Short Story
A Winter Solstice Gambit
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About This Book
If you’re looking for a spicy, politically charged historical fantasy novella where a witch-queen, her brother and a fallen god conspire to topple a king and burn the Church to the ground you can grab the first 3 chapters for free now. This excerpt is part of a novella which will be released 1 May 2026.
❤️🔥 Anne Boleyn retelling
❤️🔥 historical fantasy
❤️🔥 betrayal & scheming
❤️🔥 spicy MM romantic subplot
❤️🔥 witch queen in her villain era
❤️🔥 burn down the patriarchy vibes
❤️🔥 3 POV + 3rd person
England, 1535.
Anne Boleyn knows she’s running out of time before her neck’s on the executioner’s block. In a world where queens are disposable and men hold all the power, Anne is willing to tear down the Crown, burn the Church, and force a God to kneel if it means securing her reign and protecting her daughter.
George Boleyn is torn between his loyalty to his family and his love for an exiled god. As witches have been forced into hiding by the increasingly fractious wars between Crown and Church, he knows the only way to ensure his kind’s survival is by supporting Anne. But her schemes threaten more than just witches and mortals.
Fallen god Zephyr is forced into Anne’s schemes when his lover, George, calls on dangerous magick to challenge. He knows the price of meddling with the Fates is steep — and it’s never without blood. As the cost of George’s reckless gamble grows, Zephyr must confront the possibility that saving them all may come at a price he can’t afford.
Trigger Warnings
Body horror, Religious oppression, subversive reinterpretations of religious iconography, sexual content, including explicit scenes, psychological trauma, including PTSD, dissociation, and intrusive thoughts, substance use and self-medication (drugs and a
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Community Reviews
The narrative’s strength lies in its nuanced characterizations and sharp, "snappy" dialogue. The dynamic between George and Zephyr is particularly compelling—a nuanced, queer-positive relationship charged with a palpable tension that serves as the story's emotional anchor. Sinclair’s ability to maintain a high-tension political intrigue, even for those who do not typically frequent the genre, speaks to the caliber of the plotting.
Ultimately, A Winter Solstice Gambit offers a refreshing and inclusive lens on a familiar era. With gods walking among courtiers and a "lush," eloquent writing style, Sinclair has established a high bar for the upcoming 2026 release. This debut excerpt signals the arrival of a significant new talent in historical fantasy, leaving the reader eager for the full weight of the narrative in May.
