The Henchmen of Zenda

General
The Henchmen of Zenda is KJ's re-telling of the classic Victorian pulp novel The Prisoner of Zenda. The original tells the story from the POV of Rudolph Rassendyl but KJ has chosen to retell the story through the eyes of henchman Jasper Detchard and the change in perspective tells the story in a new and queerer way.

The Henchmen of Zenda can be read on its own but reading (or re-reading) The Prisoner of Zenda first makes the experience much more enjoyable.

Summary
Jasper Detchard is a disgraced British officer, now selling his blade to the highest bidder. Currently that's Michael Elphberg, half-brother to the King of Ruritania. Michael wants the throne for himself, and Jasper is one of the scoundrels he hires to help him take it. But when Michael makes his move, things don’t go entirely to plan—and the penalty for treason is death.

Rupert of Hentzau is Michael's newest addition to his sinister band of henchmen. Charming, lethal, and intolerably handsome, Rupert is out for his own ends—which seem to include getting Jasper into bed. But Jasper needs to work out what Rupert’s really up to amid a maelstrom of plots, swordfights, scheming, impersonation, desire, betrayal, and murder.

Nobody can be trusted. Everyone has a secret. And love is the worst mistake you can make.

Characters

 * Jasper Detchard
 * Rupert Hentzau

Reference

 * The Henchmen of Zenda on Goodreads
 * The Prisoner of Zenda is available for free at Project Gutenberg