Wanted: Company Daughters. Virtuous young ladies to become the brides of industrious settlers in a foreign land. The Company will pay the cost of the lady’s dowry and travel. Returns not permitted, orphans preferred.
Amsterdam, 1616. Jana Beil has learned that life rarely provides moments of joy. Having run away from a violent father, her days are spent searching for work in an effort to stay out of the city brothels, where desperate women trade their bodies for a mouthful of bread. But when Jana is hired as a servant for the wealthy and kind Master Reynst and his beautiful daughter Sontje, Jana’s future begins to look brighter.
Then Master Reynst loses his fortune on a bad investment, and everything changes. The house is sold to creditors, leaving Jana back on the streets and Sontje without a future.
With no other choice, Jana and Sontje are forced to sign with the East India Company as Company Daughters: sailing to a colonial outpost to become the brides of male settlers they know nothing about. With fear in their hearts, the girls begin their journey – but what awaits them on the other side of the world is nothing like what they’ve been promised…
Based on true history, this is a beautiful and sensual historical novel, perfect for fans of The Girl with the Pearl Earring, The Miniaturist and The Indigo Girl.
Available October 30, 2020
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Samantha Rajaram is a historical fiction writer focusing on stories about how historical laws and policies affect marginalized people. She was a Pitch Wars mentee in 2018, mentored by the incredible Carrie Callaghan, and was a 2019 Pitch Wars mentor to Leila Mottley (NIGHTCRAWLING 2022!). Samantha’s debut novel THE COMPANY DAUGHTERS will be published in the US and UK by Bookouture in October 2020. She is a huge fan of Pitch Wars and loves mentoring new writers and building strong relationships with other writers.