and novelist renowned for combining rich research with powerful storytelling. Through her writing, she reveals the women history tried to forget – and whose stories are more relevant today than ever. Her novels have sold millions of copies worldwide and been adapted for stage, television and film.

In 2023 she published her critically acclaimed non-fiction book Normal Women, a new social history of women in England for 900 years. It has also been adapted as a podcast, teen edition and children's edition. In 2026, Boleyn Traitor won Fiction Book of the Year at the British Book Awards.

Philippa Gregory was awarded a CBE for services to literature and charity in 2021.

www.philippagregory.com