In a land overshadowed by death, fifteen year-old Nells uncanny resemblance to Princess Joan brings her to act as her doublewhat young girl wouldnt want to leave a life of poverty and pretend to be a princess? But when the plague catches up to the royal entourage, thwarting the Kings plan for the princess to marry the Prince of Castile and seal an alliance between their kingdoms, Nells life could change forever. Princess Joans brother The Black Prince schemes to make the wedding go on declaring Nell will no longer double for Joan, she will become the princess and dupe Prince Pedro into marriage! With the aid and protection of a quirky band of friendsa Spanish minstrel, a monk, a gravedigger, a band of merchantsNell must evade not only the Black Prince, a practitioner of the dark arts, but the plague as well, as she fights to return to the King and country. Based on historical truth, Dahme beautifully captures the dark terror of a Plague-infested fourteenth century Europe, while bringing to life the daily existence of medieval life for young adult readers.