Books like 'Sphinx's Queen'
Readers who enjoyed Sphinx's Queen by Esther M. Friesner also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
historical young adult ancient times royalty m-f political-intrigue aristocratic heroine
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The Apostle's Sister by Angela Elwell Hunt
Rated: 4.51 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsAya, daughter of Zebulon of Tarsus, does not want a traditional life. Because she has always lived in the shadow of her brilliant brother, she wants to use her gifts and be something more than a wife and mother... -
Daughter of Cana by Angela Elwell Hunt
Rated: 4.35 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsThomas and Tasmin, twin siblings hired to oversee a wedding feast in Cana, worry when the host runs out of wine . . . until a guest tells Tasmin to have the servants fill the pitchers by the gate with water from the cistern. Reluctantly, she obeys and is amazed when rainwater turns into the finest wine ever tasted in Cana...Categorized as:
ancient times christian historical young adult length-medium first-in-series standalone-first -
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Better Luck Next Time: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Alix James
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHis only job is to protect her. But first, he has to keep track of her. When Elizabeth Montclair’s privileged world shatters after witnessing a crime that could topple the crown, she vanishes into the quiet countryside, hiding in plain sight with the unsuspecting Bennet family. Her sharp tongue and quick wit make her impossible to ignore—and even harder to protect... -
The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 50 ratingsIn ancient Egypt, a forgotten princess must overcome her family’s past and remake history. The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the Eighteenth Dynasty’s royal family—all with the exception of Nefertari, the niece of the reviled former queen, Nefertiti...Categorized as:
royalty ancient times historical egypt africa northern-africa young adult length-long -
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A Woman of Words by Angela Elwell Hunt
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsDisciple Matthew, a former tax collector, is invited to work with Peter, James, and John in Jerusalem. He dreams of preaching and performing miracles like his fellow apostles, but he finds his dreams postponed because of a request from Yeshua's mother. Well aware of the passing years, Mary asks Matthew to help her record the stories of Yeshua while the eyewitnesses are still alive... -
Training the Duke by Alexa Aston
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsAn army officer who has returned to his childhood home . . . An earl’s daughter forced to earn her own living . . . Two damaged souls who find friendship . . . and love . . . Lieutenant-General Cyrus Cressley’s head wound leaves him blind in one eye and unsuited to lead men into battle... -
Anger by Mary Kingswood
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsOne man with a secret. A family torn apart by the consequences. The Earl of Rennington’s daughter, Lady Isabel, has done well for herself. Married for five years to an indulgent viscount, with two small daughters, she lives her life in the centre of a social whirl, respected and admired for her beauty, her elegance and her liveliness... -
The FitzOsbornes at War by Michelle Cooper
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsMichelle Cooper completes her heart-stealing epic drama of history and romance with The FitzOsbornes at War. Sophie FitzOsborne and the royal family of Montmaray escaped their remote island home when the Nazis attacked. But as war breaks out in England and around the world, nowhere is safe. Sophie fills her journal with tales of a life during wartime. Blackouts and the Blitz... -
Redeeming Grace: Ruth's Story by Jill Eileen Smith
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen famine visits Bethlehem, Boaz holds out hope for rain while his relative Elimelech moves his wife Naomi and their sons to Moab. For a while, it appears the Lord is blessing Elimelech's family, and his sons marry two lovely Moabite women. But calamities strike, one after another, leaving Naomi alone in a foreign land with only her childless daughters-in-law for comfort... -
The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 2 by Kairi Yura, Sai Yukino
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsShurei Hong, destitute but of noble birth, has always dreamed of working as a civil servant in the imperial court of Saiunkoku, but women are barred from holding office. The emperor Ryuki, however, refuses to take command, leaving everything to his advisors. Shurei is asked to become a consort to the emperor to persuade the ne'er-do-well ruler to govern...Categorized as:
m-f royalty political-intrigue historical young adult length-short boss & employee east-asian-mc -
Superior Connections: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Lory Lilian, Layla Johnson
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAuthors’ Warning: This is the second edition of the book. Except for some editing and formatting, it adds nothing new for readers who have already purchased or read it! We know little of Mr Bennet’s past and how it happened that Longbourn became entailed on Mr Collins... -
The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 1 by Kairi Yura, Sai Yukino
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 31 ratingsShurei Hong, destitute but of noble birth, has always dreamed of working as a civil servant in the imperial court of Saiunkoku, but women are barred from holding office. The emperor Ryuki, however, refuses to take command, leaving everything to his advisors. Shurei is asked to become a consort to the emperor to persuade the ne’er-do-well ruler to govern...Categorized as:
