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The Bone Angel #1
Spirit of Lost Angels
Her mother executed for witchcraft, her father dead at the hand of a noble, Victoire Charpentier vows to rise above her poor peasant roots.
Forced to leave her village of Lucie-sur-Vionne for domestic work in Paris, Victoire is raped and threatened by her Marquis master, and must abandon her newborn, Rubie, on the church steps.
Accused of a heinous crime, Victoire is imprisoned in La Salpêtrière mental asylum, where she bonds with fellow prisoner, Jeanne de Valois - conwoman of the infamous Necklace Affair that brought down Queen Marie Antoinette. She dreams of escaping the asylum but wonders if the price of freedom – losing Jeanne – is worth it.
Enmeshed in the fervour of the 1789 Bastille storming, Victoire hears the name ‘Rubie’ called. Could her foundling daughter be alive, and living in Paris?
Spirit of Lost Angels traces the journey of a bone angel talisman passed down through generations of women of L’Auberge des Anges. Amidst the tumult of revolutionary France, it is a testament to the courage of women facing tragedy, betrayal and insanity.
Forced to leave her village of Lucie-sur-Vionne for domestic work in Paris, Victoire is raped and threatened by her Marquis master, and must abandon her newborn, Rubie, on the church steps.
Accused of a heinous crime, Victoire is imprisoned in La Salpêtrière mental asylum, where she bonds with fellow prisoner, Jeanne de Valois - conwoman of the infamous Necklace Affair that brought down Queen Marie Antoinette. She dreams of escaping the asylum but wonders if the price of freedom – losing Jeanne – is worth it.
Enmeshed in the fervour of the 1789 Bastille storming, Victoire hears the name ‘Rubie’ called. Could her foundling daughter be alive, and living in Paris?
Spirit of Lost Angels traces the journey of a bone angel talisman passed down through generations of women of L’Auberge des Anges. Amidst the tumult of revolutionary France, it is a testament to the courage of women facing tragedy, betrayal and insanity.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 11, 2012
394 people are currently reading
2988 people want to read
About the author
Liza Perrat
19 books244 followersLiza grew up in Australia, where she worked as a general nurse and midwife for fifteen years.
When she met her French husband on a Bangkok bus, she moved to France, where she has been living with her family for twenty years. She works part-time as a French-English medical translator, and as a novelist.
Since completing a creative writing course ten years ago, several of her short stories have won awards, notably the Writers Bureau annual competition of 2004 and her stories have been published widely in anthologies and small press magazines. Her articles on French culture and tradition have been published in international magazines such as France Magazine, France Today and The Good Life France.
Spirit of Lost Angels is the first in the French historical "The Bone Angel" series set against a backdrop of rural France during the French Revolution. The second in the series, Wolfsangel, set during the WWII Nazi Occupation of France, was published in October, 2013. The third, Blood Rose Angel, set during the 14th century Black Plague years was published in November, 2015.
The Silent Kookaburra, a 1970s Australian psychological suspense novel, was published in November, 2016.
The second in this 70s Aussie Family Drama, The Swooping Magpie, was published in October, 2018.
Friends, Family and Other Strangers is a collection of humorous, horrific and entertaining short stories set in Australia.
Liza is a founding member of the Author Collective, Triskele Books and regularly reviews books for Bookmuse.
Sign up for new book releases and receive a FREE copy of Friends & Other Strangers, Liza's award-winning collection of Australian short stories.
When she met her French husband on a Bangkok bus, she moved to France, where she has been living with her family for twenty years. She works part-time as a French-English medical translator, and as a novelist.
Since completing a creative writing course ten years ago, several of her short stories have won awards, notably the Writers Bureau annual competition of 2004 and her stories have been published widely in anthologies and small press magazines. Her articles on French culture and tradition have been published in international magazines such as France Magazine, France Today and The Good Life France.
Spirit of Lost Angels is the first in the French historical "The Bone Angel" series set against a backdrop of rural France during the French Revolution. The second in the series, Wolfsangel, set during the WWII Nazi Occupation of France, was published in October, 2013. The third, Blood Rose Angel, set during the 14th century Black Plague years was published in November, 2015.
The Silent Kookaburra, a 1970s Australian psychological suspense novel, was published in November, 2016.
The second in this 70s Aussie Family Drama, The Swooping Magpie, was published in October, 2018.
Friends, Family and Other Strangers is a collection of humorous, horrific and entertaining short stories set in Australia.
Liza is a founding member of the Author Collective, Triskele Books and regularly reviews books for Bookmuse.
Sign up for new book releases and receive a FREE copy of Friends & Other Strangers, Liza's award-winning collection of Australian short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
March 20, 2017
Victoire Charpentier’s childhood was a happy one; though poor, she had the love of her mother and father, and siblings. But the death of her younger twin siblings in a devastating fire brought the beginning of a devastating run of misfortune for the family. Finally with her father murdered and her mother killed for being a witch, Victoire was given letters of recommendation from the priest of their village of Lucie-sur-Vionne for a domestic position in Paris. Victoire wore the beautiful bone angel her mother had passed down to her as she was dying… a talisman to keep her safe.
But worse was to follow for Victoire. The shocking abuse from the Marquis; a man known for his love of girls – it was only through the help of a dear friend that she survived.
As time passed, Victoire knew joy, happiness and more sadness. But the terrible betrayal by one she trusted was the most destroying. Would she eventually rise above the tragedy and trauma of her life? Suddenly Victoire knew what she would dedicate her skills to – the upcoming revolution to overthrow the aristocrats. But was her bravery and courage strong enough?
I've been wanting to read Spirit of Lost Angels by Aussie author Liza Perrat for a long time, and I'm so glad I've finally done so! What an interesting, intriguing mix of history and fiction; the research is obvious; the horrors and poverty of the poor in the 1800s heart breaking. I thoroughly enjoyed Spirit of Lost Angels which is #1 in the Bone Angel series and will be looking at #2 (Wolfsangel) soon. Highly recommended.
But worse was to follow for Victoire. The shocking abuse from the Marquis; a man known for his love of girls – it was only through the help of a dear friend that she survived.
As time passed, Victoire knew joy, happiness and more sadness. But the terrible betrayal by one she trusted was the most destroying. Would she eventually rise above the tragedy and trauma of her life? Suddenly Victoire knew what she would dedicate her skills to – the upcoming revolution to overthrow the aristocrats. But was her bravery and courage strong enough?
I've been wanting to read Spirit of Lost Angels by Aussie author Liza Perrat for a long time, and I'm so glad I've finally done so! What an interesting, intriguing mix of history and fiction; the research is obvious; the horrors and poverty of the poor in the 1800s heart breaking. I thoroughly enjoyed Spirit of Lost Angels which is #1 in the Bone Angel series and will be looking at #2 (Wolfsangel) soon. Highly recommended.
November 19, 2012
Okay, have you ever started reading a book slower and slower as the ending gets closer just so you can put off getting to the ending quickly because the book is that good? This is exactly what happened to me with Spirit of Lost Angels. This book is a fantastic tale of history, a little mystery, and great characters that I know is going to stay with me long after I shut the book. There is also a small pinch of magic in a bone angel pendent that the main characters, Victoire, receives from her mother who is a healer in her own right. Oh, and this book is filled with fantastic writing. This book hit all of the marks for me! Oh, this book just was so fantastic (excuse me if I use fantastic a whole bunch in this review).
First off, Victoire is such a fantastic character. You will be rooting for her from the very beginning. Her life is anything but easy from the very beginning. She is incredibly resilient though. With every new plot twist (and there are tons and tons and I loved every single one), she gets knocked down but finds some way to fix things and make them better. I loved following Victoire through Revolutionary France.
The historical detail is fantastic (there I go again) in this book. You can tell that the author took a lot of care and time in making Victoire's world both in the French countryside and in the city of Paris come to life. I also really liked the appearance of a couple famous historical figures in the book. I don't want to give anything away but one was a famous American who I'd probably love to talk buildings and books with and the other is a very prolific female philosopher of sorts. They were nice inclusions. Part of the reason I wanted to savor this book so much was because of the scenery and the settings in this book.
This book is a really good example of how amazing indie books can be! Maybe you all realize that I do not give a lot of books five stars but this one is definitely deserving, you can be rest assured. Do yourself a favor and get this book!
I was pleased to learn that this book is the first in a series all about Victoire's descendents.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a book that will engage you from many different angles, this is your book!
First off, Victoire is such a fantastic character. You will be rooting for her from the very beginning. Her life is anything but easy from the very beginning. She is incredibly resilient though. With every new plot twist (and there are tons and tons and I loved every single one), she gets knocked down but finds some way to fix things and make them better. I loved following Victoire through Revolutionary France.
