maura_kathleen's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Really had a good time with this one -- it fed my latent fascination with this period of European history. A compelling look at compelling, troubled figures and the intersection between personality and politics and the situation of culture within it all. I was talking about this book with my husband, who has studied the Hapsburgs more than I have, and he asked what Tolstoy would make of the novel's historiography... and I lean toward feeling Jemc's perspective would agree with Tolstoy's crusade against the "great men of history" theory. The book centers around heads of state -- sort of -- but locates the engines of change... not exactly beyond them, but everywhere, really. It deals with the ripple effects of the eccentricity and selfishness of powerful people, but its heart lies in exploring the interiority of Sisi and Ludwig, asking how the constraints and conditions of their lives conspired to inhibit them from knowing how to be happy. Some of those constraints are deeply universal -- vanity, loneliness, fear of loss, loss of freedom. Both Sisi and Ludwig are at many points obviously awful, but their particularities are rendered so colorfully that the cast is altogether charming.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Child death, Homophobia, and Eating disorder
conqueeftador's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
howard's review against another edition
3.0
this was definitely entertaining but i never got super invested/into it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
sadiealbert's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book. Having read nothing of the two royals before reading this, it was such a wild ride and I loved being able to research the lives of Ludwig II and Sisi to find out the true events that transpired in this book. Very well researched and very thought provoking.
Content Warnings
selketjewett's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I liked this book a lot! It has a great cover (why I bought it) and it didn’t disappoint! But I love historical fiction like this, where the characters are imagined into the minds of real people.
heather_freshparchment's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Suicide, Mental illness, Child death, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Homophobia, Eating disorder, Death, and Fatphobia
Minor: Animal death, Infidelity, and Antisemitism