m-f political-intrigue royalty contemporary length-short young adult boss & employee east-asian-mc -
The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 7 by Kairi Yura, Sai Yukino
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsShurei Hong, destitute but of noble birth, has always dreamed of working as a civil servant in the imperial court of Saiunkoku, but women are barred from holding office. The emperor Ryuki, however, refuses to take command, leaving everything to his advisers. Shurei is asked to become a consort to the emperor to persuade the ne'er-do-well ruler to govern...Categorized as:
m-f political-intrigue royalty historical young adult length-short boss & employee east-asian-mc -
The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 8 by Kairi Yura, Sai Yukino
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsShurei Hong, destitute but of noble birth, has always dreamed of working as a civil servant in the imperial court of Saiunkoku, but women are barred from holding office. The emperor Ryuki, however, refuses to take command, leaving everything to his advisers. Shurei is asked to become a consort to the emperor to persuade the ne’er-do-well ruler to govern...Categorized as:
m-f political-intrigue royalty historical young adult length-short boss & employee east-asian-mc -
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Egypt's Second Born by Lauren Lee Merewether
Bullied by his brother and disregarded by his father, young prince Amenhotep seeks to belong. Not expected to live as a babe, Amenhotep beats the odds only to find a life always in his brother's shadow and cast out from his father's glory...Categorized as:
ancient times m-f aristocratic heroine royalty historical young adult length-medium audiobook -
Wife of Ay by Lauren Lee Merewether
Temehu, the daughter of Nomarch Paser, is expected to live a certain life, marry at a certain age to a man of certain status, and have children. But in her attempts to pursue want she wants for her life, she finds herself questioning the fate of her heart on the journey to the afterlife... -
An Angel's Story by Max Lucado
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSpiritual beings populate the stories of Scripture. Angels singing. Demons infecting. Heavenly hosts fighting . . . Ignore the armies of God and Satan and you ignore the heart of Scripture. Ever since the snake tempted Eve in Eden, we've known: there is more to this world than meets the eye... -
Lady Knight by Amalie Howard
The daughter of a duke defies the rules of London high society with the help of the resident rake—who just so happens to be her brother’s best friend—in this fun teen historical romance from the USA Today bestselling author of Queen Bee. “A ridiculously romantic, womanist, hilarious, and hugely entertaining romance that had me smiling and swooning from start to finish... -
The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 3 by Kairi Yura, Sai Yukino
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsShurei Hong, destitute but of noble birth, has always dreamed of working as a civil servant in the imperial court of Saiunkoku, but women are barred from holding office. The emperor Ryuki, however, refuses to take command, leaving everything to his advisors. Shurei is asked to become a consort to the emperor to persuade the ne’er-do-well ruler to govern...Categorized as:
m-f political-intrigue royalty contemporary length-short historical young adult boss & employee -
Ben-Hur (A Tale of the Christ) by Lew Wallace, W.M. Johnson
Rated: 4.03 of 5 stars · 42 ratingsThis carefully crafted ebook: "Ben-Hur (A Tale of the Christ)” is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. Ben-Hur describes the adventures of Judah Ben-Hur, Jewish prince from Jerusalem who gets betrayed by his friend from childhood and enslaved by the Romans. He is taken to Rome where he becomes a charioteer and a Christian... -
Poppy's War by Lily Baxter
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsInternational bestselling author Lily Baxter returns with another emotional, heart-pounding saga set in World War II England. In 1939, thirteen-year-old Poppy is forced to evacuate her London home and flee to a grand country house on the coast of England... -
Midnight Rider by Joan Hiatt Harlow
Fourteen-year-old Hannah is an orphan living with her cruel aunt Phoebe in Salem, Massachusetts. Hannah recently lost her mother, and now her only comfort is her horse, Promise. But when her money-hungry aunt sells the horse and then indentures Hannah to the Boston family of a British general, Hannah vows to retrieve Promise at all costs, and join the fight for freedom... -
The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 5 by Kairi Yura, Sai Yukino
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsShurei Hong, destitute but of noble birth, has always dreamed of working as a civil servant in the imperial court of Saiunkoku, but women are barred from holding office. The emperor Ryuki, however, refuses to take command, leaving everything to his advisors. Shurei is asked to become a consort to the emperor to persuade the ne’er-do-well ruler to govern...Categorized as:
m-f political-intrigue royalty contemporary length-short historical young adult boss & employee -
The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 4 by Kairi Yura, Sai Yukino
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsShurei Hong, destitute but of noble birth, has always dreamed of working as a civil servant in the Imperial court of Saiunkoku, but women are barred from holding office. The emperor Ryuki, however, refuses to take command, leaving everything to his advisers. Shurei is asked to become a consort to the emperor to persuade the ne'er-do-well ruler to govern...Categorized as:
