SYNOPSIS
From the author of the beloved Josephine B. Trilogy, comes a spellbinding novel inspired by the true story of a
young woman who rises from poverty to become confidante to the most
powerful, provocative and dangerous woman in the 17th century French
court: the mistress of the charismatic Sun King.
1660, Paris
Claudette’s life is like an ever-revolving stage set. From an
impoverished childhood wandering the French countryside with her
family’s acting troupe, Claudette finally witnesses her mother’s
astonishing rise to stardom in Parisian theaters. Working with
playwrights Corneille, Molière and Racine, Claudette’s life is
culturally rich, but like all in the theatrical world at the time, she’s
socially scorned.
A series of chance encounters pull Claudette into the alluring orbit
of Athénaïs de Montespan, mistress to Louis XIV and reigning “Shadow
Queen.” Needing someone to safeguard her secrets, Athénaïs offers to
hire Claudette as her personal attendant.
Enticed by the promise of riches and respectability, Claudette leaves
the world of the theater only to find that court is very much like a
stage, with outward shows of loyalty masking more devious intentions.
This parallel is not lost on Athénaïs, who fears political enemies are
plotting her ruin as young courtesans angle to take the coveted spot in
the king’s bed.
Indeed, Claudette’s “reputable” new position is marked by spying,
illicit trysts and titanic power struggles. As Athénaïs, becomes ever
more desperate to hold onto the King’s favor, innocent love charms move
into the realm of deadly Black Magic, and Claudette is forced to
consider a move that will put her own life—and the family she loves so
dearly—at risk.
Set against the gilded opulence of a newly-constructed Versailles and
the blood-stained fields of the Franco-Dutch war, THE SHADOW QUEEN is a
seductive, gripping novel about the lure of wealth, the illusion of
power, and the increasingly uneasy relationship between two
strong-willed women whose actions could shape the future of France.
[provided by the author]
Release date: April 8, 2014 at Doubleday (US) and HarperCollins (Canada)
Hardcover 336 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0385537520
Buy links: http://www.sandragulland.com/books/order/
My review:
Four Stars!
Copy received from France Book Tours
I really enjoyed this book.
I love historical fiction and take it at face value. I personally really loved learning about
Claudette. Claudette is a young and very
humble girl. She is part of her family’s
group of performers. Her love and
devotion to her family was very evident.
I loved her care for her little brother and his “special needs”. Also her loyalty to her father was
interesting. Through some twists of fate
she becomes “a confidante” to Athenais.
Athenais was Louis XIV of France’s mistress.
The story is divided between Claudette’s early life as a
performer and then at court. My only
issue with the story was the focus. I
thought that although we were seeing the story through Claudette’s eyes
Athenais was a more interesting character and I thought that she “shadowed”
Claudette’s story. I also enjoyed this
aspect! Even though it’s a contradiction.
The differences in their character seemed to play out their very
different personalities. I also enjoyed
how Gulland introduced the themes of religion and government very subtlety but
still made it an important part of the book and really played homage to the
history of the time. I do recommend this
book and found Claudette to be a memorable character. Life at court is never
boring and neither was this book!
PRAISE FOR THE SHADOW QUEEN
“The Shadow Queen is
an epic feast for the senses with a cast of characters that includes
Moliere, Racine, and the Sun King himself, Louis XIV. With this
exhilarating exploration of the years of Louis’s reign, full of
exquisite details and memorable characters, Sandra Gulland proves
herself a master of not only storytelling but stagecraft and illusion,
as well.” —Melanie Benjamin, New York Times Bestselling author of THE AVIATOR’S WIFE
”Fascinating and rich in historical detail, The Shadow Queen brings
Claudette des Oeillets to full and vivid life as she makes the journey
from hungry, roaming player to indispensable attendant of Louis XIV’s
mistress. A captivating glimpse into the theatre, court life and black
arts of 17th Century Paris.”
—Cathy Marie Buchanan, New York Times Bestselling author of THE PAINTED GIRLS
“Sandra Gulland is at the top of her game in The Shadow Queen and
that’s saying a lot! From the first page you know you are in the hands
of a master story teller. I just don’t think anyone does it better than
Gulland—this book is lyrical, fascinating and seeped in history, drama
and emotion. Truly magnificent and an absolute joy to read.”
—M.J. Rose, International Bestselling author of THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES
“Propelled by Sandra Gulland’s brilliant storytelling and her
unerring gift for reviving an historical era through dramatic scenes, The Shadow Queen is
told through a fascinating perspective—that of the personal attendant
and closest confidante of Louis XIV’s all-powerful mistress. the story
straddles two worlds—the competitive arena of 17th century French
theater and the opulent yet treacherous court of the Sun King. The
characters are magnetic and the pace will dazzle you.”
—Adrienne McDonnell, author of THE DOCTOR AND THE DIVA
“Sandra Gulland is one of our most gifted historical novelists and
once again, she does not disappoint. This vividly drawn tale of a young
woman caught up in the dark intrigues of the beautiful, lethal mistress
of the Sun King has all the ingredients readers love, blending passion,
adventure, pageantry and danger into a heady brew as intoxicating as it
is unforgettable.”
—C.W. Gortner, author of THE QUEEN’S VOW
“A must-read for anyone passionate about the theater and hungry for
more of Sandra Gulland’s masterful depictions of life at the court of
the Sun King.” —Anne Easter Smith, author of ROYAL MISTRESS and A ROSE FOR THE CROWN
“The Shadow Queen
will remind readers why they fall in love with the past. Gulland uses
her meticulous research with consummate skill, rendering vivid the
luxury and squalor of Louis XIV’s France and breathing life into fully
formed characters that tug at the heart. Masterful.”
—Tasha Alexander, New York Times Bestselling Author of DEATH IN THE FLOATING CITY
“The Shadow Queen is a
quick-paced, captivating tale of 17th Century France—from the dramas
and destitutions of life in the theatre, to the intrigues and
ruthlessness of the royal court—and of the wrenching conflict between
familial bonds and the sacrifices a woman must make to survive and
thrive. Through the trials and hard-earned triumphs of quick-witted
Claudette des Oeillets, maid and confidante of aristocratic, alluring
Athénaïs, Sandra Gulland shapes a world rich in historical detail and
timeless in its exploration of divided loyalties, power struggles, and
the consequences of remaining true to heartfelt ideals.”—Ania Szado, bestselling author of STUDIO SAINT-EX
***
Sandra Gulland is the author of the Josephine B. Trilogy,
internationally best-selling novels about Josephine Bonaparte which
have been published in over seventeen countries. Her forth novel, Mistress of the Sun, set in the 17th-century court of the Sun King, was also a bestseller and published internationally.Her most recent novel is The Shadow Queen, also set in the era of the Sun King, published in April of 2014 by HarperCollins in Canada and Doubleday in the U.S.
See more on her website: www.sandragulland.com
Sign-up for her author newsletter: http://www.sandragulland.com/contacts/
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