The Inspiration
“Why are there no black princesses?” I asked that question aloud as I looked at duvet covers, brainstorming ideas for the bedroom furnishing business I was considering starting with my friend. As I stared at a duvet cover with five beautiful princesses, an idea formed in my head. I turned to my friend. “We should make a duvet cover with five black princesses on it, with jewel-coloured dresses and different hairstyles reminiscent of the hairstyles that black girls have” “But there's no story, she said. Why would anyone buy it?” “I’ll write a story,” I replied, and so I did.
The Story…
The death of the King shatters the fragile peace of the Kingdom of Erehwon, igniting a ruthless battle for the throne.
Princess Amara, the eldest, is poised to claim the crown by virtue of her position in a week - settling old scores is the first item on her agenda.
However, her sisters won’t stand aside without a fight, and a lot can happen in a week.
Princess Abigail is torn between loyalty to Amara and her love for those Amara seeks to destroy.
Princess Aaliyah, bold and ambitious, believes the throne should be hers, no matter the cost.
Ignored but observant, Princess Akosua quietly crafts her own plan to topple Amara.
And Princess Amelie, underestimated by all, has been preparing her entire young life to seize her moment.
As the sisters clash, a rebel faction rises from the shadows, vowing to end the monarchy entirely. With betrayal at every turn and revolution on the horizon, the sisters must decide whether to unite against a common enemy or destroy each other - and the kingdom with them.
Erehwon
The Kingdom of Erehwon - a sprawling realm divided into five distinct regions, each unique in character and purpose. At its heart lay the central region, the bustling commercial hub that fueled the kingdom’s economy. To the East, the forests thrived as the center of the kingdom’s lumber industry, while the fertile western lands formed the agricultural lifeblood of Erehwon, feeding its people and its coffers.
In stark contrast, the Southern and Northern regions bore little resemblance to their prosperous counterparts. The Southern mountains were home to a resilient, isolated people who remained indifferent to the kingdom’s politics. Despite their extreme poverty, they lived with a stoic detachment, asking for nothing and causing no trouble, earning them a grudging tolerance from the crown.
The Northern region, however, was a barren wasteland—a grim exile for those who dared to challenge the ruling family. Cut off from resources and abandoned by the monarchy, it had become a refuge for dissidents and outcasts, where bitterness and rebellion festered. Unlike the South, the North did not suffer in silence. Its inhabitants agitated and wished daily for the downfall of the kingdom and the dissolution of its royal family. The North is finally ready to do more than wish…
The Book
In a genre dominated by the same archetypes, ‘The Five Princesses’ is a YA fantasy that breaks barriers, celebrates diversity, and redefines what royalty looks like. A novel featuring five black princesses is not just a book; it is a statement, a cultural moment, and an opportunity to reach untapped audiences with a story that’s overdue.
The demand for diverse representation in literature is louder than ever, but there’s still an enormous gap in fantasy storytelling. Few YA fantasies feature Black protagonists at all, let alone five powerful black princesses leading a rich epic narrative. Readers – especially YA audiences – want stories that reflect their own identities and experiences. A novel featuring five black princesses speaks directly to a market of young black readers who have been longing to see themselves in epic, fantastical settings.
Beyond that, at its core, this story is about family, courage, self-discovery and resilience. Themes that everyone can relate to. Each of the princesses represents a unique archetype or journey- ambition, loyalty, intelligence, compassion and bravery- offering every reader someone to connect with or root for, and the book will appeal to a broader audience hungry for fresh, inclusive storytelling that shatters old stereotypes.
Discover the five princesses
Princess Amara
Princess Abigail
Princess Aaliyah
Princess Amelie
Princess Akosua
Shop the Merchandise
The Princesses Playlists
The Princesses Diaries
About The Author
The Five Princesses was created by Dilichi Lawal, a practicing Barrister who was inspired to create and write the book, to show her daughters that they could be anything that they wanted to be, even princesses' .
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