m-f political-intrigue royalty contemporary length-short historical young adult boss & employee -
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The Story of Saiunkoku, Vol. 6 by Kairi Yura, Sai Yukino
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA period fantasy in which a palace consort must guide a feckless emporer to assume the throne. Reads R to L (Japanese Style), for audiences T. Shurei Hong, destitute but of noble birth, has always dreamed of working as a civil servant in the imperial court of Saiunkoku, but women are barred from holding office...Categorized as:
m-f political-intrigue royalty contemporary length-short historical young adult boss & employee -
The FitzOsbornes in Exile by Michelle Cooper
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsForced to leave their island kingdom, Sophie FitzOsborne and her eccentric family take shelter in England... -
Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter
Rated: 4.02 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsCleopatra's Moon. The Critically Acclaimed Young Adult Novel. Based On The Real Life Of Cleopatra's Daughter, Selene. The only daughter of the last queen of Egypt watches her beloved father--Mark Antony--fall on his sword in front of her. Then she hears the haunting wails of the priestesses of Isis on the island of Pharos and knows her mother died...Categorized as:
ancient times royalty historical young adult multicultural mystery love triangle other-man-woman -
Noah's Wife by T.K. Thorne
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year! Noah's wife is Na'amah, a young girl with a form of autism (now known as Asperger's) who only wishes to be a shepherdess on her beloved hills in ancient Turkey—a desire shattered by the hatred of her powerful brother, the love of two men, and a looming disaster that threatens her world... -
Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen
Rated: 3.98 of 5 stars · 42 ratingsScarlet’s true identity has been revealed, but her future is uncertain. Her forced marriage to Lord Gisbourne threatens Robin and Scarlet’s love, and as the royal court descends upon Nottingham for the appointment of a new Sheriff, the people of Nottingham hope that Prince John will appoint their beloved Robin Hood...Categorized as:
royalty historical young adult legends & fairy tales medieval sassy heroine length-medium audiobook -
A Snowman Wish for Lady Samantha by Katherine Ann Madison, Maggie Dallen
A desperate debutante. .. It’s all too much. At least, that is how Lady Samantha feels as she slips out into the snow to build a snowman. With her first season bearing down on her, she’d give anything to have her mother’s guidance one last time. But certainly, it isn’t that prayer that sends the Marquess of Longley calling at that precise moment... -
The Song of Us by Kate Fussner
Rated: 3.99 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThis stunning debut and wholly original queer middle grade novel-in-verse retelling of "Orpheus and Eurydice" adds a new chorus to the songs of great love, perfect for fans of Other Words for Home and Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World. Love at first sight isn't a myth. For seventh graders Olivia and Eden, it's fate... -
Loyal Heart by Anna Markland
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAn impossible choice…love or family loyalty. Book I of a brand new series from Anna Markland, The Von Wolfenberg Dynasty. Sophia falls in love with a guest at her brother’s wedding, but he is an envoy sent by her father’s enemies. Brandt intends to return home as soon as his unwelcome obligation to attend the wedding is fulfilled... -
In Want of a Suspect by Tirzah Price
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIt is a truth universally acknowledged, that London’s first female solicitor in possession of the details of a deadly crime, must be in want of a suspect. The tenacious Lizzie Bennet has earned her place at Longbourn, her father’s law firm. Her work keeps her busy, but luckily she often has help from (and steals occasional kisses with) Mr...Categorized as:
m-f mystery young adult historical length-medium audiobook first-in-series standalone-first -
A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson
After the Russian revolution turns her world topsy-turvy, Anna, a young Russian Countess, has no choice but to flee to England. Penniless, Anna hides her aristocratic background and takes a job as servant in the household of the esteemed Westerholme family, armed only with an outdated housekeeping manual and sheer determination...Categorized as:
royalty m-f young adult historical legends & fairy tales clean boss & employee 20th century -
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The Cartographer's Secret by Tea Cooper
Rated: 3.96 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsA young woman's quest to heal a family rift entangles her in one of Australia's greatest historical puzzles when an intricately illustrated map offers a clue to the fate of a long-lost girl. A mesmerising historical mystery set in the Hunter Valley from bestselling author Tea Cooper for readers of Natasha Lester and Kate Morton. 1880 The Hunter Valley...Categorized as:
ancient times historical mystery 20th century suspense young adult length-medium audiobook -
Goong: Palace Story Vol.1 by Park So Hee
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 23 ratingsMonarchy ended long ago in Korea, but there are still other countries with Kings, Queens, princes and princesses... -
Sphinx's Princess by Esther M. Friesner
"Nefertiti was far more than just a pretty face. ". Nefertiti may be the dutiful daughter of a commoner, but her inquisitive mind often gets her into situations that are far from ordinary, like receiving secret lessons from a scribe. And she's the kind of girl who acts first, and apologizes later whenever she witnesses injustice or cruelty. But she is also extraordinarily beautiful...Categorized as:
