Winter, 1564. Beautiful young Princess Margot is summoned to the court of France, where nothing is what it seems and a wrong word can lead to ruin. Known across Europe as Madame la Serpente, Margot s intimidating mother, Queen Catherine de Médicis, is a powerful force in a country devastated by religious war. Among the crafty nobility of the royal court, Margot learns the intriguing and unspoken rules she must live by to please her poisonous family.Eager to be an obedient daughter, Margot accepts her role as a marriage pawn, even as she is charmed by the powerful, charismatic Duc de Guise. Though Margot's heart belongs to Guise, her hand will be offered to Henri of Navarre, aHuguenot leader and a notorious heretic looking to seal a tenuous truce. But the promised peace is a mirage: her mother's schemes are endless, and her brothers plot vengeance in the streets of Paris. When Margot's wedding devolves into the bloodshed of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, she will be forced to choose between her family and her soul. Médicis Daughter is historical fiction at its finest, weaving a unique coming-of-age story and a forbidden love with one of the most dramatic and violent events in French history.
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND
My Review
I was seriously due for a great read after dealing
with the past couple months of craziness in my life, and a great read is
exactly what author Sophie Perinot provided! “Medicis Daugher: A Novel of
Marguerite de Valois” was the perfect escape into the past, and I was able to
quickly lose myself in this novel for long periods of time. Marguerite de
Valois, called Princess Margot, is one of the daughters of Queen Catherine de
Medici, who history has portrayed as a witch, poisoner, murderer, manipulator,
and more. Margot fights to find her own way to happiness, in a world where her
every move is controlled and manipulated by either her mother or her brother.
The author, Sophie Perinot, did an excellent job bringing these intriguing
historical figures to life for her readers. I like that she did not paint
Catherine de Medici as either an evil sorceress or an innocent bystander, but
stayed somewhere in the middle. Many books I have read about Catherine either
portray her as at fault for everything that went wrong during her husband and
son’s reigns, or as completely innocent, but Ms. Perinot takes the ‘middle
road’ with her character in this novel. I also enjoyed reading more about the
lives of Catherine’s children. I have read several novels about Catherine in the
past, but the focus has always been on her life, not her children’s lives. It
was interesting to see her sons shown as more than sickly, weak men. Also, in
previous novels, Princess Margot was almost an afterthought, so I really
enjoyed reading about her life. I was able to connect with her character while
reading, and she definitely came to life for me in this novel. There is some
romance in this novel, but it is far from your typical romance. Margot has her
fair share of ups and downs, and as with most women during this era, there seem
to be more “downs” than there are “ups” in her life. However, she is able to
make it work, as she is a strong woman, who knew how to play it safe in a court
where saying or doing the wrong thing could get you killed.
This time period in France, the late 1500’s, is
completely fascinating. The author describes the people, places, and events of
this time period with great accuracy, but does so in a way that keeps the story
flowing smoothly, and without boring the reader. This is the second novel I
have read by Ms. Perinot, as she also wrote “The Sister Queens” (another
wonderful historical fiction novel!) I will continue to ready and review any of
her future novels, as she is a historical fiction author who has made it onto my
list of favorites! “Medicis Daughter” gets a solid FIVE out of FIVE stars from
me!
Also, be sure to check out additional information about this fabulous novel by reading Sophie Perinot's Guest Post DANGEROUS SEDUCTIONS at Historical Fiction Obsession!
Also, be sure to check out additional information about this fabulous novel by reading Sophie Perinot's Guest Post DANGEROUS SEDUCTIONS at Historical Fiction Obsession!
Advance Praise
"The riveting story of a 16th century French princess caught in the throes of royal intrigue and religious war. From the arms of the charismatic Duke of Guiseto the blood-soaked streets of Paris, Princess Marguerite runs a dangerous gauntlet, taking the reader with her. An absolutely gripping read!" --Michelle Moran, bestselling author of THE REBEL QUEEN
"Rising above the chorus of historical drama is Perinot's epic tale of the fascinating, lascivious, ruthless House of Valois, as told through the eyes of the complicated and intelligent Princess Marguerite. Burdened by her unscrupulous family and desperate for meaningful relationships, Margot is forced to navigate her own path in sixteenth century France. Amid wars of nation and heart, Médicis Daughter brilliantly demonstrates how one unique woman beats staggering odds to find the strength and power that is her birthright." --Erika Robuck, bestselling author of HEMINGWAY'S GIRL
About the Author
SOPHIE PERINOT is the author of The Sister Queens and one of six contributing authors of A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii. A former attorney, Perinot is now a full-time writer. She lives in Great Falls, Virginia with her three children, three cats, one dog and one husband.An active member of the Historical Novel Society, Sophie has attended all of thegroup s North American Conferences and served as a panelist multiple times. Findher among the literary twitterati as @Lit_gal or on Facebook.Blog Tour Schedule
Monday, November 16Review at The Mad Reviewer
Review at Peeking Between the Pages
Tuesday, November 17
Review at Just One More Chapter
Wednesday, November 18
Review at The Maiden's Court
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Review at The Eclectic Reader
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Review at The True Book Addict
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Review at Broken Teepee
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Review at Book Lovers Paradise
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Review at A Literary Vacation
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Spotlight at Historical Fiction Connection
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Review at leeanna.me
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Review at To Read, Or Notto Read
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Review at Bibliophilia, Please
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Review at The Book Binder's Daughter
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Guest Post at Bibliophilia, Please
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Review at Flashlight Commentary
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Interview at Flashlight Commentary
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Review at Curling Up By the Fire
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Review at The Readers Hollow
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Review at Reading Lark
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Review at A Book Geek
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Review at The Lit Bitch
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Review at CelticLady's Reviews
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Review & Interview at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
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Review at Bookish
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Spotlight at Passages to the Past
Wednesday, December 23
Review & Guest Post at Historical Fiction Obsession
Monday, December 28
Review at Unshelfish
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Interview at Unshelfish
Thursday, December 31
Review at The Reading Queen
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