In 1572 Paris, aspiring spy Jac d’Argenson-Aunis juggles secrets, political chaos, and her own tangled heart. Tasked with matchmaking for her ex-lover, Princess Margot, and the brash King Henry, Jac is drawn into a web of espionage, hidden agendas, and forbidden romance. But as her loyalties are tested, she uncovers shocking truths that could shake the French court to its core.
Scandal and intrigue in the French Court with a bisexual assassin as the protagonist? Sign me up! If you enjoyed the CW show Reign, then this book needs to be on your TBR.
A Traitorous Heart’s plot was interestingly divided. While the first half very much focused on Jac and her relationships as well as romantic development, the second half then was when the politics, intrigue, and secrets truly got their moment to shine. I for one really appreciated this twist because I usually struggle with getting through the politics without any character development or hint at romance to keep me invested, so while this might not work for everyone, for me it elevated this book to higher levels of intrigue.
Jac and Henry’s “meet-cute” if you could call it that had me figuratively giggling and kicking my feet. The way the both of them navigate the French Court yet find solace in antagonising but also showing empathy for each others’ situation was beautifully portrayed. Jac and Margot, meanwhile, were so refreshing and every interaction had me wanting to have even more time with them.
Altogether, they had a very interesting dynamic that kept me on my toes, yet I was pleasantly surprised by how well each character stands on its own. From quiet strength to unleashed vulnerability, Jac, Henry, and Margot showed their true colours throughout the whole story, detailing their individual character growth that elevated the intricate web of relationships between them. Henry is—well, he is probably going to become a lot of readers’ new favourite book boyfriend and deservedly so. The depths to his character truly had me in a chokehold. Margot is so sassy yet kind and made me want her as a best friend. Meanwhile, Jac is the reigning champ in my heart who deserves the world at the tip of her fingers (which are probably clutching a dagger as we speak) and I imagine many a playlist dedicated to her in the future.
Pair these captivating characters with scandal and the drama of court politics and you have yourself a refreshingly unique take on a beloved plot. I am always here for the drama that comes with court politics and especially the way Jac together with Princess Margot and King Henry play into it had me invested from the very first few pages.
Could the magic system have been fleshed out more? Sure, but it was engaging enough to keep me guessing and considering just how much character work was involved here, I was more than happy to take a few hits here and there when it came to explanation of certain aspects (and I will take questions over info dumping any day of the week). The same goes for the (wonderfully queer) cast of secondary characters that could have benefitted from more time on-page but I gladly sacrificed that to have more time with Margot, Henry, and especially Jac. Additionally, while some of the twists in the second half were perhaps predictable, I think the way we get to them and see how they play out more than make up for it.
Overall, I think you will find something to love in A Traitorous Heart. Whether you’ve read one book with a similar premise or a hundred, Cotter crafts a story entirely of her own imagination that has enough familiarity to engage readers yet who love stories like this yet also strongly stands apart on its own with unique characters and romantic dynamics that will keep your heart pounding throughout.
A Traitorous Heart is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of January 7th 2025.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
A noblewoman in the scandalous French court finds herself under the dangerous and watchful eye of the Parisian royalty when she falls in love with the handsome king who is betrothed to her former lover in this bisexual The Three Musketeers by way of Bridgerton and F.T. Lukens.
Paris, 1572. Seventeen-year-old Jacqueline “Jac” d’Argenson-Aunis is lady-in-waiting to her best friend and former lover, the French Princess Marguerite “Margot” de Valois, but she dreams of more. If Jac plays her cards right, one day, she’ll become a full member of the Societas Solis, a secret society of spies—just like her uncle and guardian, Viscount Gabriel d’Argenson-Aunis.
But it’s hard to think about her own ambitions while France is on the brink of war, and the only thing that might save the country is an alliance—a marriage between the Catholic Princess Margot and Henry, the awful son of the Huguenot queen. Who would be the perfect person to play matchmaker? Jac, of course.
Jac resents lying to her best friend almost as much as she resents the brazen and arrogant King Henry, but it’s her one chance to prove to the Societas Solis that she belongs among their ranks before her uncle can marry her off or worse. The more time Jac spends in the French Court’s clandestine corners, though, the more she starts to wonder if Henry is…not as terrible as she once believed. And the Societas Solis may not be what they seem.
Politics. Spies. Chaos in the French court. Perhaps even witchcraft? Everything’s more dangerous when love is involved.