The historical detail is fantastic (there I go again) in this book. You can tell that the author took a lot of care and time in making Victoire's world both in the French countryside and in the city of Paris come to life. I also really liked the appearance of a couple famous historical figures in the book. I don't want to give anything away but one was a famous American who I'd probably love to talk buildings and books with and the other is a very prolific female philosopher of sorts. They were nice inclusions. Part of the reason I wanted to savor this book so much was because of the scenery and the settings in this book.
This book is a really good example of how amazing indie books can be! Maybe you all realize that I do not give a lot of books five stars but this one is definitely deserving, you can be rest assured. Do yourself a favor and get this book!
I was pleased to learn that this book is the first in a series all about Victoire's descendents.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a book that will engage you from many different angles, this is your book!
July 8, 2012
First the twin children were burned in the house fire and now papa was run down by a nobleman's carriage. What else could happen to the Charpentier family? A lot could and did happen in this small town of Lucie-sur-Vionne, France; a town with many strange customs such as these: you can't conduct business on Fridays, you can't dig a grave, you can't wash clothes, and you can’t give birth? Now the not giving birth definitely had to be a challenge...can babies really wait?
Madame Charpentier, whose duty as a midwife became questionable was claimed a witch and drowned by the town leaders. She left her two remaining children to fend for themselves....Victoire and Gregoire. Victoire was forced to become a servant in the household of a noble in Paris while her brother remained in Lucie. She did not want to leave her brother, and of course Paris was not the place she wanted to be.....away from her family and at the mercy of her employer. Luckily circumstances in Lucie changed, and Victoire returned to marry.
The book took place during an interesting time period in history. You will follow Victoire through her life during and after she returned to Lucie...both the good and the bad. She had something happen to her when she was a scullery maid, and she now wanted justice for the commoners to make the nobles pay for taking advantage of them. You will follow Victiore and her accomplice as they work together to bring this justice to fruition and cause a revolution for commoners' rights.
You will learn quite a lot about France in the 1700’s in terms of the family life, the laws, the treatment of women, the treatment of the commoners, and the living conditions of the lower class, and the superiority of the nobles. You will be interested simply because of how well written and detailed the book is as the author clearly outlines the path of a commoner's life and the hardship of Victoire's life from childhood to adulthood.....very intriguing.
The book was very well researched, and your interest will not wane even during the discussions about the revolutions since Victoire and her antics are at the heart of it all. There is even a surprise person who came on the scene…a well known person, but nevertheless a surprise. It is an historical book about enduring, accepting, regret, love, loss, family, hope, coming home, and an angel pendant that held it all together for each of the women who wore it. 5/5
I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Madame Charpentier, whose duty as a midwife became questionable was claimed a witch and drowned by the town leaders. She left her two remaining children to fend for themselves....Victoire and Gregoire. Victoire was forced to become a servant in the household of a noble in Paris while her brother remained in Lucie. She did not want to leave her brother, and of course Paris was not the place she wanted to be.....away from her family and at the mercy of her employer. Luckily circumstances in Lucie changed, and Victoire returned to marry.
The book took place during an interesting time period in history. You will follow Victoire through her life during and after she returned to Lucie...both the good and the bad. She had something happen to her when she was a scullery maid, and she now wanted justice for the commoners to make the nobles pay for taking advantage of them. You will follow Victiore and her accomplice as they work together to bring this justice to fruition and cause a revolution for commoners' rights.
You will learn quite a lot about France in the 1700’s in terms of the family life, the laws, the treatment of women, the treatment of the commoners, and the living conditions of the lower class, and the superiority of the nobles. You will be interested simply because of how well written and detailed the book is as the author clearly outlines the path of a commoner's life and the hardship of Victoire's life from childhood to adulthood.....very intriguing.
The book was very well researched, and your interest will not wane even during the discussions about the revolutions since Victoire and her antics are at the heart of it all. There is even a surprise person who came on the scene…a well known person, but nevertheless a surprise. It is an historical book about enduring, accepting, regret, love, loss, family, hope, coming home, and an angel pendant that held it all together for each of the women who wore it. 5/5
I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2013
This is the story of Victorie Charpentier, a young woman of humble origins living in the late 18th century France. Victoire has a happy, idyllic childhood in the village of Lucie-sur-Vionne until a series of tragedies strike her family and she is left no alternative but to go and find employment in Paris.
These are the troubled years preceding the French Revolution. Paris, a character in its own right, is the setting where Victoire lives some extraordinary experiences that will leave deep marks on her life.
She is not a flawless person and sometimes makes mistakes and takes decisions that are difficult to accept by the reader, but this is only the direct result of the hardships she had to face. The misfortunes in her life sometimes take her on the brink of collapse, but she is a survivor and is convinced she can make her own destiny. From the ignorant country girl to the sophisticated playwright appreciated by the foremost intellectuals of her time, Victoire Charpentier is one of the most fascinating female characters I have read of lately.
Real characters of the 18th century such as Jeanne of Valois-Saint-Rémy and Thomas Jefferson are interwoven with the novel, adding more credibility to the narration.
I look forward to reading the sequel to this novel and to discovering more fascinating characters and exciting adventures.
These are the troubled years preceding the French Revolution. Paris, a character in its own right, is the setting where Victoire lives some extraordinary experiences that will leave deep marks on her life.
She is not a flawless person and sometimes makes mistakes and takes decisions that are difficult to accept by the reader, but this is only the direct result of the hardships she had to face. The misfortunes in her life sometimes take her on the brink of collapse, but she is a survivor and is convinced she can make her own destiny. From the ignorant country girl to the sophisticated playwright appreciated by the foremost intellectuals of her time, Victoire Charpentier is one of the most fascinating female characters I have read of lately.
Real characters of the 18th century such as Jeanne of Valois-Saint-Rémy and Thomas Jefferson are interwoven with the novel, adding more credibility to the narration.
I look forward to reading the sequel to this novel and to discovering more fascinating characters and exciting adventures.
June 8, 2018
In Spirit of Lost Angels, the author certainly puts her heroine through the mill! Not to give too much away (although most of it’s in the book blurb), poor Victoire suffers poverty and near starvation, bereavement of close family members, rape, physical assault, false accusation, imprisonment and abduction. Her experiences are played out against the turbulent backdrop of the French Revolution with Victoire witnessing some of the climatic events such as the storming of the Bastille. I really liked the walk-on parts for real life figures such as Thomas Jefferson and Mary Wollstonecraft and the references to political and philosophical thinkers such as Voltaire and Rousseau.
It’s a ripping yarn that fairly zips along but with some well-researched and fascinating detail about life for those living in poverty in the countryside and in the squalid streets of Paris. Here, the poor of the city exist cheek by jowl with the nobility who, in contrast, live a life of luxury, extravagance, debauchery and excess. Some of the most powerful scenes in the book take place in La Salpêtrière mental asylum – the descriptions of the treatment of the inmates being truly chilling.
During the course of the book, Victoire evolves from innocent abroad to persecuted and friendless girl, to informed and cultured young woman – not forgetting her role as angel of vengeance, of course. The author keeps the reader on tenterhooks to find out if Victoire will eventually find peace and contentment and be reunited with the daughter she was forced to abandon.
I received a review copy courtesy of the author in return for an honest and unbiased review. (3.5 stars)
It’s a ripping yarn that fairly zips along but with some well-researched and fascinating detail about life for those living in poverty in the countryside and in the squalid streets of Paris. Here, the poor of the city exist cheek by jowl with the nobility who, in contrast, live a life of luxury, extravagance, debauchery and excess. Some of the most powerful scenes in the book take place in La Salpêtrière mental asylum – the descriptions of the treatment of the inmates being truly chilling.
During the course of the book, Victoire evolves from innocent abroad to persecuted and friendless girl, to informed and cultured young woman – not forgetting her role as angel of vengeance, of course. The author keeps the reader on tenterhooks to find out if Victoire will eventually find peace and contentment and be reunited with the daughter she was forced to abandon.
I received a review copy courtesy of the author in return for an honest and unbiased review. (3.5 stars)
June 21, 2013
After reading numerous mystery/thrillers, lately I have been on an Historical Fiction bent. I have been in love with HF since I was in my teams and first read the books of James Michener, Kathleen Woodiweiss, and Jean Plaidy. There is just something about reading a book that takes you back in time and allows you to feel, hear, smell, etc., what life was like for the people in that time period. I love immersing myself in other cultures and time in this way. Liza Perrat's debut novel, Spirit of Lost Angels certainly fits this bill.
