Iron Maiden: An Alternate History of the German Empire by J.T. Maicke
Publisher: DX Varos Publishing, Inc. (October 31, 2023)
Category: Historical fiction, Alternate History
Tour Dates January17-February 23, 2024
ISBN: 978-1955065917
Available in Print and ebook, 411 pages
Description Iron Maiden by J.T. Maicke
What if a woman ruled Germany in 1914? This alternate history explores that very question. An elaborate attempt to rid Germany of the Hohenzollerns has left a young sole heiress, Christiana, to take the throne of the German Empire. But this is no typical princess, hidden away in a gilded cage. This college educated, expert fencer, and accomplished equestrienne is not the meek little girl the politicians think they will be able to control. She has her own ideas how to rule!
Excerpt from 'Iron Maiden' by J.T. Maicke
After their one-minute rest break, the duelists resumed their positions on the piste and prepared for the second half of the fifteen-touch contest.
“En Garde!” called the judge. “Pret…Allez!”
This time, Christa was the aggressor, attacking swiftly. Rudi, anticipating the move, parried the thrust and, with a swift, strong riposte, struck his opponent squarely in the bicep. Christa staggered back, gripping her upper sword arm with her left hand in obvious pain.
“Point!” shouted the judge, waving toward Rudi.
“Halt! Surgeon!” shouted von Alvensleben, quickly ripping off his mask. Rudi could see that, despite the blunt, buttoned tip on his fencing saber, his thrust had injured his opponent and wanted to assure himself that his smaller adversary was alright. Christa, however, kept her mask on her head and waved away the doctor in attendance. She approached the On Guard line, clearly indicating that she wished to continue. Just as Rudi approached his starting position, however, Christa tossed her saber into the air and deftly caught it in her left hand. After taking a few experimental swings with her weapon, she assumed the ready position.
“You are certain you wish to continue, sir?” asked Rudi as he donned his mask. “Given your injury, there would be no disgrace should you wish to defer our contest to a later date.” Rudi had fought against left-handed swordsmen before and believed he would have no problem with his opponent’s change of hand.
Christa raised her saber in a challenge, silently pointing it directly at Rudi’s face in response before reassuming the ready position. Rudi admired his adversary’s style and resolve: had their situations been reversed, his pride would likewise have prevented him from postponing a match. During the next round, he surrendered a point in order to test his opponent’s skill with their left hand. He learned that while his adversary was still highly proficient, they were somewhat better with their right hand than their left.
Over the course of the subsequent rounds, von Alvensleben eventually pulled even. The contest now stood at fourteen to fourteen, with the next touch to decide the match. By now, a rather large crowd of spectators had assembled to view the duel. They all knew of Rudi’s reputation as a skilled swordsman and were extremely curious to learn the identity of his anonymous opponent.
After the judge gave the final order to begin, the smaller duelist immediately closed the distance and lunged. Rudi parried the thrust and, with a swift, sharp backhand, slapped the tip of his blade against the side of his opponent’s mask.
“Point and match!” announced the judge, waving his hand toward von Alvensleben, who immediately pulled off his mask. Gerhard Schwartzwalder jumped onto the piste and hugged his comrade exuberantly. Other spectators joined Gerhard and Rudi on the dueling floor, each wanting to pump the winner’s hand. Rudi, however, kept his eyes on his defeated opponent, who had sat down on the bench behind their position with their mask still over their head. Rudi politely shrugged off his admirers’ congratulations and strode over to the far end of the piste.
“Sir, you are clearly one of the best swordsmen I have ever encountered,” he began, gallantly. “Had I not injured your right arm, I am quite certain you would have been the victor this afternoon. I am Rudolf von Alvensleben,” he added by way of introduction, “and I would like to count myself among your friends.”
The defeated duelist slowly rose from the bench and stated in a light voice “You have displayed not only skill, but honor and respect for the sport and for myself, sir.” Christa then grasped the bottom of her mask and, pulling it up from the front and over her head, revealed herself. To Rudi’s and everyone else’s amazement, the fencer looked up at von Alvensleben with bright blue eyes, blonde hair tied tightly at the back of her head, and a smile on her lips. Rudi stepped back, absolutely stunned, as the rest of the spectators murmured to one another in amazement.
