muse2323's review against another edition
I have a bunch of other books that came in that I am more interested in reading, and I found I just did not care about this particular story.
mhoffrob's review against another edition
3.0
I found this story to be interesting, but far too long in the telling. By the final quarter, I was frustrated and ready for it to end and tie up the loose ends. The first quarter seemed overplayed (and was about what I believed the blurb promised), in the story of the Louis XV mistress and the "Deer Park Girls" while the story of one of their daughters dragged on before reintroducing the mother's connection. It'll be hard for me to recommend it.
kelseymck's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
jmonfared's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
taylorretter's review
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
kbaj's review
5.0
If you are looking for a "scintillating" novel about the Versailles court, as advertised on the back of the cover, this book is not it. It's better. It is depressing, mundane in its cruelty, and vivid with the business of women's lives. This book tells the history of the last years of the French absolute monarchy and the revolution through the eyes of women who really didn't care about all that, as long as it didn't upend their lives. As wrenching as it is to read about the casual procurement, predation, assault, rape, and dismissal of women and young girls, it gives a special kind of satisfaction to see the grand ideals of revolutionary men shown for the hypocrisies they are, in the context of a household that sees these ideals as disruptive and at times needlessly destructive. Liberty and equality, indeed, for the women who do all the laundry. So, happy women's day, I guess.
helengoose's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
al1cya's review
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
madamelacy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
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? No
2.75
The story is set in 18th century France and covers the period prior to the revolution up to just after the revolution.
Véronique is plucked from her working class home and placed in the Deer Park school, where the girls are unknowingly trained to pleasure King Louis XV sexually. It makes for deeply disturbing reading. Véronique has a baby, Marie Louise. The rest of the book follows Marie Louise through foster placements and into adult life working as a midwife.
I have mixed feelings about this book because I found the first part interesting but disturbing. Marie Louise’s story dragged on a bit. The revolution was almost a bit peripheral at times. I feel like the book was well-researched but a bit too long-winded so I was a bit bored, especially in the middle of the book.
Véronique is plucked from her working class home and placed in the Deer Park school, where the girls are unknowingly trained to pleasure King Louis XV sexually. It makes for deeply disturbing reading. Véronique has a baby, Marie Louise. The rest of the book follows Marie Louise through foster placements and into adult life working as a midwife.
I have mixed feelings about this book because I found the first part interesting but disturbing. Marie Louise’s story dragged on a bit. The revolution was almost a bit peripheral at times. I feel like the book was well-researched but a bit too long-winded so I was a bit bored, especially in the middle of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Death, and Adult/minor relationship