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cursedepub's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a historical fantasy novel set in the time of the Affair of the Poisons of 1600s France and is honestly really much more historical than fantasy. Many characters are real-world historical figures and most of the novel is dedicated to the daily lives of its characters, with some examination of social politics. This is a major strength of the novel; with the depth and breadth of historical immersion, you really feel like you are there in France, and it doesn't overexplain itself either.
The prose style is similar to some 19th-century classical literature - think Little Women, Great Expectations, Tom Sawyer, etc. - and maintains a brisk and strong personality thanks to our protagonist Genevieve. I enjoyed Genevieve as a character, especially with the constant conflict between her cynical intellect and her sentimentality, as well as between her maturity and naivety. Her narration and first-person POV provided a unique lens into the world she occupied, and I really did find her compelling. However, while I usually enjoy slower-paced novels, there was a point where I felt that events were becoming very repetitive and the latter part of the novel didn’t really seem to have a point to make. Attempts to build up suspense and a larger overarching story did not quite succeed, and new plot elements were introduced last minute and then not much was done with them. I feel like the story ran out of steam a while before it ended - this was more of a 3.75-star rating in the middle. Fans of slice-of-life plots may enjoy this more than I did.
The prose style is similar to some 19th-century classical literature - think Little Women, Great Expectations, Tom Sawyer, etc. - and maintains a brisk and strong personality thanks to our protagonist Genevieve. I enjoyed Genevieve as a character, especially with the constant conflict between her cynical intellect and her sentimentality, as well as between her maturity and naivety. Her narration and first-person POV provided a unique lens into the world she occupied, and I really did find her compelling. However, while I usually enjoy slower-paced novels, there was a point where I felt that events were becoming very repetitive and the latter part of the novel didn’t really seem to have a point to make. Attempts to build up suspense and a larger overarching story did not quite succeed, and new plot elements were introduced last minute and then not much was done with them. I feel like the story ran out of steam a while before it ended - this was more of a 3.75-star rating in the middle. Fans of slice-of-life plots may enjoy this more than I did.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Blood, Abortion, and Murder
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Incest, and Rape
sienamystic's review
5.0
I love all of Riley's books, but in my mind this is the best showcase of all her strengths as a writer: wit, excellent characterization, and most of all a real immersion in a historical setting that keeps the characters sympathetic and engaging without turning them into modern people plunked down into the past. This is the story of a royal court and the undercurrents that exist, with people seeking power and influence through whatever means possible, including witchcraft and poison. Based on a real story (the historical details can be read about in the book "The Affair of the Poisons" by Anne Somerset), the story follows a young woman as she escapes her old life and reinvents herself under the tutelage of the Queen of the Witches of Paris.
andrewthegriffin's review
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kellertson3's review
3.0
I am not sure what rating to give this. I liked it but I didn't..... so maybe a 3.5
groovyfrood's review
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
atwood_montgomery's review
1.0
I didn't finish it. Life us too short to spend reading books that don't grab one's attention.
halynah's review
5.0
Exceptional, brilliant historical fiction book with plenty of colourful characters, impressive length, requiring patience and time, passionate romance and excellent sarcastic and sparkling dialogues. Definitely worth reading, though you must love this genre in order to enjoy this book. A real treasure for all the fans of Louis XIV epoch.
saranies's review
3.0
Interesting to read about a different time period than most historical mythical fiction takes place (looking at you, Tudor England). A nice bit of fluff.
carbolicious's review
4.0
What a great story. It kept me up too late at night with its twists and turns. Wonderful character development as well. What happened to Sylvie was pure comedy gold. I’d like to see a novella spun off of it. This is the third book I’ve read by this author, and I’ve loved them all.
solaana's review
4.0
So I read this in German, and it was totally awesome. So it's gotta be good in its original language.