Abby Simpson’s The Dragon and the Butterfly follows Matilda of Flanders, wife to William the Conqueror, as she navigates court life. Great historical fiction gives you a window into a time, people or perspective you didn’t hear about in school. While the Norman Conquest is well known, the inner lives of those Normans, especially the women, is barely a footnote. Simpson brings us a well-researched but accessible story of love and power in the Middle Ages. Maud is a modern heroine, relatable in her big ambitions and wanting more from life than expected of her. Less relatable: the fact those ambitions involve becoming Queen of England. This epic novel opens a series about a family with even more drama than the Tudors, and is published on April 22. Get that date in your diary, pronto, and then start counting down the days (note: It’s available for pre-order now). KM

Lost Boys Press