Tower of Vengeance

by Samantha Ward-Smith

Tower of London 1214...

Maude de Mandeville is dying. Murdered by a poisoned egg for rejecting King John’s advances. As she stands before Death, she makes a pact with the Devil to avenge her murder and return as a ghost to protect her only son with the help of her inherited witch’s powers.

Sixteen years later her son, William de Mandeville, declared a traitor by John's son King Henry III, arrives at the Tower in disguise but he is determined to regain his status as the Earl of Essex at any cost. However, he quickly becomes torn between two very different women – Emma, the alewife’s daughter, and Princess Isabella, daughter of his mother’s murderer and sister to the current King. Their lives will be changed forever.

Over the course of some forty years, Maude’s ghost plays a deadly game with the Devil, as she tries to protect her son and his family and gain vengeance for a death she did not deserve.

363 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2025

About the author

Samantha Ward-Smith lives in Whitstable with her two cats Belle and Rudy. She loves ravens, cats, castles, and travelling as long as she has a case full of books to read!

Reviews

[Laura Relph]

I loved reading this book, was a big fan of the unexpected twists and turns. Whilst not having much knowledge on history I love how it was based off of historical facts and in the setting of the Tower.

The characters were so well put together. I found myself invested in all of them whether their intentions be good or bad.

I look forward to the follow up to this book and Ward-Smiths future work!

[Gemma McKenna]

With the exception of my love for Ken Follett, I am not a historical fiction reader. However, it appears my exception will have to be extended to Samantha Ward-Smith.

Ward-Smith masterfully weaves historical facts with a compelling narrative, creating a richly imagined world filled with intrigue, revenge, and supernatural elements. Her deep love of history and extensive knowledge of the Tower of London shine through in the vivid descriptions and authentic details that bring the story to life.

Be ready to embark on a journey, where you will form a strong connection with the characters. Their distinct and unique personalities and motivations add layers to the story, and draw you in to experience the highs and lows alongside them.

I am intrigued and excited for Ward-Smith's future works.

[Roman Clodia]

Ok, so this is how to write popular historical fiction in 2025! Unlike so many 'historical' novels which feature twenty-first century characters with all our values and attitudes simply dressed up in medieval costumes, Ward-Smith's writing wears its extensive research lightly but gives us characters whose thoughts, feelings and actions reflect their thirteenth century setting, even when that may make them different from us.

Female characters, for example, are not proto-feminists. That doesn't make them pushovers or simpering children, but does reflect how power circulated in medieval culture and the negotiations that women had to make to accommodate themselves to the strictures of their place in society.

It's hugely refreshing not to be in yet another Tudor novel and the book offers up enough historical context to ease us into the story without any of the dreaded info-dumps. One of the stand-out features is the visceral sense of what life felt, smelt and tasted like at this time with the Tower of London essentially a character in its own right.

There's enough of a supernatural edge to add intrigue to this fast-paced, multigenerational story with both Maud and the Tower itself acting as anchors to give ballast to the plot. Both a page-turner and an accessible form of history, don't miss Ward-Smith's informative afterword which shows how much of the book is, jaw-droppingly, based on historical record.

[Emily]

I’m generally not a historical fiction reader, but I really enjoyed this! It’s a dark tale of murder, curses, power struggles and deception, whilst also being a love story. Set in the Tower of London, it’s obvious throughout that the book has been incredibly well researched and the story paints a vivid picture of life within its walls in the 13th century. I was lucky enough to visit the tower whilst reading this, which I would highly recommend - the book/visit each enhanced the other!

The characters were compelling and I ended up loving them, despite their flaws and should-be-unforgivable actions. I won’t mention names as I don’t want to give spoilers, but there are certain characters for whom I really hope this isn’t the end of their story…

[Justine Gilbert]

For anyone who likes a dash of supernatural with their historical fiction, this book is perfect. I was fascinated about the details of the early life of the Tower of London: the floods, the buildings, the animals brought from afar. This author really brings it all to life. The story follows a threatened earl, who must leave his kingdom and pretend to be a commoner to evade those who would murder him, and as I read, I had the feeling this probably happened to quite a few of those who wound up being on the opposite side to the 'winners' - in this case King John and King Henry. A tale of turbulent times, made more fascinating by the heady mix of the Devil and tarot. A great read, and I highly recommend.

[Lee-Anne McAulay]

I absolutely loved this book! It is haunting and evocative. The Tower of London is a fascinating place and I enjoyed learning more about it from the perspective of its inhabitants.

If you love eerie tales and royal intrigues then give this a go.

[Hayley Turner]

Absolutely loved this debut novel from Samantha Ward Smith. I sometimes find historical fiction a struggle but this book was so easy to read, I just wanted to pick it up and find out what happened next. So much history but written in such a way it's easy to take in and enjoy. Fab characters and twists, can't wait for the next installment!