Paper Queen By Author Heather C Page
Cover Blurb
Durham City, 1874.
In a world where anything can be written in or out of history, nothing is as it seems…
When Caira Dobbin is handed a mysterious note by a stranger, it leads her to Tsundoku – the keeper of the books – and to a secret library set deep underground in the heart of the city. She hopes that somewhere, in amongst the vast collection of books and articles, she’ll be able to find clues that will lead her to The Book of Life – the only book that can erase The Paper Queen from history and restore order to the city.
Caira and her uncle, Myrin Peacock, embark on a perilous voyage to The Isle of Lindisfarne to recover the book, but the lines between reality and paper start to blur, and Caira doesn’t know who she can trust…
Other Titles By the Author
Heather C Page
Author Bio
Working on the reception desk of a 14th century castle, I was always asked one question. Is it haunted? Guests have a vested interest in finding out, as the castle is a four-star hotel and they will be staying the night!
There is a centuries old legend surrounding the castle. The spirit of Lily Lumley, supposed wife of Sir Ralph Lumley, is said to haunt the building after she was murdered in the 14th century by local priests because she refused to convert to Catholicism. This legend is the inspiration for my current writing project, which is my second venture into the realm of novel writing.
My first novel was a young adult fantasy novel, Elodie Black, Guardian of Dreams, set in a fictional world known as The Old Realm. Elodie is a young apprentice at The Curiosity Bureau, and she stumbles upon a sinister plot to destroy magic. I had so much fun writing Elodie’s story and I fell in love with the fantasy genre. I didn’t begin writing fiction until I was in my mid-thirties. My first ever writing project was Elodie Black Guardian of Dreams, and at sixty-four-thousand-words long, there’s nothing like throwing yourself in at the deep end! I learned so much and really enjoyed the whole process, from researching, outlining, writing, and revising. At the time I was also studying for an MLitt research degree in history at Newcastle University, and I found the research skills I gained were invaluable when it came to researching for my first novel.
After I finished my postgraduate degree, I didn’t relish the prospect of becoming a lecturer or going on to further study, so I decided to put my historical research skills to good use by writing a historical fantasy novel. I spent months thinking over ideas, and in that time, I started working at Lumley Castle. After a while, a tiny seed of inspiration began to grow in my mind, and I read up on the legend of Lily Lumley and the history of the castle. Pretty soon after that I decided to write Lily’s story.
I often find myself gleaning inspiration from the tiniest and strangest of things when I’m at the castle. It could be a comment made by a departing guest, an old newspaper clipping, or a particular painting on the castle walls. We have a resident cat at the castle these days, (called Poppet) and even she has made it onto the pages of Lily of Lumley Castle. I always become immersed in Lily’s world as I write, and I’m passionate about telling her story. In reality, Lily probably did not exist, but she comes to life on the pages of the book and embarks on a magical journey, leaving behind a legacy that is unearthed over six hundred years later by paranormal investigators, Alice, and her assistant, Sebastien.
I have also written non-fiction. As part of my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees I studied the history of north-east England, in particular the working-class movement and the political enfranchisement of the coal miners. My work on the reform era of 1832 in north-east England was published by The University of Sunderland, and that spurred me on to complete further study at postgraduate level. I have since gone on to publish a non-fiction book about the working-class politics of County Durham between 1830 and 1936.
At the end of 2025 I won first prize in the Young Adult Category of the Literary Dragon Awards for my novel, The Paper Queen. The book is set in 19th Century Durham and Lindisfarne.
My future writing plans are pretty exciting. Lily of Lumley Castle will be the first book in a series called, The Copperheart Legacy, and in each book I will use my research skills to bring history to life, but with a magical twist. I’m already researching ideas for the rest of the books in the series, and I’m excited to see where this adventure will take me.
The Book Tour
Day 1 - Favourite Quotes
Day 2 - Character Summaries
Jack - With an excellent cast of characters to choose from, it was difficult to choose just one, Jack has stood out as my favourite. He begins the story as an illiterate yet intelligent young friend of the highly educated, Ciara Dobbins. While Ciara comes from a family of scholars, Jack’s family work the mines. Jack shows us that you don’t need book-learning to be smart, and he joins Ciara on her quest to find The Book of Life and thus end the Paper Queen’s reign once and for all. He shows great loyalty to Ciara, and as the story develops, his devotion to the cause. He grows from an intelligent but naïve young man into a battle-hardened warrior for the truth as he learns more from experience than books could ever teach him. (Phoebe Wilby)
Jack - Jack is the secret MVP in this book. Initially a side character; he is Caira’s look out man as she waits for her uncle to finish his clandestine meetings, he becomes so much more than that over the course of the novel. He is brave and resourceful in his own way, but it comes as a surprise to our heroine as she’s so used to her uncle’s skull duggery it doesn’t dawn on her Jack might have tools of his own, despite not having the full picture. He is intuitive and helps Caira often on their mission to defeat the Paper Queen. His philosophy on the world broadens and deepens and his steadfast loyalty is a boon to the group. His intelligence also helps them and ensures their way out of more than one sticky situation. The evolving relationship between him and Caira feels natural and earned. (Sophie Jupillat Posey)
Caira and Jack - Caira and her friend Jack as the youngest characters are painted as those who are a world of difference from their older counterparts. However, it is a balance that is created very well indeed. Caira we cannot help but want to succeed, we ride the emotional rollercoasters that she endures throughout. As a young lady who has privileges (compared to Jack’s family and upbringing), we can associate with her battles no matter our own backgrounds. She, and Jack, undergo transformative character journeys - coming out stronger in the end, satisfyingly. (Yvonne Marrs)