As soon as I began reading the book, I instantly fell in love with the heroine, Victoire Charpentier. In a time when women were largely illiterate and considered as possessions, Victoire is an exception. Not only is she able to read and write, courtesy of her mother, but she also possesses a strong personality. I really enjoy books where the author uses women with strong personalities in order to illustrate how exceptional this occurrence was in medieval times. In fact, this book was filled with strong female characters. In addition to Victoire, there was her mother, the village midwife and healer, who insisted that her daughter learn to read and write in a time where that was not an acceptable skill for women. Another great female character in the book was Jean de Valois. Jean is, in fact a historical character, and while actual knowledge of how she thought and felt is hard to come by, in this case the author did a wonderful job of giving her a personality that fit her persona.
The story presented here was also top-notch. Through the eyes of Victoire, her family, and the many acquaintances that she makes through out her life, I felt that I was able to really get a good feeling for life in France during the time of the French Revolution. Her joys and pains were my joys and pains. Her confusion and depression were so well written, that I was immersed in the agony right along with her. In addition, the author's descriptions of life in France were wonderful. I really felt like I was in the small village of Lucie, the dungeons of a French prison, and the streets of Paris. Most of the books that I have read regarding this time period were from the perspective of the aristocracy or royalty and I really enjoyed being able to look at things from the perspective of the average French citizen. In this respect, I cannot believe there is a book that does a better job.
On finishing the book I was excited to find that it was the first in a trilogy of books about the women of the Charpentier family. In fact, I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, which is about the French Resistance during WWII. I am giving this book 4.5 out of 5 stars and it is going on my highly recommended list.
a huge thank-you to the author and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book for making this book available for me to read and review.
As soon as I began reading the book, I instantly fell in love with the heroine, Victoire Charpentier. In a time when women were largely illiterate and considered as possessions, Victoire is an exception. Not only is she able to read and write, courtesy of her mother, but she also possesses a strong personality. I really enjoy books where the author uses women with strong personalities in order to illustrate how exceptional this occurrence was in medieval times. In fact, this book was filled with strong female characters. In addition to Victoire, there was her mother, the village midwife and healer, who insisted that her daughter learn to read and write in a time where that was not an acceptable skill for women. Another great female character in the book was Jean de Valois. Jean is, in fact a historical character, and while actual knowledge of how she thought and felt is hard to come by, in this case the author did a wonderful job of giving her a personality that fit her persona.
The story presented here was also top-notch. Through the eyes of Victoire, her family, and the many acquaintances that she makes through out her life, I felt that I was able to really get a good feeling for life in France during the time of the French Revolution. Her joys and pains were my joys and pains. Her confusion and depression were so well written, that I was immersed in the agony right along with her. In addition, the author's descriptions of life in France were wonderful. I really felt like I was in the small village of Lucie, the dungeons of a French prison, and the streets of Paris. Most of the books that I have read regarding this time period were from the perspective of the aristocracy or royalty and I really enjoyed being able to look at things from the perspective of the average French citizen. In this respect, I cannot believe there is a book that does a better job.
On finishing the book I was excited to find that it was the first in a trilogy of books about the women of the Charpentier family. In fact, I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, which is about the French Resistance during WWII. I am giving this book 4.5 out of 5 stars and it is going on my highly recommended list.
a huge thank-you to the author and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book for making this book available for me to read and review.
June 13, 2013
Liza Perrat has done a remarkable job recreating life in the French countryside and its villages, prior to the onset of the Revolution, and the fall of the French monarchy. This is the first in a proposed series, all linked to the original inn called The Spirit of Angels, started by Victoire and her husband Armand, as a way to fend off the waves of poverty enveloping the countryside, as food back more scarce, and taxes continued to rise. It also refers to the bone necklace, in the form of an angel, worn by Victoire and her mother. Victoire's life is filled with tragedies, ranging from the lightning-induced fire that burned her family's little cottage, and took the life of her twin siblings, to the heartbreakimg loss of her mother, executed by drowning- a punishment for being a mad witch. Victoire's life is a difficult one, and her ability to make it through so many perilous situations, tested my willingness to believe and accept her ability to overcome so many different types of peril. But that is the beauty of well-written fiction. The text draws us in, and encourages us to cheer for Victoire, in the face of what might seem like insurmountable odds. I will say no more about Victoire's life, since the reader must share her journey.
There is no doubt that the author artfully recreates the sights, sounds and smells of the villages and countryside of pre revolutionary France, as well as the stench and filth of Paris, in contrast to the brocades, wigs, perfumes, and rich foods, carriages, and life styles of the wealthy elite.
Much is made of the contributions of women to the growing revolutionary fervour that swept through France, leading up to the executions of the king and queen in 1793 - a welcome addition to the usual approach, where the emphasis is usually on the men who stormed the Bastille and eventually forced the monarchy to its knees. Thomas Jefferson even makes an appearance.
I enjoyed reading this book, but felt that some sections went on for too long, and I was tempted to skip ahead. To give details, would likely prejudice the reader's reaction as Victoire's story progresses. Additionally, some events really tested the boundaries of "believability", in my opinion. This book was better than three stars, but I was not totally comfortable awarding four. Three and one-half would have been a perfect rating, The next book, is set in 1943, with Nazis-occupied France, specifically-Victoire's village, as the setting. The angel necklace has been handed down, and belongs to the next heroine, who is a descendant of Victoire's. She joins the French resistance, to fight back against the Nazis. The Spirit of Lost Angels has been passed on.
There is no doubt that the author artfully recreates the sights, sounds and smells of the villages and countryside of pre revolutionary France, as well as the stench and filth of Paris, in contrast to the brocades, wigs, perfumes, and rich foods, carriages, and life styles of the wealthy elite.
Much is made of the contributions of women to the growing revolutionary fervour that swept through France, leading up to the executions of the king and queen in 1793 - a welcome addition to the usual approach, where the emphasis is usually on the men who stormed the Bastille and eventually forced the monarchy to its knees. Thomas Jefferson even makes an appearance.
I enjoyed reading this book, but felt that some sections went on for too long, and I was tempted to skip ahead. To give details, would likely prejudice the reader's reaction as Victoire's story progresses. Additionally, some events really tested the boundaries of "believability", in my opinion. This book was better than three stars, but I was not totally comfortable awarding four. Three and one-half would have been a perfect rating, The next book, is set in 1943, with Nazis-occupied France, specifically-Victoire's village, as the setting. The angel necklace has been handed down, and belongs to the next heroine, who is a descendant of Victoire's. She joins the French resistance, to fight back against the Nazis. The Spirit of Lost Angels has been passed on.
August 4, 2012
Born into a life of poverty and despair, Victoire Charpentier’s early life was fraught with tragedy and social degradation. When both her parents fall victim to hopelessness and ignorant superstition she has no choice but to make her own way in the world. Leaving behind the traumatic memories of her small village of Lucie-sur-Vionne, and comforted by her mother’s bone angel talisman, Victoire makes her way to Paris, and to a new beginning as a domestic servant. Here she is introduced to the debauched and selfish world of the pre-revolutionary French aristocrat.
Eighteenth century France is brought vividly to life in this dramatic recreation of Paris in the lead up to the storming of the Bastille. The writing is superb, the sights, sounds and smells of a city in turmoil is brought vividly to life, and the descriptive passages are so colourfully described, you almost feel like you have to dodge the carriages, and step away from the excrement laden streets.
Liza Perrat has an undoubted skill with words, the story grips your imagination from the very start of the novel, and the momentum doesn’t stop until Victoire’s story is completed. The meticulousness of the research and the vivid recreation of the historical period make this a fascinating book for those people who enjoy well written and decisive historical novel.
Fabulous ~ I loved it!
My thanks to Newbooks magazine for a review copy.
Eighteenth century France is brought vividly to life in this dramatic recreation of Paris in the lead up to the storming of the Bastille. The writing is superb, the sights, sounds and smells of a city in turmoil is brought vividly to life, and the descriptive passages are so colourfully described, you almost feel like you have to dodge the carriages, and step away from the excrement laden streets.
Liza Perrat has an undoubted skill with words, the story grips your imagination from the very start of the novel, and the momentum doesn’t stop until Victoire’s story is completed. The meticulousness of the research and the vivid recreation of the historical period make this a fascinating book for those people who enjoy well written and decisive historical novel.
Fabulous ~ I loved it!
My thanks to Newbooks magazine for a review copy.
November 12, 2012
‘I wondered how much longer I could continue such an existence.’
This is a gripping historical read about one woman's personal story during violent and changing times in 18th Century France.
Victoire is our heroine in this moving tale of love, passion and sadness, set in revolutionary France. She has grown up in poverty in the little village of Lucie-sur-Vionne, where she has seen her mother executed and her father tragically, cruelly and carelessly killed. She then finds herself in Paris, suffering at the hands of her employer, then enduring further horrors.
