The Beggar Queen
Queen Augusta, once the street urchin Mickle, finds her reign over Westmark challenged by whispers of war and revolutionary fervor. As banished Cabbarus plots to reclaim the throne, Colonel Kestrel, Theo, is drawn back into the conflict, haunted by past battles and the fight for his own soul. The past returns to threaten the present, forcing Theo to join the struggle once more to determine Westmark's fate.
This book is the third and final installment in the Westmark Trilogy, concluding the story arc that began with Westmark and continued in The Kestrel. Readers will benefit from starting with the first book to fully appreciate the character development and plot resolution.
The Beggar Queen, like the rest of the Westmark Trilogy, explores themes of political intrigue, justice, and the nature of leadership, which are also central to Alexander's more famous Chronicles of Prydain series. While distinct in setting and characters, readers familiar with his earlier fantasy will recognize his signature blend of adventure and moral complexity.