La Dame de Monsoreau is the second, and though this one, too, has a love story at its heart, it also draws on the trope of the “clever fool,” or the court jester who is really the power behind the thrown.

If you liked all the tight plotting of the Captive Prince series, enjoyed guessing what Laurent’s machinations were, and in general enjoy books that feel like games of chess, you’ll love Queen Margot. The first in the series is Queen Margot (often titled La Reine Margot even in English versions), and it is, at the same time, hundreds of pages of complex, convoluted political intrigues, adventure, and a love story.

It was a period when France was divided religiously and politically – and what the Valois trilogy chronicles is all the turmoil of this time, and, slowly, the way it brings about the birth of a more united French nation. The three novels listed above form what is known as Dumas’ “Valois Trilogy,” and they’re set in the sixteenth century, during the French Wars of Religion, a bloody, turbulent, and highly political time. He is absolutely a master at intertwining the intrigues, plots, politics of France’s history with adventure, swordfights, chases, escapes, and true love – all of which combine to create a sense of epic and high stakes. He’s also the author that pretty much helped to invent the historical novel and the swashbuckler story.

Queen Margot/ La Dame de Monsoreau/ The Forty Five – Alexandre DumasĪlexandre Dumas is, according to Pacat, one of her favorite authors and one of the major influences on Captive Prince. Pacat really likes stories with “high-octane escapism, adventure, swordfights, chases, escapes, true love, intrigue, high stakes,” so here’s a long list of books and series with all of those elements, some direct influences on Pacat, others similar in style. Because Pacat, brilliant writer that she is, both did her research and was heavily inspired by a lot of literature, some of which she’s shared on her Twitter. If you’re wondering what in the world to read now that you’re done with Pacat’s books (besides rereading them.

Pacat’s Captive Prince series, Kings Rising, was released a few days ago, and, naturally, devoured pretty quickly by, well, everyone.

Captive prince series