The Hidden Family

In Charles Stross's "The Hidden Family," Miriam, a sharp Bostonian tech journalist, grapples with her new, tumultuous life as Countess Helge Thorold-Hyorth. After an explosive discovery revealed her alternate-world relatives and their ability to 'walk' between parallel earths, Miriam is now enmeshed in the dangerous politics of Gruinmarkt, a quasi-medieval kingdom secretly ruled by six powerful, intermarried families. These families exploit a quasi-Victorian timeline for resources and wealth, balancing precariously between nobility and criminal conspiracy. Fresh from a civil war, the Clan is rife with suspicion, and Miriam finds herself an unlikely player in schemes centuries in the making. Her modern sensibilities clash with medieval mercantilism, pushing her to leverage contemporary business practices and scientific knowledge to build her own power base. Surrounded by dubious allies, lethal contraband, and the ever-present threat of her own complicated family, Miriam must adapt swiftly to avoid a grim fate, profoundly impacting three distinct timelines in the process. This saga blends grand-scale science fiction with intricate political intrigue and cultural clashes.