At times Victoire is driven to deep despair at her situation and the losses she has suffered in her life. Even when she is feeling less low, the threat is always there: ‘I feared la melancolie would creep upon me again – the sadness that seemed ever poised to spring on to my back and wrap its malevolent arms around me for the slightest reason.’
Yet despite this deep sadness, she is stoic and brave, for at times he has to be in order to survive. As the force for change and revolution grows, Victoire will need all her strength if she is to play a part in creating huge change in her country and overthrowing the current corrupt regime. Throughout the tale, Victoire regularly thinks about the angel pendant made of bone that she once wore, and gave away in the hope that it would be a link between her and a very special person one day.
The author introduces a great cast of characters, some in Lucie-sur-Vionne, many in Paris, whom Victoire meets and who impact on her life in different ways, all contributing to the person she becomes. I very much enjoyed the interaction she had with these characters, in particular in Paris.
The author has evidently undertaken her research to bring this novel to life, full of detail of the times to add authenticity, but never overwhelming or distracting from the progression of the exciting storyline. As a result I felt transported back to this time period, it was brought to life for me, and I could clearly and vividly imagine the places and situations in which Victoire found herself.
Liza Perrat has written a compelling, strong and beautiful debut novel with a spirited, engaging heroine and convincing historical detail which I really enjoyed reading. The plot keeps moving throughout; the story is pacy and exciting. I was drawn into the story and I grew to care deeply about Victoire and what happened to her, and I found myself rooting for happiness to come to her and for a better life to be around the corner.
Spirit of Lost Angels is the first in a series of novels under the title ‘L’Auberge des Anges’, which is wonderful to hear because I would be very keen to read more from this author.
This is a gripping historical read about one woman's personal story during violent and changing times in 18th Century France.
Victoire is our heroine in this moving tale of love, passion and sadness, set in revolutionary France. She has grown up in poverty in the little village of Lucie-sur-Vionne, where she has seen her mother executed and her father tragically, cruelly and carelessly killed. She then finds herself in Paris, suffering at the hands of her employer, then enduring further horrors.
At times Victoire is driven to deep despair at her situation and the losses she has suffered in her life. Even when she is feeling less low, the threat is always there: ‘I feared la melancolie would creep upon me again – the sadness that seemed ever poised to spring on to my back and wrap its malevolent arms around me for the slightest reason.’
Yet despite this deep sadness, she is stoic and brave, for at times he has to be in order to survive. As the force for change and revolution grows, Victoire will need all her strength if she is to play a part in creating huge change in her country and overthrowing the current corrupt regime. Throughout the tale, Victoire regularly thinks about the angel pendant made of bone that she once wore, and gave away in the hope that it would be a link between her and a very special person one day.
The author introduces a great cast of characters, some in Lucie-sur-Vionne, many in Paris, whom Victoire meets and who impact on her life in different ways, all contributing to the person she becomes. I very much enjoyed the interaction she had with these characters, in particular in Paris.
The author has evidently undertaken her research to bring this novel to life, full of detail of the times to add authenticity, but never overwhelming or distracting from the progression of the exciting storyline. As a result I felt transported back to this time period, it was brought to life for me, and I could clearly and vividly imagine the places and situations in which Victoire found herself.
Liza Perrat has written a compelling, strong and beautiful debut novel with a spirited, engaging heroine and convincing historical detail which I really enjoyed reading. The plot keeps moving throughout; the story is pacy and exciting. I was drawn into the story and I grew to care deeply about Victoire and what happened to her, and I found myself rooting for happiness to come to her and for a better life to be around the corner.
Spirit of Lost Angels is the first in a series of novels under the title ‘L’Auberge des Anges’, which is wonderful to hear because I would be very keen to read more from this author.
April 5, 2013
Victoire has had a difficult life. Her father was murdered and her mother was accused of witchcraft and hung. Young peasant Victoire is forced to leave her village of Lucie-sur-Vionne to take up domestic work in Paris as a servant, but she suffers abuse at the hands of her employer. With the Revolution growing in France, will Victoire be brave enough to join the fight?
Wow. I finished this book late last night and all I could say afterwards was wow. From the very first pages I was drawn into Victoire’s story, and I was so involved and absorbed in what was happening that I was constantly desperate to get to the next part.
Spirit Of Lost Angels is rich with historical detail, Liza Perrat has clearly done a lot of research for her novel and it shows. Historical information is effortlessly weaved into the story and the detail is so very well-written and vividly portrayed. The detail was so brilliant that I felt as though I had been transported back in time and was in the scenes of the Revolution with everything happening around me.
Liza Perrat really touches the reader’s heart with this novel. By telling Victoire’s story, we as readers gain a deep understanding of what life was like for Victoire and the lower classes like her as they struggled in life against the people above them. Victoire is easy to like, I warmed to her straight away and throughout the story I got behind her, willing her to find the strength, courage and bravery to stand up for what she believes in.
There are some shocking scenes in this novel, Liza Perrat brings a lot of reality to the story, and we learn a lot about how people like Victoire were treated, things that happened to them and the struggles they faced on a daily basis. However, these shocking scenes didn’t affect my reading, in fact, it made me want to read on because I hoped that Victoire and the others would eventually try to take back control of their lives, and I cheered them on with the upcoming fight, and the Revolution too.
Spirit Of Lost Angels is a truly astounding book that will have you reaching out to the characters, feeling for them, and fiercely cheering them on in the next part! It is engrossing, absorbing and you won’t be able to put this down. Liza Perrat is very talented and I’m excited about her future releases. This is a book that is truly not to be missed, and is perfect for fans of historical fiction.
Wow. I finished this book late last night and all I could say afterwards was wow. From the very first pages I was drawn into Victoire’s story, and I was so involved and absorbed in what was happening that I was constantly desperate to get to the next part.
Spirit Of Lost Angels is rich with historical detail, Liza Perrat has clearly done a lot of research for her novel and it shows. Historical information is effortlessly weaved into the story and the detail is so very well-written and vividly portrayed. The detail was so brilliant that I felt as though I had been transported back in time and was in the scenes of the Revolution with everything happening around me.
Liza Perrat really touches the reader’s heart with this novel. By telling Victoire’s story, we as readers gain a deep understanding of what life was like for Victoire and the lower classes like her as they struggled in life against the people above them. Victoire is easy to like, I warmed to her straight away and throughout the story I got behind her, willing her to find the strength, courage and bravery to stand up for what she believes in.
There are some shocking scenes in this novel, Liza Perrat brings a lot of reality to the story, and we learn a lot about how people like Victoire were treated, things that happened to them and the struggles they faced on a daily basis. However, these shocking scenes didn’t affect my reading, in fact, it made me want to read on because I hoped that Victoire and the others would eventually try to take back control of their lives, and I cheered them on with the upcoming fight, and the Revolution too.
Spirit Of Lost Angels is a truly astounding book that will have you reaching out to the characters, feeling for them, and fiercely cheering them on in the next part! It is engrossing, absorbing and you won’t be able to put this down. Liza Perrat is very talented and I’m excited about her future releases. This is a book that is truly not to be missed, and is perfect for fans of historical fiction.
January 25, 2013
I've been wanting to read 'Spirit of Lost Angels" for quite some time, so normally I was over the moon when Ms Perrat kindly offered me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was thrilled, yet so nervous because I definitely didn't want to be disappointed. (You know that feeling, when you find a book, love the blurb and the cover, but then you read it and realize you've just been too enthusiastic over nothing? I bet you do know what this feels like, to be "betrayed" by a book you've been so eager to read.)
But, was I disappointed after reading THIS book? Hell, no!! I absolutely, thoroughly enjoyed each and every page.
It's funny how a good book can get all these feelings out of you. While reading it I was sad, I cried, I felt hatred, rage, I sympathized...So many different emotions! I was simply mesmerized with the story and the characters the author created.
The story is centered around Victoire Charpantier, following her life in Lucie-sur-Vionne and Paris. Victoire is one unfortunate girl, losing almost everyone she loves at a very young age. Yet she finds the strength to move on with her life (does she even have another option?) and seek revenge! I adored Victoire, she's so intelligent and patient, making one hell of a lemonade when life gave her lemons.
I immediately fell in love with her, really!
This was such an emotional book and I was instantly drawn into it. The story is well written and researched. Because I always comment on the covers, I must say Jane-Dixon Smith did an amazing job with the design. It just complements the story so well. It's one great story in a lovely package!
Finally, I would like to thank Ms Perrat for the copy of this book. I really enjoyed it and I'm so looking forward to reading the other novels in the "L'Auberge des Anges" series.
