Kelly Scarborough’s Butterfly Games takes us into the royal court of Sweden from 1811 to 1817. The 'games' describe the dangerous liaisons in flirtation, broken marriage vows, ruined innocents, and trampled hearts. Avoiding scandal, following the rules, and obeying the accepted behaviors are of paramount importance. Jacquette, daughter of divorced parents, fails to follow the rules by falling in love with the heir to the throne, Prince Oscar. His father, Crown Prince Charles Jean, leads the new Bernadotte dynasty after the exile of King Gustav. Amid the opulent lifestyle of the court, the Chatterati, ladies in waiting to Queen Charlotte, gossip and repeat damaging rumours. Despite Jacquette’s desperate desire to leave court and lead a simple life, she has little choice as Aurora’s ambitions for her daughter overrule her wishes. But when Cara appears on the scene, the stakes become so much higher, and Jacquette is left to fight for what she believes is right.

Butterfly Games by Kelly Scarborough is a fascinating book. Being based on real events enhances its appeal. In an age when society was delineated between four estates, nobles, priests, merchants, and peasants, there is so much for the reader to learn about life at that time, such as the war against Napoleon, the union with Norway, and the Mandarin, the secret police. I loved the main character, Jacquette, a young woman with spirit who violates the rules of upper-class society at court, but must then face the consequences. Once again, we are reminded that life then was not fair to women. The writing is realistic, the tension in many scenes is heart-stopping, and Oscar’s intentions in his love for Jacquette are uncertain. I loved learning about this period of Swedish events, not often mentioned in history books. It encouraged me to do further research after finishing the book. I liked the maps of the various palaces, which help to visualize the narrative. An enjoyable book, especially for lovers of historical novels.

Butterfly Games by Kelly Scarborough is an emotionally charged historical novel that takes readers back to early 19th-century Sweden. At the heart of the story is Jacquette Gyldenstolpe, a young countess navigating a lonely life within the restrictions of the Swedish royal court. When she falls in love with Prince Oscar, heir to the Bernadotte dynasty, her life is transformed forever. However, their love affair is not without consequences. As political tensions rise both in Sweden and across Europe, Jacquette's secret love affair threatens the stability of the monarchy. Her tightly kept secret could either save or destroy everything she holds dear. As the stakes rise, Jacquette finds herself in a dangerous game where loyalty, love, and ambition are all tested beyond her imagination.

Kelly Scarborough brings the 19th-century Swedish court to life with the beautifully written and executed Butterfly Games. Jacquette is a strong protagonist. She is both vulnerable and strong. I loved that her personal struggles reflect the broader societal constraints of her time. However, the author made sure the reader experiences Jacquette’s development into a confident woman who was ready to fight for what she believed in. The forbidden nature of her romance with Prince Oscar creates a high-stakes emotional connection with the reader, while the threats to the Bernadottes add to the overall mystery of the story. The details of the royal court, the setting, and the in-court politics make this a delight to read. I enjoyed the plot, the descriptions, and the elegance of the court. I highly recommend it!

Butterfly Games: A Novel of the Swedish Royal Court by Kelly Scarborough is a delightful historical, regal tale of sexual and political shenanigans in the court of the Swedish monarch around the beginning of the nineteenth century. Jacquette Gyldenstolpe lives her life in a gilded cage. Neglected by her parents, especially after their divorce, she hovers around the edges of the Swedish royal family. Her mother is a lady-in-waiting to the queen, and her stepfather, although attentive and loving to her, is always frantically busy with his political and diplomatic work for the Crown. She lives surrounded by catty young ladies-in-waiting who shun and constantly belittle her. When she catches the eye and attention of the son of Sweden’s crown prince, and himself heir to the throne, she finds herself caught up in a passionate affair that could have long-term and potentially devastating consequences not only for them both but also for the future of the Swedish monarchy. 

Butterfly Games is the type of historical novel that especially captivates and intrigues me. Author Kelly Scarborough has chosen a cast of real-life characters in a setting few readers will have encountered before and woven exquisite fiction around them to explain what became of them according to historical records. I judge a historical work often by the feeling of belief and realism it instills in a reader, to the point where the reader is left wondering if this is an actual historical account or just fiction. The author achieves that with this story and deserves plaudits. Ultimately, this is a love story with all the inherent feelings, emotions, jealousy, and misconceptions that one would expect. However, it also educates, and that is the hallmark of a great historical novel. The Swedish court, its history, and relationship with its Scandinavian neighbors, with Russia, and with Napoleon Bonaparte were new to me. I found the political aspects just as fascinating as the romantic journey. This book reminds us that human behavior, especially of a sexual and political nature, is truly universal and not restrained by culture or belief. I loved this story and am excited to see what other offerings this talented author has. I highly recommend this read.