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The High Priestess by Katie Cross | The Historical Collection Book 1
The High Priestess by Katie Cross | The Historical Collection Book 1
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All novels in The Historical Collection are standalones and can be read at any time.
In the Eastern Network, wealthy landowners own everything.
The land.
The power.
The future.
Vittoria Gutia knows better than to make waves. She is an uneducated witch, a lavanda maid, and the only person standing between her beloved nephew and starvation.
The math is simple.
She works, or they do not eat.
But when an unexpected savior lands in her life, fate comes with him. La Salvatorra—Giver of Justice—beckons Vittoria toward a future she never imagined and a choice she cannot afford to refuse.
To save her nephew, Vittoria accepts the landowners’ reckless offer.
Soon, she is thrust into a glittering new court, a world without conscience, and a political game designed to crush women like her before they ever rise. But the Eastern Network is broken, and Vittoria may be the only witch stubborn enough to see what everyone else is willing to ignore.
Her people need justice.
Her nephew needs safety.
And her Network needs a High Priestess who understands what it means to be powerless.
Can Vittoria save her witches by focusing on what matters most?
Or will the world of power and men cast her aside like the lavanda maid she was raised to be?
The High Priestess is the first standalone novel in The Historical Collection by Katie Cross, a clean YA fantasy collection set in Alkarra before The Network Series, The Dragonmaster Trilogy, and The Sisterwitches Series. This historical fantasy adventure features ancient magic, political intrigue, court danger, powerful women, found family, forgotten history, first love, tyranny, slow-burn romance, and no spice.
Perfect for readers who love clean YA fantasy, powerful heroines, court intrigue, magic and politics, medieval fantasy worlds, Alkarra history, standalone fantasy novels, and worldbuilding origin stories.
Perfect For Readers Who Love
- YA fantasy books about powerful heroines
- Clean fantasy with no spice
- Historical fantasy set in magical worlds
- Court intrigue and political danger
- Ancient magic and forgotten history
- Magic and politics
- Strong female leads
- Found family
- First love and slow-burn romance
- Tyranny, justice, and rebellion
- Medieval fantasy worlds
- Standalone fantasy novels
- Alkarra origin stories
Format Options
This product is available in multiple formats, depending on the edition selected:
- Ebook
- Audiobook
- Paperback
Please choose your preferred format before checkout.
Series Reading Order
The Historical Collection
- The High Priestess
- The Swordmaker
- The Advocate
- The Great Library of Burke
- Wildrose
- The Weavers of Magic
All novels in The Historical Collection are standalones and can be read in any order.
The Historical Collection takes place in Alkarra before The Network Series, The Dragonmaster Trilogy, and The Sisterwitches Series.
FAQ
Is The High Priestess part of The Historical Collection?
Yes. The High Priestess is book 1 in The Historical Collection by Katie Cross.
Do I need to read The Historical Collection in order?
No. The Historical Collection is made up of standalone novels set in Alkarra. You can read The High Priestess at any point.
Is The High Priestess connected to The Network Series?
Yes. The High Priestess is set in Alkarra and takes place before The Network Series, The Dragonmaster Trilogy, and The Sisterwitches Series. It explores earlier history, power structures, and world-shaping events in the same fantasy world.
Is The High Priestess appropriate for young adult readers?
Yes. The High Priestess is a clean YA fantasy novel written for young adult readers and adult readers who enjoy historical fantasy, political intrigue, powerful heroines, ancient magic, and no-spice adventure.
Does The High Priestess have romance?
Yes. The High Priestess includes clean romantic elements and first-love appeal, alongside Vittoria’s fight for justice, her nephew’s safety, and the future of the Eastern Network.
Is there spice?
No. The High Priestess is clean YA fantasy with no spice.
What tropes are in The High Priestess?
This book includes powerful heroine, court intrigue, political intrigue, ancient magic, magic and politics, found family, first love, slow-burn romance, tyranny, justice, medieval fantasy, and standalone fantasy.
What formats are available?
Depending on the edition selected, The High Priestess may be available as an ebook, audiobook, or paperback.
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I enjoyed The Dragonmaster recently. I was tickled to read The High Priestess too. The story is captivating and filled with twists and surprises.
A fascinating prequel to Katie's main series: a Cinderella story but with intriguing differences. I found the characters truly relatable and the magic, unlike that in many other fantasy series, consistent and plausible. Kudos, Katie, kudos - and I look forward to reading the rest of the Collection!
Katie does a wonderful job drawing her reader into a unique world addressing some familiar challenges humanity has faced over time when it comes to equity and class struggle. She expertly crafts a complex plot with a few surprises without bumping the reader out of the narrative at any time. Vittoria is a strong heroine with a good heart. Mateo is an intriguing hero whose tenacity complements Vittoria’s growing courage and inner strength. I love the theme of being kind and caring for others that continually runs throughout the book. The slow burn romance between Vittoria and Mateo is sweet and takes the entire book to develop which definitely makes this book YA audience friendly while adults can also enjoy the narrative.
This is one book you will not want to pass up. Katie Cross at her best! Twists, turns and surprises await you as you follow Vittoria and Mateo on the road that leads to change. Watch as Vittoria finds her courage to step up to her full potential and power. You won’t want to put this book down. Excellent!
I was swept up and away into the World of Alkarra with the High Priestess. It has all the feels for me, I felt like I was in an action movie and had to stay until the end so I wouldn't miss a thing. The characters are rich and complex, and the twists and turns were fun and torture in the best ways.
This novel is within the timeline of other Katie's books, yet it is a stand alone novel that has left this reader spent and satisfied.