I was thrilled, yet so nervous because I definitely didn't want to be disappointed. (You know that feeling, when you find a book, love the blurb and the cover, but then you read it and realize you've just been too enthusiastic over nothing? I bet you do know what this feels like, to be "betrayed" by a book you've been so eager to read.)
But, was I disappointed after reading THIS book? Hell, no!! I absolutely, thoroughly enjoyed each and every page.
It's funny how a good book can get all these feelings out of you. While reading it I was sad, I cried, I felt hatred, rage, I sympathized...So many different emotions! I was simply mesmerized with the story and the characters the author created.
The story is centered around Victoire Charpantier, following her life in Lucie-sur-Vionne and Paris. Victoire is one unfortunate girl, losing almost everyone she loves at a very young age. Yet she finds the strength to move on with her life (does she even have another option?) and seek revenge! I adored Victoire, she's so intelligent and patient, making one hell of a lemonade when life gave her lemons.
I immediately fell in love with her, really!
This was such an emotional book and I was instantly drawn into it. The story is well written and researched. Because I always comment on the covers, I must say Jane-Dixon Smith did an amazing job with the design. It just complements the story so well. It's one great story in a lovely package!
Finally, I would like to thank Ms Perrat for the copy of this book. I really enjoyed it and I'm so looking forward to reading the other novels in the "L'Auberge des Anges" series.
October 22, 2013
I really enjoyed this début novel from Liza Perrat and am already looking forward to reading the next book. Spirit of Lost Angels is the first in L'Auberge des Anges historical series and is set against a backdrop of rural France. Wolfsangel is the second in the series and will be published on the 16th of next month. I am already looking forward to returning to rural France to discover what happens to the talisman that is central to this series. The bone angel talisman is passed down through generations of Charpentier who face tragedy and betrayal in a world where their gift can be their curse.
In this first novel of the trio the story revolves around the personal story of the protagonist Victoire Charpentier, growing up in poverty in a small village in France. It is the 18C a time of violence and having already seen her mother executed for witchcraft and her father also killed, she is forced to seek employment in Paris. Unfortunately things do not improve for her and suffering terrible abuse she becomes desperate and her life gets about as bad as it can. Whilst at her lowest she makes a friend who helps her become brave enough to join the revolutionaries and make a new life for herself. Always her angel pendant is there through the many terrible experiences she has growing up in the tumultuous period of the French Revolution.
The character betrayals are very strong and realistic as are descriptions of the locations. A well researched novel from this début author who writes in a way that will draw you in, especially if you are a fan of historical fiction.
http://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspo...
In this first novel of the trio the story revolves around the personal story of the protagonist Victoire Charpentier, growing up in poverty in a small village in France. It is the 18C a time of violence and having already seen her mother executed for witchcraft and her father also killed, she is forced to seek employment in Paris. Unfortunately things do not improve for her and suffering terrible abuse she becomes desperate and her life gets about as bad as it can. Whilst at her lowest she makes a friend who helps her become brave enough to join the revolutionaries and make a new life for herself. Always her angel pendant is there through the many terrible experiences she has growing up in the tumultuous period of the French Revolution.
The character betrayals are very strong and realistic as are descriptions of the locations. A well researched novel from this début author who writes in a way that will draw you in, especially if you are a fan of historical fiction.
http://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogspo...
September 28, 2012
•Paperback: 378 pages
•At the time of writing – only £2.79 on Kindle
•My Rating – 4 stars
•Source – the author herself
I suppose I could be described as a Francophile, given that I used to teach French to A Level (age 18) and I have a penchant for novels set in France e.g. Joanne Harris, Kate Mosse, Michelle Moran’s Madame Tussaud, Tracy Chevalier’s The Virgin Blue and more recently, Tatiana de Rosnay. Therefore I was immediately drawn to Spirit of Lost Angels, set in late 18th century Revolutionary France.
This is a very impressive debut novel with characters which spring to life from the opening pages. Our narrator is a young peasant girl, Victoire, who experiences at first hand the tumult caused by the rumblings of revolutionary France. Victoire is a surviver, having to “reinvent” herself on more than one occasion to keep her head above water. We witness her rural upbringing, not quite the bucolic idyll and then a new life in bustling Paris, in the midst of turbulent social change.
Real life historical figures such as Thomas Jefferson, Mary Wollstonecraft and Jeanne de Valois feature in this vividly described narrative adding authenticity to this epic tale. The author wears her research lightly in this extremely readable, emotionally satisfying tale of a feisty young girl surviving the worst of times. I am pleased to report that this is the first of a series of novels and I am really looking forward to hearing more about Victoire’s descendants. Highly recommended for all lovers of historical fiction who enjoy a meaty tale!
•At the time of writing – only £2.79 on Kindle
•My Rating – 4 stars
•Source – the author herself
I suppose I could be described as a Francophile, given that I used to teach French to A Level (age 18) and I have a penchant for novels set in France e.g. Joanne Harris, Kate Mosse, Michelle Moran’s Madame Tussaud, Tracy Chevalier’s The Virgin Blue and more recently, Tatiana de Rosnay. Therefore I was immediately drawn to Spirit of Lost Angels, set in late 18th century Revolutionary France.
This is a very impressive debut novel with characters which spring to life from the opening pages. Our narrator is a young peasant girl, Victoire, who experiences at first hand the tumult caused by the rumblings of revolutionary France. Victoire is a surviver, having to “reinvent” herself on more than one occasion to keep her head above water. We witness her rural upbringing, not quite the bucolic idyll and then a new life in bustling Paris, in the midst of turbulent social change.
Real life historical figures such as Thomas Jefferson, Mary Wollstonecraft and Jeanne de Valois feature in this vividly described narrative adding authenticity to this epic tale. The author wears her research lightly in this extremely readable, emotionally satisfying tale of a feisty young girl surviving the worst of times. I am pleased to report that this is the first of a series of novels and I am really looking forward to hearing more about Victoire’s descendants. Highly recommended for all lovers of historical fiction who enjoy a meaty tale!
October 21, 2012
This is a tale told with panache by a skilled storyteller. Although the trials faced by her heroine, Victoire, are harsh and unrelenting, this is not at all the tone of the book which is full of colour and life. She is particularly good at evoking setting, particularly in the Paris sections, deploying her considerable knowledge with a light hand. She doesn't shy away from taking risks with the narrative, which courses the length of the social gamut, deploying certain real life characters as bit-players along the way. I had a tiny quibble about the overuse of certain French tags in the dialogue - they tended to distract this particular reader, and the dialogue is quite good enough without them. This is confident writing with an engaging heroine and leaves a deep impression of the sheer vulnerability of low-born women in pre-Revolutionary France.
January 25, 2014
Spirit of Lost Angels is the first book in the L’Auberge des Anges series by Australian-born author, Liza Perrat. This novel is set in eighteenth century France and follows events in the life of Victoire Charpentier, a peasant girl from Lucie-sur-Vionne. As with the major upheavals in the nation at the time of the French Revolution, Victoire’s own life also undergoes enormous changes. As a six-year-old in a village remote from Paris, Victoire could never have imagined her own involvement in the Revolution and the highs and lows that would mark her life. Perrat’s extensive research is apparent on every page of this interesting debut novel. A wealth of historical fact is contained in the story of Victoire’s life, so lovers of historical fiction will be delighted with this one, and look forward to the next book in the series, Wolfsangel, which is set during the Second World War.
June 25, 2013
3.5 Loved the fast pace of this character driven novel. The villagers feelings and concerns leading up to the French revolution is not one that I remember ever reading about. Victoire is an interesting character that one can see the growth of as she experiences the many changes that confront her in her life. I think at times it seemed almost too much to happen to a single person, but that is the only criticism I have of this novel. The amount of research done to write this is amazing and I look forward to the continuing story.
August 13, 2013
Eternally grateful for the chance to read this book. From the start I loved the historic time period, the strong women. I seldom don't want a book to end. Historical characters that pulled you in, I couldn't help but savor every word. The talent of Perrat is immense.
January 14, 2016
I found this an intriguing read, having no knowledge of the French revolution, or great deal about France for that matter, except for a little knowledge prior to when this story is set.
Set during the uneasy and ultimately unstable rule of King Louis XVI and Maria Antonette, amidst the rising of the French people, we follow the life of, Victoire, a peasant, and the impact of the French revolution on both lower and upper classes. We also see the struggles of a young girl, whom from the outset, witnesses or is subjected to madding incidents and suffers great loss and heartache throughout the story.
One can’t help wondering while reading, if Victoire will rise above all that an unjust legal system, fate, and the mean spirit of men, throw at her. It’s a time when women are objects, worth nothing to the ruling classes, and a time when women are prepared to die to change a man’s word and make their lot better.