royalty ancient times m-f political-intrigue aristocratic heroine contemporary mystery historical -
The Highlander by Zoe Saadia
Rated: 3.95 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsBorn in the Highlands, Kuini thought his life was simple. You hunt and you fight, defending your towns against the raids of the Lowlanders and then raiding their lands in turn. His father was the Warriors’ Leader, and he wanted to be just like him. Yet, Texcoco, the mighty Capital of the Lowlands, seemed incredibly beautiful, sparkling, its pyramids magnificent... -
The Bad Queen: Rules and Instructions for Marie-Antoinette by Carolyn Meyer
Rated: 3.93 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsHistory paints her as a shallow party girl, a spoiled fashionista, a callous ruler. Perhaps no other royal has been so maligned and so misunderstood as Marie-Antoinette. From the moment she was betrothed to the dauphin of France at age fourteen, perfection was demanded of Marie-Antoinette... -
Doomed Queen Anne by Carolyn Meyer
Rated: 3.91 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsShe risked everything to become queen. Though born without great beauty, wealth, or title, Anne Boleyn blossomed into a captivating woman. She used her wiles to win the heart of England’s most powerful man, King Henry VIII, and to persuade him to defy everyoneincluding his own wifeto make her his new queen. But Anne’s ambition proved to be her fatal flaw. -
Cleopatra's Heir: A Novel of The Roman Empire by Gillian Bradshaw
Rated: 3.90 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe might and power of Julius Caesar, the man who conquered the known world. The beauty of Cleopatra, the woman who conquered the conqueror. Together they could have forged an empire whose power had never been seen before. Tragically, it was not meant to be... -
The Betrayal by Mary Hooper
Rated: 3.89 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsIn this follow-up to By Royal Command , Lucy is asked to continue her work on behalf of Queen Elizabeth I. But will her romance with Tomas, the queen's fool, get in the way? There's also Mistress Juliette, the mysterious new lady-in-waiting...Categorized as:
royalty young adult historical mystery length-medium audiobook standalone standalone-first -
Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan
Rated: 3.87 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsOrphan Meg Fellowes makes her living picking pockets—until she steals from the wrong nobleman. Instead of rotting in prison like she expected, she’s whisked away to the court of Queen Elizabeth and pressed into royal service, where she joins four other remarkable girls in the Maids of Honor, the Queen’s secret society of protectors...Categorized as:
royalty political-intrigue historical mystery young adult tudors length-long first-in-series -
The Queen's Lady by Eve Edwards
Rated: 3.81 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsEngland, 1584. When beautiful Lady Jane Rievaulx begins her service to the Queen at Richmond Palace, she is thrilled to see the court's newest arrival . . . Master James Lacey. No matter that Jane was previously courted by the eldest Lacey brother—James is the one who has won her heart. For his part, James cannot deny his fascination with Jane; his plans, however, do not allow for love... -
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The Earl's London Bride by Lauren Royal, Devon Royal
Rated: 3.82 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsLondon, 1666: Amethyst Goldsmith makes dazzling jewelry, but her future isn’t nearly as bright as the pieces she creates. Though custom dictates she wed her father’s apprentice, her heart rebels against the match... -
The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory (Author)
Rated: 3.84 of 5 stars · 57 ratings -
The Rogue's Princess by Eve Edwards
Rated: 3.74 of 5 stars · 13 ratings1586 – London, England. Sixteen-year-old Mercy Hart is the daughter of one of London’s richest – and strictest – cloth merchants. Kit Turner is an actor and the illegitimate son of the late Earl of Dorset. A chance encounter finds Kit falling for the beautiful Mercy’s charms, but their love is forbidden. A merchant’s daughter and a vagabond – it simply cannot be... -
Patience, Princess Catherine by Carolyn Meyer
Rated: 3.79 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsWill Catherine ever become queen? England anxiously awaits Prince Arthur’s betrothed—the Spanish princess who will be its future queen. But when Arthur dies not long after the wedding, Catherine of Aragon’s fate becomes uncertain... -
Curses and Smoke by Vicky Alvear Shecter
Rated: 3.70 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsWhen your world blows apart, what will you hold onto? TAG is a medical slave, doomed to spend his life healing his master's injured gladiators. But his warrior's heart yearns to fight in the gladiator ring himself and earn enough money to win his freedom. LUCIA is the daughter of Tag's owner, doomed by her father's greed to marry a much older Roman man...Categorized as:
ancient times historical young adult length-medium audiobook standalone standalone-first -
Beware, Princess Elizabeth by Carolyn Meyer
Rated: 3.77 of 5 stars · 35 ratingsElizabeth Tudor's teenage years are hardly those of a fairy-tale princess. Her father has beheaded her mother; her jealous half sister has her locked away in the Tower of London; and her only love has betrayed her in his own quest for the throne. Told in the voice of the young Elizabeth and ending when she is crowned queen, this is the second novel in the exciting Young Royals series.
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