The Spectators

one of my favorite interactive fiction games i've played! getting to play as various members of the ducal household enlivens the historical setting and makes it feel real; i found myself deeply invested in the storyline of each minor character. however, amanda walker expertly strikes a balance between these smaller, interweaving storylines and the broader focus on the duke and duchess and their relationship. the author does an excellent job of building tension and dread throughout the story.

an added benefit to playing this was the wikipedia rabbit hole i went down after! the real-life duke who inspired this game has a fascinating life, as do his wives (including the duchess we meet in the game). he was married to his young first wife for only two years before she died of tuberculosis. he married his second wife, barbara, four years later. she was a member of the (notoriously inbred) house of habsburg, which may have contributed to their childless marriage. they reportedly enjoyed a happy and understanding marriage regardless. barbara also died of tuberculosis, 7 years after they married. 7 years after that, the duke married his third and final wife, who would survive him: margherita, who was the niece of his second wife, and also a member of the house of habsburg (again, not particularly surprising that he had no children). a classic case of a powerful man in history surrounded by fascinating women.