What I really loved about this story was that the characterisations were done very well. I could picture and see the nuisances of all the people we are introduced to along Victoire’s long and treacherous journey. I especially loved when we were introduced to the American diplomat Jefferson. It added an additional interesting layer, to a story populated by little French phrases, scenes of French life in a tiny rural village while contrasting with Paris – from the pickpockets to the wealthy hangouts of the theatre ect.
It is not only a glimpse to the social mores of the time, and French culture, but a story that shows we can overcome great adversity with a little luck, a little help, persistence, and ultimately a desire to live.
Set during the uneasy and ultimately unstable rule of King Louis XVI and Maria Antonette, amidst the rising of the French people, we follow the life of, Victoire, a peasant, and the impact of the French revolution on both lower and upper classes. We also see the struggles of a young girl, whom from the outset, witnesses or is subjected to madding incidents and suffers great loss and heartache throughout the story.
One can’t help wondering while reading, if Victoire will rise above all that an unjust legal system, fate, and the mean spirit of men, throw at her. It’s a time when women are objects, worth nothing to the ruling classes, and a time when women are prepared to die to change a man’s word and make their lot better.
What I really loved about this story was that the characterisations were done very well. I could picture and see the nuisances of all the people we are introduced to along Victoire’s long and treacherous journey. I especially loved when we were introduced to the American diplomat Jefferson. It added an additional interesting layer, to a story populated by little French phrases, scenes of French life in a tiny rural village while contrasting with Paris – from the pickpockets to the wealthy hangouts of the theatre ect.
It is not only a glimpse to the social mores of the time, and French culture, but a story that shows we can overcome great adversity with a little luck, a little help, persistence, and ultimately a desire to live.
June 20, 2013
Featured Author group read with Historical Fictionistas.
I liked that this was about the ‘commoners’ cause’ and gave us the French Revolution from a commoner’s perspective. It has more on the growth of revolutionary sentiment than on the famous events themselves – although the Women’s March on Versailles acts as the centrepiece of those events, here, where the focus is also on women’s input and experience of the revolution. At first I thought a fault that ordinary people in the novel sit around and discuss the social and political circumstances, so often, but I’ve changed my mind, because obviously they did this or we wouldn’t have had a revolution. Similarly, at first I thought there was too much historical detail, but that turned out to be what I liked most about the book: the social novel, a canvas on ‘why there was a revolution’, with scarifying detail at times.
Victoire runs the gamut, or did I mean the gauntlet, of village life and the streets and prisons of Paris. To me her story was like a vehicle to give us a full look at the times, and I committed more to support cast than to her – but that may be because my interest was in the social aspects of this novel. There were contrivances of plot, but so there are in French and English social novels of the period and the 19th century: I thought the slightly Monte-Cristo style suits, and didn’t have an issue until the end, which was wrapped up too neatly.
The second half was more lively for me than the first.
I liked that this was about the ‘commoners’ cause’ and gave us the French Revolution from a commoner’s perspective. It has more on the growth of revolutionary sentiment than on the famous events themselves – although the Women’s March on Versailles acts as the centrepiece of those events, here, where the focus is also on women’s input and experience of the revolution. At first I thought a fault that ordinary people in the novel sit around and discuss the social and political circumstances, so often, but I’ve changed my mind, because obviously they did this or we wouldn’t have had a revolution. Similarly, at first I thought there was too much historical detail, but that turned out to be what I liked most about the book: the social novel, a canvas on ‘why there was a revolution’, with scarifying detail at times.
Victoire runs the gamut, or did I mean the gauntlet, of village life and the streets and prisons of Paris. To me her story was like a vehicle to give us a full look at the times, and I committed more to support cast than to her – but that may be because my interest was in the social aspects of this novel. There were contrivances of plot, but so there are in French and English social novels of the period and the 19th century: I thought the slightly Monte-Cristo style suits, and didn’t have an issue until the end, which was wrapped up too neatly.
The second half was more lively for me than the first.
May 17, 2012
Tracy Chevalier meets Kate Summerscale, with a dose of Joanne Harris and Sarah Waters thrown in. Historical fiction is not really my bag, but when it’s as good as this ... I’ll take seconds.
The subject of the book is the French Revolution, but from an unusual perspective. Victoire Charpentier is a peasant girl, whose mother is an angel-maker. The story of Victoire’s loves, losses and triumphs is gripping in itself, but the period and location add something remarkable to this epic tale. This is a master class in weaving in historical detail so that the reader understands the gritty detail of what living in 18th century France, as a peasant woman, really meant.
Perrat’s other outstanding skill is her descriptive language. She appeals to all the senses, employing scents, sounds, textures and tastes, enveloping the reader in a hypnotic atmosphere. Whether narrating a summer festival in the fields or the horrors of Salpêtrière prison, this is a writer who can create the most beautiful word pictures.
This is a startling insight into a terrifying time, an emotionally powerful story, beautifully told and raises many thought-provoking ideas. Perfect for book clubs.
The subject of the book is the French Revolution, but from an unusual perspective. Victoire Charpentier is a peasant girl, whose mother is an angel-maker. The story of Victoire’s loves, losses and triumphs is gripping in itself, but the period and location add something remarkable to this epic tale. This is a master class in weaving in historical detail so that the reader understands the gritty detail of what living in 18th century France, as a peasant woman, really meant.
Perrat’s other outstanding skill is her descriptive language. She appeals to all the senses, employing scents, sounds, textures and tastes, enveloping the reader in a hypnotic atmosphere. Whether narrating a summer festival in the fields or the horrors of Salpêtrière prison, this is a writer who can create the most beautiful word pictures.
This is a startling insight into a terrifying time, an emotionally powerful story, beautifully told and raises many thought-provoking ideas. Perfect for book clubs.
September 18, 2012
Who would have thought this was a debut novel? Written with great confidence and hauntingly beautiful, Spirit of Lost Angels is the first in a series of historical novels which, set both in a rural village and the city of Paris, charts a peasant woman's struggles against the abuse and corruption that is the aristocracy of 18th century France.
Perhaps stronger on character portrayal than plot which for me did not always flow as well as it might, in penning Victoire Charpentier the author has created a wonderful heroine who captures both the heart as well as the imagination.
Well researched, the sights, the sounds, the smells and, yes, even the mentality of the people are all brilliantly recreated by Liza Perrat, an author who is undoubtedly skillful in her use of language.
DISCLAIMER: Read and reviewed on behalf of the author I was merely asked for my honest opinion, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
Perhaps stronger on character portrayal than plot which for me did not always flow as well as it might, in penning Victoire Charpentier the author has created a wonderful heroine who captures both the heart as well as the imagination.
Well researched, the sights, the sounds, the smells and, yes, even the mentality of the people are all brilliantly recreated by Liza Perrat, an author who is undoubtedly skillful in her use of language.
DISCLAIMER: Read and reviewed on behalf of the author I was merely asked for my honest opinion, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
June 18, 2013
Victoire, a peasant girl raised in rural France, undergoes a series of tragedies—some while still in her village, others during a brief stay in Paris. As she comes into her own, the simmering unrest among the lower classes reaches its peak, and she is caught up in the French Revolution.
There are some lovely descriptive passages here, and the history is sound. I enjoyed exploring the revolution from a different perspective (a provincial peasant girl). The aristocratic characters seem no more than one-dimensionally evil and depraved, but Victoire's villagers and town friends emerge much more clearly, and a series of unexpected twists keep the story moving. All in all, a different take on a familiar tale, and well worth reading.
There are some lovely descriptive passages here, and the history is sound. I enjoyed exploring the revolution from a different perspective (a provincial peasant girl). The aristocratic characters seem no more than one-dimensionally evil and depraved, but Victoire's villagers and town friends emerge much more clearly, and a series of unexpected twists keep the story moving. All in all, a different take on a familiar tale, and well worth reading.
May 18, 2013
To repeat my comments to Liza,
I did enjoy the book. I am interested in French history, so bought the book for that reason. It was well written, sad and reflected the unfairness of the times, in relation to ordinary people. It is, possibly, unusual for a book to address these issues, since there are characters around that can fill a book with the same kind of escapism as a modern blockbuster based on the lives of the richer half of society. So the book was unusual, in my experience and, yes, I enjoyed it.
I did enjoy the book. I am interested in French history, so bought the book for that reason. It was well written, sad and reflected the unfairness of the times, in relation to ordinary people. It is, possibly, unusual for a book to address these issues, since there are characters around that can fill a book with the same kind of escapism as a modern blockbuster based on the lives of the richer half of society. So the book was unusual, in my experience and, yes, I enjoyed it.
