Line of Succession

by Kristen Grafton

Julia Clarke was never supposed to be the Duchess of Graycott. The title was going to pass from her uncle to her father to her sister Jane, and Jane’s future kids would have a shot at the title before she ever would. But when her parents and sister die suddenly in a train accident, Julia finds herself at Lithilea Preparatory Academy, a boarding school designed to prepare future dukes and duchesses to rule their respective duchies of Lithilea alongside the royal family.

Julia faces an uphill climb in more ways than one. Graycott is a minor province, and as such, doesn’t garner much respect from the others. Add to that the fact that Julia isn’t as willing to play nice and go along with the others as Jane did, and Julia finds herself the enemy of many. Feeling ostracized and ill-prepared, she struggles to find where she belongs in a position and a school she was never meant to be in the first place.

But when reports reveal that the train accident wasn’t an accident after all, Julia becomes determined to figure out which of her supposed fellow countrymen plotted the attack that robbed her of her family and forced her into this role. The duplicity and manipulation surrounding her make it difficult to see people for who they are—and for who they’re not.

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 12, 2025

Reviews

[Kristen Grafton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story idea first came to me during the COVID-19 lockdowns. I had a really bizarre dream of two characters having an argument in a Medieval castle-like building in a desert. That was it. Over time, it morphed into this story. I've often described this as Avalon High meets The Selection because it combines the academic and speculative elements of Avalon High with the royalty and classism elements of The Selection. Here's what you can expect from this story:

1. Dark Academia: This story takes place at a boarding school designed to train future dukes and duchesses alongside the future king. I really wanted to dig into the academic setting of a board school in a Medieval England repurposed castle where not everyone can be trusted. Of everything I've written (published and unpublished), this is easily my favorite world I've created.

2. Mystery: I love a good mystery, and I wanted to include an element of mystery here. Who killed Jane? Follow along with the clues to find out. (I promise there's not too much gore)

3. Diary entries: Each chapter starts with a chapter from the main character's late sister's diary. These were so fun for me to write because some of them just relate to what is happening in the story while others give valuable clues about who killed her. These were such a fun element of worldbuilding and storytelling that I got to add.

4. Royalty: I love royalty in books, so I loved getting to add that element here, but I also wanted to do something different. The main character Julia is the heir to a duchy, and one day she will rule it as a duchess. I studied political science and history in college, so I loved getting to explore what kind of government would combine royalty with a duchy/provincial system. If you like a little political intrigue and drama, this is for you.

This book is moodier than anything I've ever written, and I love that about it. This flexed a whole other set of artistic muscles for me, and I hope you enjoy the read!

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new book, Line of Succession by Kristen Grafton, is a game changer! Readers will now have a brand new reason to follow this remarkable author. Previously known for her debut novel as a YA author, she now reveals a gritty talent for the Mystery Genre. It will challenge you as it builds to its final conclusion while charming you along the way. Compelling and yet absolutely relatable, the story has many sides of intrigue but never fails to be entertaining as the suspense builds!