The Castle & the Cloister

by Laura E. Weymouth · 2026

The Castle & the Cloister is a political fantasy duology that follows three women—a wet nurse, a heretic queen, and a priest—who navigate a continent scarred by war and the resurgence of ancient gods. Two centuries after the Inver clan conquered the pacifist nation of Honoria, a fragile peace hangs in the balance as a king’s whims threaten to reignite conflict. At the sun‑goddess Raea’s cloister, Fia seeks safety for her infant daughter, while Ariana, the apostate queen, strives for peace in a court built for conquest. Meanwhile, the Inver priest plots his own revenge. Themes of motherhood, faith, power, and family intertwine with fast‑paced intrigue and moral ambiguity, earning praise for its rich world‑building and complex, morally gray characters.