May 6, 2013
This was one of the most beautifully written books I can remember. I literally thought I was a part of the action. The characters were so vivid that I could see them and the places described were perfectly drawn.
The story itself draws you in right from the start and never lets go. Victorie has become one of my favorite characters. She is strong and endures more than any one person should and comes out shining.
Highly recommended.
The story itself draws you in right from the start and never lets go. Victorie has become one of my favorite characters. She is strong and endures more than any one person should and comes out shining.
Highly recommended.
May 19, 2017
4.5 stars
Reviewed for Rosie Amber's Book Review Team. I was supplied with an ARC for an honest review, for which I will receive no payment.
Spirit of Lost Angels is Liza Perrat's debut novel, and revolves around Victoire Charpentier, a peasant living in the village of Lucie-sur-Vionne. It is linked to the later book, Blood Rose Angel, by the bone angel talisman passed down through generations. This first novel in the trilogy takes place in the years leading up to the French Revolution.
Victoire's life is one of tragic events indeed, as she loses those she loves to accident, illness, the danger and politics of the times, and at the careless hands of the nobility. Cast into a brutal Parisian prison, she meets the notorious Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Remy who inspires within her the fire of revolution; I liked the inclusion of a real-life character in this work of fiction. All the way through the book I appreciated the amount of research that has gone into writing this novel ~ such an entertaining way to fill in the gaps in my education. I enjoyed reading about the lives of the rural peasants in the beginning of the book, and comparing this with the medieval life in Lucie, four hundred years earlier, in Blood Rose Angel.
Throughout the book, the gaping chasm between the lives of the poor and those of the ludicrously self-indulgent aristocracy is always evident; it was most interesting to read the thoughts of the time about the general lot of women, and, as in the medieval story, the restrictions due to social mores and religious belief/superstition. Victoire lives many lives in her short one, and I was pleased to see return to Lucie, and reunite with the family she had longed for, for so many years, and to see wrongs overturned.
Showing the history of a country via the changes in one village over a period of six hundred years is such a great idea, and I now look forward to reading the third book in the trilogy, Wolfsangel, which is set during World War Two.
Reviewed for Rosie Amber's Book Review Team. I was supplied with an ARC for an honest review, for which I will receive no payment.
Spirit of Lost Angels is Liza Perrat's debut novel, and revolves around Victoire Charpentier, a peasant living in the village of Lucie-sur-Vionne. It is linked to the later book, Blood Rose Angel, by the bone angel talisman passed down through generations. This first novel in the trilogy takes place in the years leading up to the French Revolution.
Victoire's life is one of tragic events indeed, as she loses those she loves to accident, illness, the danger and politics of the times, and at the careless hands of the nobility. Cast into a brutal Parisian prison, she meets the notorious Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Remy who inspires within her the fire of revolution; I liked the inclusion of a real-life character in this work of fiction. All the way through the book I appreciated the amount of research that has gone into writing this novel ~ such an entertaining way to fill in the gaps in my education. I enjoyed reading about the lives of the rural peasants in the beginning of the book, and comparing this with the medieval life in Lucie, four hundred years earlier, in Blood Rose Angel.
Throughout the book, the gaping chasm between the lives of the poor and those of the ludicrously self-indulgent aristocracy is always evident; it was most interesting to read the thoughts of the time about the general lot of women, and, as in the medieval story, the restrictions due to social mores and religious belief/superstition. Victoire lives many lives in her short one, and I was pleased to see return to Lucie, and reunite with the family she had longed for, for so many years, and to see wrongs overturned.
Showing the history of a country via the changes in one village over a period of six hundred years is such a great idea, and I now look forward to reading the third book in the trilogy, Wolfsangel, which is set during World War Two.
December 16, 2021
Setting: 18th century France. In the small village of Lucie-sur-Vionne, Victoire Charpentier enjoys her family life, despite the tragedies that seem to stalk the family - a storm destroys their house and kills her twin siblings, then her mother is accused of witchcraft and drowned and her father is run down and killed in the road by an aristocrat's carriage. With both her parents dead, Victoire is forced to travel to Paris to take up a domestic position - where she is raped and threatened by her aristocratic boss, falls pregnant and has to abandon her baby. Against a background of increasing class tensions in the build-up to the French Revolution, Victoire returns to her home village - but further tragedy is awaiting and Victoire finds herself incarcerated in a Paris lunatic asylum....
I enjoyed this book although I prefer the author's more currently-set work. Having said that, I was quite engrossed in the story of the roots of the French Revolution and also the system governing the terrible asylum where Victoire finds herself. I did wonder how much disaster can befall one person but... 8/10.
I enjoyed this book although I prefer the author's more currently-set work. Having said that, I was quite engrossed in the story of the roots of the French Revolution and also the system governing the terrible asylum where Victoire finds herself. I did wonder how much disaster can befall one person but... 8/10.
July 12, 2013
There were some things which I really enjoyed about this. As someone who finds the French Revolution fascinating I am always intrigued by books which deal with the subject. I did quite like the way in which this book took a often written about subject and showed a rather different view of things not normally encountered. Rather than focusing upon the revolution itself, and the politics of it, this book was about the way in which the revolution affected the daily lives of the common people, the peasants, not just those within Paris itself, but also those living in the surrounding villages. Those who thought removed from the direct violence of the revolution still felt its impact and felt the consequences of it.
There were some really good detailed descriptions within the book, and the book was well researched. I loved learning of all the superstitions held among the village peasants, and as someone interested in natural healing and midwifery, enjoyed the sections dealing with the narrators mother who was a midwife. Also the chapters dealing with the insane asylum La Salpêtrière were the most fascinating parts of the book. It was most interesting encountering the infamous Jeanne and getting to see things from her point of view, I enjoyed her as a character within the book.
With that being said there are some things I felt were problematic in the book and did not quite sit right with me. There were certain events which occur within the story, that while in themselves could potentially happen, but the way in which they occur within he story somehow did not feel quite believable. At moments the story did have a feel of unreality to it. There was a lack of realism for me. I felt certain events were forced just to move the plot forward.
In addition the narrator of the story remains passive throughout the majority of the book. There is no real sense of her actively taking part in the things which happen to her and around her. Most the time she just seems to be there while events happen, and when things happen to her, she passively endues them until her circumstances change. So she feels sort of disconnected or aloof from the story and what is happening. She rarely feels like she is actively involved in what is going on, but more as if she is just there as a witness to report events to the reader. It might be because of this that I did not feel a sense of realism in the story, because I never really connected with the narrator, because she herself seemed so detached from the things which were happening around her, and to her.
In some of the most significant events which happen in her life, she did not feel as if she was truly present, as if she was taking an active role in them, but as if they were things simply being done to her. Because of this it was hard to really believe in, or feel her emotions, and it gave certain things an almost dream like quality.
There were some really good detailed descriptions within the book, and the book was well researched. I loved learning of all the superstitions held among the village peasants, and as someone interested in natural healing and midwifery, enjoyed the sections dealing with the narrators mother who was a midwife. Also the chapters dealing with the insane asylum La Salpêtrière were the most fascinating parts of the book. It was most interesting encountering the infamous Jeanne and getting to see things from her point of view, I enjoyed her as a character within the book.
With that being said there are some things I felt were problematic in the book and did not quite sit right with me. There were certain events which occur within the story, that while in themselves could potentially happen, but the way in which they occur within he story somehow did not feel quite believable. At moments the story did have a feel of unreality to it. There was a lack of realism for me. I felt certain events were forced just to move the plot forward.
In addition the narrator of the story remains passive throughout the majority of the book. There is no real sense of her actively taking part in the things which happen to her and around her. Most the time she just seems to be there while events happen, and when things happen to her, she passively endues them until her circumstances change. So she feels sort of disconnected or aloof from the story and what is happening. She rarely feels like she is actively involved in what is going on, but more as if she is just there as a witness to report events to the reader. It might be because of this that I did not feel a sense of realism in the story, because I never really connected with the narrator, because she herself seemed so detached from the things which were happening around her, and to her.
In some of the most significant events which happen in her life, she did not feel as if she was truly present, as if she was taking an active role in them, but as if they were things simply being done to her. Because of this it was hard to really believe in, or feel her emotions, and it gave certain things an almost dream like quality.
April 25, 2013
Review to come.
I was a little reluctant to begin this book initially. With it residing within the genre of historical fiction, a genre I rarely read, I wasn't expecting to enjoy it all that much. As is obvious from my rating, it was an amazing book. Beautifully written, well researched, and filled to the brim with emotion, I couldn't get enough of this book. It would certainly have been devoured much quicker if it hadn't been deadline time at university!
