3.5 rounded up This was more about the exploration of friendship and marriage than a thriller. It starts off really compelling and fast-paced, then slow3.5 rounded up This was more about the exploration of friendship and marriage than a thriller. It starts off really compelling and fast-paced, then slowed down to explore the relationship between the characters. I found the families confusing to keep track of in the audiobook. Different narrators would've been nice....more
This is a beautiful story about math. I listened to this as part of Levar Burton's podcast and honestly I need to review more of what I listen to him rThis is a beautiful story about math. I listened to this as part of Levar Burton's podcast and honestly I need to review more of what I listen to him read. This was beautifully done....more
This is a fictional Sci fi based retelling of Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI & and the French Revolution.
I'm extremely familiar wit3.5 Stars Rounded Down
This is a fictional Sci fi based retelling of Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI & and the French Revolution.
I'm extremely familiar with the details of the life of Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI. I highly recommend the biographies of both written by John Hardman to understand their personalities and the role Marie Antoinette played in the downfall of the French Bourbon Monarchy. The Road to Versailles by Munro Price is an excellent study into the events that led to the Revolution and whether Louis XVI needed to die.
This kinda sorta works. It's extremely simplified, drops many political aspects that could've strengthened the story, and focuses on the lack of sex life between Marie & Louis more than was necessary.
I liked how Fersen was handled, but frankly, the Princesse de Lamballe deserved better as she was the most loyal friend the Marie Antoinette had.
What doesn't work is that the couple are monarchs for decades before being beheaded. So this felt rushed, confused, and anticlimactic.
Also, I'm unsure if the author really understands what the first, second, and third estate are and how that impacted the revolution.
The low rating is for the suggestion that rebellion against unjust governments are unfair, corrupt, and doomed to failure.
France post revolution was fucking amazing. Women could divorce and did, after Napoleon French women will lose that freedom for almost 200 yrs. Haiti wins their freedom as do other French Caribbean islands. Jewish people are treated fairly. Napoleon is antisemitic and racist. He reinstated slavery across the Caribbean with the exception of Haiti because Toussaint Louveture beat the French Army.
The death of rich people isn't a big deal. 1 million french peasants starved to death when Louis XIV built Versailles. Less than 40,000 people died during the Revolution. Shit Napoleon killed millions during his wars.
We learn about those that died during the so-called reign of terror but ignore that they were much less than was regularly dying under 1st Estate Management.
The trials weren't 'unfair' except that rich people were never subject to the same laws as poor people. Like now. If I steal from my boss I'm arrested immediately. If my boss steals from me, via my check is short, it's not a crime and I have to jump through hoops to get satisfaction.
Laws protect rich folks at the expense of everyone else. So yes the courts were unfair but the nobility didn't care until that unfairness was applied to them. So their deaths were justified...more
3.75 Stars rounded up This was a unique and somewhat sexy story. The reveals were unexpected and almost too much. This is more of a coming of age story f3.75 Stars rounded up This was a unique and somewhat sexy story. The reveals were unexpected and almost too much. This is more of a coming of age story for folks in their mid 30's....more
This was decent. An enjoyable afternoon. I'll definitely read more from this author.This was decent. An enjoyable afternoon. I'll definitely read more from this author....more
This would be a very good movie. As a novel, it fell short. It felt unrealistic in many ways. It is very enjoyable and fast-paced as far as action sceneThis would be a very good movie. As a novel, it fell short. It felt unrealistic in many ways. It is very enjoyable and fast-paced as far as action scenes but the other scenes were weak....more
This is my last installment in this series for now. This was slow, boring, and continued the errors with the titles and address of the British Peerage.
2.25 Stars This was slow and needlessly complicated. My main gripe is the author doesn't really understand British Aristocracy, inheritance or the use o2.25 Stars This was slow and needlessly complicated. My main gripe is the author doesn't really understand British Aristocracy, inheritance or the use of proper titles so this storyline was just doomed....more
3.75 Stars Rounded up This was delightful, smart, and engaging. The mystery was actually mysterious. The author clearly knows and understands this tim3.75 Stars Rounded up This was delightful, smart, and engaging. The mystery was actually mysterious. The author clearly knows and understands this time period well in many ways but he is hopeless wrong in her knowledge of British Peerage titles and modes of address. The mistakes in regards to the Duke are embarrassing and explained more fully in other reviews....more
This is a somewhat hostile biography of Anne Boleyn. The author chooses to use mostly Chapuys as a source for Anne and decides to present her in his vThis is a somewhat hostile biography of Anne Boleyn. The author chooses to use mostly Chapuys as a source for Anne and decides to present her in his view. It's uncomfortable. Anne is regularly referred to as a concubine after her marriage to Henry, and Elizabeth is often called the bastard during her parents' actual marriage. It's bizarrely hostile.
Of what value is a biography of Anne Boleyn that stresses Katherine of Aragon & Mary Tudor's point of view???
This is beyond a balanced look.
The author passes the usual sexist nonsense about Anne Boleyn but packages it ludicrously as if Anne was a 'modern' feminist.
I find it weird that a modern view is that Anne simply should've given up her future as a wife to be a mistress to Henry VIII out of misplaced loyalty to Katherine of Aragon. It's just a silly opinion.
Anne was within her rights to refuse to sleep with the same King who fucked her sister. It's just ridiculous to suggest otherwise.
People outside of a marriage do not need to prioritize or respect another couples marriage. They are free to make choices that benefit them solely. To suggest otherwise is just childish.
Anne had no power to tell Henry to leave her alone and the history agrees she wanted to marry Henry Percy. She made lemonade out of the lemons Henry gave her.
Anne is blamed for Henry's own behavior towards and treatment of both Katherine of Aragon & Mary Tudor. Which is bullshit. Henry was an ass to Mary after he murdered Anne. So clearly Anne wasn't influencing him from her grave. Henry murdered Margaret Pole and her whole family in a fit of horrible pique. She was his mothers cousin and friend. She was involved in raising him. He murdered her children and grandchildren, tried to genocide her whole family. He is sick as fuck and I hate that Anne has somehow more responsible for Henry being unfaithful than he's held accountable for.
It's basically told from Katherine & Mary's pov until Henry dies.
Then Mary is increasingly marginalized in favor of Elizabeth I's great rise.
Meh. This is a biased and limited view of these dynamic women.
I found much of the ways Elizabeth carried her mother into her adult life touching. At the same time this author is so biased I don't completely trust her narrative...more
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