Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Atria Books (March 21, 2017)
In the final installment of Sally Christie’s “tantalizing” (New York Daily News) Mistresses of Versailles trilogy, Jeanne Becu, a woman of astounding beauty but humble birth, works her way from the grimy back streets of Paris to the palace of Versailles, where the aging King Louis XV has become a jaded and bitter old philanderer. Jeanne bursts into his life and, as the Comtesse du Barry, quickly becomes his official mistress.
“That beastly bourgeois Pompadour was one thing; a common prostitute is quite another kettle of fish.”
After decades of suffering the King’s endless stream of Royal Favorites, the princesses of the Court have reached a breaking point. Horrified that he would bring the lowborn Comtesse du Barry into the hallowed halls of Versailles, Louis XV’s daughters, led by the indomitable Madame Adelaide, vow eternal enmity and enlist the young dauphiness Marie Antoinette in their fight against the new mistress. But as tensions rise and the French Revolution draws closer, a prostitute in the palace soon becomes the least of the nobility’s concerns.
Told in Christie’s witty and engaging style, the final book in The Mistresses of Versailles trilogy will delight and entrance fans as it once again brings to life the sumptuous and cruel world of eighteenth century Versailles, and France as it approaches irrevocable change.
“Sally Christie’s The Sisters of Versailles is an intriguing romp through Louis XV’s France. Filled with lush backdrops, rich detail, and colorful characters, fans of historical fiction will enjoy this glimpse into the lost golden era of the French monarchy.” (Allison Pataki, author of THE ACCIDENTAL EMPRESS)
“A stunning breadth of period detail, offered in a fresh, contemporary voice.” (Juliet Grey, author of the acclaimed Marie Antoinette trilogy)
“Such an extraordinary tale makes for compelling reading and, as the lead book in a planned trilogy, will draw in readers who are interested in royal lives before the French Revolution…. Historical fiction fans, unfamiliar with the history of the Nesle sisters, will be intrigued.” (Library Journal)
“Tantalizing descriptions and cliff-hangers will leave the reader rapidly turning the pages in anticipation… A wickedly delightful read.” (New York Daily News)
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Sally Christie is the author of The Sisters of Versailles and The Rivals of Versailles. She was born in England and grew up around the world, attending eight schools in three different languages. She spent most of her career working in international development and currently lives in Toronto.
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My Review:
Wow! Okay first off, this series was riveting. I was not expecting to gobble them up like the delicious treat that they all turned out to be! I found myself falling quite swiftly into these books, I felt like Ms. Christie brought me into the story and the atmosphere of 18th century Versailles.
The writing was vivid, lively, and brutally honest. The characters are interesting, and a good chunk of them are double sided. There's layers and layers of plot, but at no point did I get lost or felt overwhelmed. The politics of court life, the slums of the city, and the splendor of the lives of the higher born, were all so interesting and exciting.
This is the last book (I AM SAD ABOUT THIS) of this series, and it ended in a completely satisfactory way. I wished this series could go on and on, but alas, it has reached it's conclusion.
There is so much to treasure about this this book and it's predecessors, the characters are memorable, the writing is delicious, and the world of the past is brought to life by a very talented Ms. Christie
I definitely recommend this series to those that love this time period. You will not be disappointed.
I'm in the middle of the first book in this series right now and I'm loving it!
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