Day 3 - Favourite Excerpts
He turned, slowly. “How many times must I remind you to be careful with your words out in public,” he said “Do you want to get locked up and have the key thrown into the river? Do you want to lose your head to the guillotine up at Palace Green?” Caira considered her words carefully. “I just meant to say that, if the allotment association disagrees with your idea to grow exotic fruits, then perhaps we should go ahead ourselves and do it.” (Phoebe Wilby)
Captain Bowers nodded. “You’re braver people than I gave you credit for,’ he said. ‘I can’t say I’m happy about being caught up in all of this, but if you can bring about the end of this ridiculous charade of paper rule then I’ll help all I can.“ (Sophie Jupillat Posey)
The hot topic of the day was the issue of medicine and medical teaching. An elderly gentleman in a tatty brown suit was leading the debate. Caira knew him to be Mr Trevithick – the chairman of the organization. He was a longstanding peer of her uncle’s, and he’d been a professor of anatomy at Durham University in his younger years. These days he was a practicing doctor. (Yvonne Marrs)
Day 4 - Video Interview
Day 5 - Reviews
(Overall Rating = 5 Stars) Imagine a realm in which there are no books. Not just no books, but nothing written down for the public to read. The only person who has any power over the written word is the Paper Queen, and she uses her power to rewrite history in whatever way she wishes. Caira Dobbin is the niece of Myrin Peacock, a member of a secret society who meet once a week, ostensibly to discuss the merits of gardening, but in reality, to devise a plan to overthrow the Paper Queen and restore the written word to all. However, Myrin’s plan to discover and recover the Book of Life, the only book that can erase the Paper Queen, is rejected by his peers. He enlists the help of his niece and together they begin their search. What follows is a perilous journey to Tsundoku, the keeper of the books, and to an underground library where Caira hopes to discover the whereabouts of the book, and the power to destroy the Paper Queen and her Paper Henchman once and for all. While doing so, she must learn who she can trust, and who is out to destroy not only her, but what fragile freedoms the people in the realm still enjoy. Heather Page spins a believable yarn of intrigue, subterfuge, and adventure as Caira, her best friend Jake and her Uncle Myrin gather like-minded souls to take on the Paper Queen and her Paper Henchman. Reminiscent of wartime Europe, particularly in the curfews and obvious parallels to the burning of the books and the hijacking of the education system to indoctrinate the population, The Paper Queen explores the over-reaching arm of censorship when the government seeks to control the narrative. The story itself is believable, fast-paced and exciting, bringing the reader along on the adventure. Page’s characters leap off the page and draw you in. You will be invested in the outcome as you cheer them on, hoping for an easy resolution to what is a very difficult and dangerous situation. The cast of characters are varied and interesting, with well-developed personalities and character arcs. The story is set in The North. I’ve imagined the north of England/Scotland, where the Paper Queen reigns. She has no jurisdiction over the South, and Caira why anyone would willingly move up to the North when the South experiences the relative freedom the Northerners desire. Dialogue drives the story forward and is relevant to the education, or lack thereof, of each character. I loved this book and would have no hesitation recommending it to young readers. The older generation will also enjoy it, particularly with its sobering references our own war-time histories. (Phoebe Wilby)
(Overall Rating = 5 Stars) The Paper Queen is an imaginative and fast-paced fantasy adventure built around an unusual premise: a paper woman dictator literally written into existence, and a version of Britain transformed under her rule. The plot was the strongest element for me. There is a real sense of adventure throughout, with mysteries gradually unfolding as Caira and her companions discover more about Lilith's origins, the Book of Life, and the magic responsible for reshaping their world. The story continually gives its characters another problem to solve or revelation to confront, which made it very easy to keep turning the pages. I really enjoyed the way the author plays with the idea of stories themselves having the power to alter reality. Sometimes some revelations a little too quickly, but overall it didn’t detract from the experience. Caira makes for a likeable protagonist, and the supporting cast each bring something distinctive to the journey. I enjoyed the relationships that develop between the characters, particularly the mixture of affection, friction, nervousness and humor within the group. Their dialogue often helps lighten some of the darker or more dangerous moments without undermining the stakes. The pacing is excellent, especially once the central quest is fully underway. There is a lot happening, but the story rarely feels stagnant, and the increasingly high stakes carry the reader effectively toward the climactic end. Overall, The Paper Queen is a creative, entertaining fantasy with an intriguing idea, memorable characters and a plot that kept me invested all the way to the end. (Sophie Jupillat Posey)
(Overall Rating = 5 Stars) In a world where anything can be written in (or out) of history, nothing is as it seems. Caira and her uncle, Myrin, must find The Book of Life for it is the only way to erase The Paper Queen from history and restore order to Durham city. When the lines between reality and paper start to blur, Caira doesn’t know who to trust. This fictional fantasy book by Heather Page is a real joy to read for escapism. An extraordinary, innovative plot with unexpected story developments and masterful narrative complexity provide an unputdownable read. The distinct character voices involve subtext and emotional layers, revealing character and advancing the plot. Natural, flowing conversations create engaging and believable exchanges. Transformative journeys for the characters, they are real in the mind of the reader and linger after the book ends. A true study of the exploration of human complexity. Brilliant pacing with a balance of action and reflection that maintains reader interest, alongside unexpected plot twists and precision tension. I have no qualms about recommending this book. (Yvonne Marrs)
Book Tour Reviewers