“It is nice to meet you, Herr von Alvensleben,” stated Christa, extending her hand. “I am Christiana von Hohenzollern.”
The astonished mutterings of the assembled spectators rose to a crescendo. A woman! And not just any woman, but Princess Christiana von Preussen! A cousin of the Kaiser himself!
The abrasive Jürgen von Göttingen paled, his mouth agape, suddenly realizing that only a few minutes earlier he had been unconscionably rude to a princess of the Prussian royal family. He at first considered moving forward to apologize, but then decided instead to discretely melt away.
It took a moment before Rudi himself could recover. “I am honored to make your acquaintance, Your Royal Highness,” he responded, stepping forward to shake Christa’s hand and giving a sharp, short bow. There was a radiant smile on his handsome face.
“Please, mein Herr,” answered Christa crisply. “You are fully aware that ranks of nobility are not recognized within the university grounds or among its students.”
“Indeed, Fräulein,” stated Rudi. “Perhaps you would agree to a rematch at some time?”
“Of course, Herr von Alvensleben.”
“Followed, perhaps, by a late supper?” he asked, cocking an eyebrow, inquisitively.
“Since you were the victor today, I propose dinner and drinks at Zum Roten Ochsen tomorrow evening, say, at seven o’clock?” Christa had mentioned one of Heidelberg’s oldest and most popular student pubs. “My treat, of course. And please, bring your friend, Herr…?”
“Schwartzwalder, Fräulein,” Rudi’s corpulent friend responded, with a short bow. “Gerhard Schwartzwalder.”
“I am very pleased to meet you, Herr Schwartzwalder,” answered Christa, extending her hand for Gerhard to shake. “Of course, we will be joined by my apartment mate and fellow student, Fräulein Sofia Wagner.” Christa included Schwartzwalder and Sofia in the dinner in order to make it abundantly clear that tomorrow evening would be a friendly get-together between fellow students rather than a possible romantic encounter.
“Wonderful, Fräulein,” smiled Rudi, both he and Gerhard nodding politely. “Until tomorrow evening.”(c)J.T.Maicke
Review Iron Maiden by J.T. Maicke
Review by Suzie
'Iron Maiden,' by J.T. Maicke is a novel unlike any
that I have read before. Alternate History is not a genre I am very familiar
with, although I do love a good historical novel. But if the rest of the genre
is as good as this book, then you can sign me up!
I could not get enough of this tale of an unexpected
queen, thrust into leadership after a terrible tragedy.
Christiana Von Preussen may not be the kind of queen
that they write story books about, but she is the kind that makes history. But
she was never meant to be the queen.
Christa was raised to be a princess-- that is, she was
supposed to wed a foreign prince and have lots of babies to carry on the
bloodline and broker peace between nations. However, from a very young age, it
is clear that Christa is different than most princesses.
More content to hunt, ride horses and sword fight than
play with pretty dolls and wear dresses, Christa's non-traditional ways are
affectionately tolerated by her family in the hopes that she will one day
change them and become more feminine. However, they do not live to see her
become queen.
The Kaiser, Christa's cousin and his entire family are
killed in a directed assassination on Easter Sunday 1910. This includes
Christa's family, as well, and would have included the woman herself had she
not cleverly outsmarted her assassin. Left alone, Christa must figure out the
best way to rule Germany as the last living member of her house with all of the
odds stacked against her.
This novel really took my breath away! Maicke writes
an excellent take on a historical event that might have been. This is most
definitely a five-star read for yours truly!
About J. T. Maicke
A self-described Germanophile, J.T. Maicke writes historical fiction novels that take place in Germany or among German-American communities in the Midwest. He has spent most of his life studying German history, geography, language, culture, customs, and cuisine. Maicke also spent several years living in and traveling throughout Central Europe, and he has visited many of the locations depicted in his novels. Maicke’s debut novel was ‘The Humble Courier.’ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jt.maicke/
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Thanks so much for hosting! I am so glad that you enjoyed 'Iron Maiden'!
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