Grička vještica IV: Suparnica Marije Terezije 1

The Rival of Maria Theresa I is the fourth novel in the Grička věštica series by Marija Jurić Zagorka. After the events of Malleus maleficarum, the plot partially moves from the Croatian region to the luxurious Viennese court, where politics, love, and the struggle for power intertwine.

The central driving force of the story is the conflict between Empress Maria Theresa and her rival, the beautiful Princess Vilma Auersperg, the emperor's mistress. Their rivalry grows beyond a personal relationship and becomes a matter of court influence, prestige, and political interests. In the shadow of this, intrigues, secret agreements, betrayals, and a struggle for the favor of the most powerful people in the Monarchy take place.

Although Countess Nera and Siniša are still present, their relationship is temporarily in the background in order to emphasize the events at the court and the new network of characters. In doing so, Zagorka combines historical figures and events with fiction, creating a tense story filled with unexpected twists, romance, and political intrigue. The novel also lays the groundwork for a sequel, in which the conflicts between the court factions will further unravel.