Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Kadin | 1978 | Bertrice Small | Buy |
| 2 | Love Wild and Fair | 1978 | Bertrice Small | Buy |
The Cyra Hafisa/Kadin series by Bertrice Small consists of two novels published in 1978, both among Small’s earliest works. The Kadin tells the story of a young Scottish woman who is kidnapped and brought to the Ottoman sultan’s harem, where she rises to become his favorite wife and wields considerable political influence. Love Wild and Fair continues the saga with related characters in the courts of Elizabethan Scotland.
These two novels set the tone for much of Small’s later career, featuring historically grounded settings with strong heroines who survive dangerous political environments. The Ottoman harem setting of The Kadin was unusual for romance novels at the time and helped establish Small’s reputation for exotic historical backdrops. Both books include the explicit romantic content that became one of her trademarks.