Product details
- ISBN 9798998690914
- Dimensions: 129 x 198mm
- Publication Date: 09 Apr 2026
- Publisher: Standfast Publishing LLC
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Paperback
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Some play for power. She is playing for her life.
At the glittering Swedish court, every smile conceals an ambition, every friendship comes with a price, and every whispered secret can destroy a dynasty.
Countess Jacquette Gyldenstolpe has spent her life on the fringes of power. Shunned by society and overlooked by her own family, she knows better than to dream of a future beyond the role others have chosen for her.
Then she falls in love with Prince Oscar, heir to the Swedish throne.
As passion gives way to scandal, Jacquette is drawn deep into a world of royal rivalries, political intrigue and dangerous court games. Surrounded by enemies and trapped by expectations, she discovers that survival depends on far more than beauty or birth. One wrong move could cost her everything.
But Jacquette is hiding a secret that threatens not only her future, but the future of the crown itself.
Inspired by a remarkable true story, Butterfly Games sweeps readers into the lavish ballrooms and shadowed corridors of nineteenth-century Sweden, where love and ambition collide, and every choice carries a consequence.
Perfect for readers of Philippa Gregory, Allison Pataki and Tracy Borman, this richly researched historical novel has captivated readers.
"A lush historical novel... bringing an unfamiliar chapter of Scandinavian history vividly to life." Goodreads reviewer
"Very reminiscent of Philippa Gregory." Goodreads reviewer
"A lovely glimpse into the Swedish royal court and the beginnings of the Bernadotte dynasty." Goodreads reviewer
"An excellent work of historical fiction that delivers an engaging romance and memorable characters." Kirkus Reviews
Kelly Scarborough worked for more than two decades as a law firm partner and white-collar prosecutor, but her real passion is reading and writing historical novels about the lives of fascinating women in challenging times. Butterfly Games, her debut novel, took her on journeys to Swedish castles and archives, where she walked in her characters' footsteps and translated hundreds of their letters. Along with the people she met, those experiences inspire her stories.
A lover of coastlines and sunsets, she lives on the Connecticut Shoreline and in South Carolina's Lowcountry, where she tries to keep track of her workaholic husband and appease her stubborn Shih Tzu.
