What the Pauper Did — PAPERBACK

How do you define identity—by your memories, your soul, or the body you inhabit?

Lisbon, 1770. In the glittering court rebuilt from the ashes of the great earthquake, nothing is as it seems. Herculano Escovar wakes in a luxurious house, surrounded by strangers who call him master. But he has no memory, no past, and—most alarmingly—why the palace seems so familiar.

Odete, a sharp-witted lady-in-waiting, knows how to survive the court’s treacherous politics: keep quiet, stay useful, and never fall in love with a prince. But when the man she loves suddenly turns cold and a mysterious stranger seems to know her too well, her world is upended.

As Herculano hunts a missing noble and pieces together a lost past, Odete is drawn into his tangled secrets. What they uncover could topple the kingdom—or save it. But first, they’ll have to decide if they can trust each other.

A richly layered historical fantasy of magic, memory, and revolution, set in an alternate Enlightenment-era Lisbon.

Perfect for readers who love:

Amnesiac Hero

Body Swap

Enemies to Reluctant Allies

Court Intrigue

Scheming Regent

Morally Grey Mentor

Strong Female Lead in a Restrictive Society

Prophecy-Free Fantasy

A Historical Fantasy of Identity, Intrigue, and Magic in 18th Century Lisbon

IMPORTANT: if you are ordering a paperback anywhere in Europe please be aware that as the book is printed in the UK the book will take a while longer to arrive as it will need to clear customs and you may need to pay some extra import duty!