Perrat explores rural France and Paris before, during and after the French Revolution, bringing out many issues that faced the poor and repressed classes during this period. It was so heart wrenching to read about the tragedies our protagonist, Victoire Charpentier faces throughout her life. A tale of love, passion, loss and war, I felt myself tearing up on many occasions just praying for good news/ a change in the structure of their every day lives. I hasten to add I am not a reader that cries easily. The last time I cried was during Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It's insane to keep in mind that this is an author's debut novel. It's absolutely beautifully written and I cannot stop thinking about the book.
Our heroine, Victoire Charpentier is such a strong female figure. She keeps going despite everything that happens to her throughout her life. From poverty in her little village of Lucie-sur-Vionne, to her time in the asylum, to riots in Paris and back to where she started it all, in the little rural French village. We encounter characters that we love to love, and equally characters we absolutely love to hate. I'm finding this review so incredibly difficult to write without any spoilers because that is where all the emotion lies! I just, I honestly cannot recommend this book enough. It has overwhelmed me and I am so glad that I have read it.
Alongside exploring the life of Victoire, Perrat also explores issues of the Women's Rights Movement, which a few letters being exchanged between Victoire and Mary Wollstonecraft herself. As an MA student which specialises in Gender Studies, I was absolutely in my element watching how Perrat unfolds the issues raised on the treatment of women. No longer are they going to hide, allow themselves to be raped or murdered, to give up their bastard children. They are going to make a stand. This was such an empowering read and it made me so grateful to the women's movement and how far they have come - it makes me feel so incredibly lucky to have the way of life that I have now!
An eloquent and beautifully written historical novel, I highly recommend it to EVERYONE. Whether you're a lover of historical fiction or whether this is a new genre to you, please pick this book up. You will not regret it!
I was a little reluctant to begin this book initially. With it residing within the genre of historical fiction, a genre I rarely read, I wasn't expecting to enjoy it all that much. As is obvious from my rating, it was an amazing book. Beautifully written, well researched, and filled to the brim with emotion, I couldn't get enough of this book. It would certainly have been devoured much quicker if it hadn't been deadline time at university!
Perrat explores rural France and Paris before, during and after the French Revolution, bringing out many issues that faced the poor and repressed classes during this period. It was so heart wrenching to read about the tragedies our protagonist, Victoire Charpentier faces throughout her life. A tale of love, passion, loss and war, I felt myself tearing up on many occasions just praying for good news/ a change in the structure of their every day lives. I hasten to add I am not a reader that cries easily. The last time I cried was during Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It's insane to keep in mind that this is an author's debut novel. It's absolutely beautifully written and I cannot stop thinking about the book.
Our heroine, Victoire Charpentier is such a strong female figure. She keeps going despite everything that happens to her throughout her life. From poverty in her little village of Lucie-sur-Vionne, to her time in the asylum, to riots in Paris and back to where she started it all, in the little rural French village. We encounter characters that we love to love, and equally characters we absolutely love to hate. I'm finding this review so incredibly difficult to write without any spoilers because that is where all the emotion lies! I just, I honestly cannot recommend this book enough. It has overwhelmed me and I am so glad that I have read it.
Alongside exploring the life of Victoire, Perrat also explores issues of the Women's Rights Movement, which a few letters being exchanged between Victoire and Mary Wollstonecraft herself. As an MA student which specialises in Gender Studies, I was absolutely in my element watching how Perrat unfolds the issues raised on the treatment of women. No longer are they going to hide, allow themselves to be raped or murdered, to give up their bastard children. They are going to make a stand. This was such an empowering read and it made me so grateful to the women's movement and how far they have come - it makes me feel so incredibly lucky to have the way of life that I have now!
An eloquent and beautifully written historical novel, I highly recommend it to EVERYONE. Whether you're a lover of historical fiction or whether this is a new genre to you, please pick this book up. You will not regret it!
October 18, 2019
I am not quite sure if this is the way to review another edition or not, but I decided to just add to my original review. I explain in depth below why I absolutely love this book (and this whole series), but the author asked if I would like to try the audio version, and I must say it was extremely well done! I will always prefer the feel of a real book in my hands; however, I have had some long drives lately, and listening to this audiobook was definitely an enjoyable way to pass the time. The narrator did an excellent job of changing her voice to suit the different characters (which I was very impressed by as I think it would be very difficult to do), and I quickly found myself immersed in Victoire's world again and maybe even more so because I could hear the emotion in the narrator's voice. If you enjoy audiobooks, I do highly recommend this one, and honestly I would read or listen to anything Liza Perrat writes!!
I sat down after supper tonight to finish the last few chapters of Spirit of Lost Angels by Liza Perrat, but I hesitated because I knew that when I turned the last page I would have to leave behind one of the most memorable characters I have met in a long time. Victoire is a young peasant girl from Lucie-sur-Vionne, a small village in France, who, in the years leading up to the French Revolution, endures seemingly never ending tragedy and atrocities due to poverty, ignorance, inequality, and corruption but never loses her will to fight for love, happiness, liberty, and equality.
This story is the first in Liza Perrat’s L'Auberge des Anges series, each focusing on one strong main female character. I have also read the second in the series, Wolfsangel, and I must say that it is truly empowering to read the stories of these incredible women who even at the depths of their despair are able to dig deeper and find the strength to rise up and fight for what they believe in. Perrat is a truly gifted writer whose words and descriptions are so riveting that I found myself on an emotional roller coaster alternating from anger boiling to the surface at times over inconceivable horrors, to my heart pounding in anticipation, and my eyes overflowing with tears of sadness. I could feel Victoire’s pain and frustration like it was my own, and that is the sign of a great author when the reader becomes part of the story and experiences everything along with the characters. The portrayal of the lower classes with their strength, bravery, and fighting spirit during the revolutionary years is truly inspirational and a reminder that there are still inequalities in our world today that cannot be forgotten.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a historical novel with true heart and soul.
I sat down after supper tonight to finish the last few chapters of Spirit of Lost Angels by Liza Perrat, but I hesitated because I knew that when I turned the last page I would have to leave behind one of the most memorable characters I have met in a long time. Victoire is a young peasant girl from Lucie-sur-Vionne, a small village in France, who, in the years leading up to the French Revolution, endures seemingly never ending tragedy and atrocities due to poverty, ignorance, inequality, and corruption but never loses her will to fight for love, happiness, liberty, and equality.
This story is the first in Liza Perrat’s L'Auberge des Anges series, each focusing on one strong main female character. I have also read the second in the series, Wolfsangel, and I must say that it is truly empowering to read the stories of these incredible women who even at the depths of their despair are able to dig deeper and find the strength to rise up and fight for what they believe in. Perrat is a truly gifted writer whose words and descriptions are so riveting that I found myself on an emotional roller coaster alternating from anger boiling to the surface at times over inconceivable horrors, to my heart pounding in anticipation, and my eyes overflowing with tears of sadness. I could feel Victoire’s pain and frustration like it was my own, and that is the sign of a great author when the reader becomes part of the story and experiences everything along with the characters. The portrayal of the lower classes with their strength, bravery, and fighting spirit during the revolutionary years is truly inspirational and a reminder that there are still inequalities in our world today that cannot be forgotten.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a historical novel with true heart and soul.
September 27, 2014
Victoire Charpentier is a poor village girl in 18th century France, struggling to survive with her family in a time when the gap between the haves and the have-nots is wider than ever and the marriage of King Louis XVI to Marie Antoinette fans the flames of a violent revolution. As tragedy strikes her family again and again, Victoire vows to find a way to rise above her impoverished roots and make a new life for herself. Along the way she clings to the angel talisman given to her by her mother, a symbol of hope and protection amidst the chaos of her life.
I love historical fiction, and this book held me tight from the first chapter. We first meet Victoire as a child in her tiny village of Lucie-sur-Vionne, where the rumors of revolution are just beginning to be heard. They mean little to Victoire until she sees her father murdered and her mother executed for witchcraft. Left with only her brother and forced to depend on the charity of the village, Victoire goes to Paris as a maid, determined to make her way up in the world and somehow avenge her family.
Her life in Paris becomes even more tumultuous, however, as her personal troubles and the rising waves of revolution coincide. Spirit of Lost Angels traces Victoire's journey over the years, to Paris and back to Lucie-sur-Vionne and back again, as she fights to maintain her courage and her sanity in the face of hardship and horror.
This is an awesome debut novel, and apparently the first in a series, which makes me super-happy. The book moves at a very quick pace, so you never have a chance to get bored. At the same time, it's very rich in detail. I felt like the time period was very well-researched and all of the characters felt very authentic. Victoire is an excellent heroine, spirited and colorful but not without her share of flaws, which I found really refreshing; I've read way too many books with heroines that are either unbelievably angelic or thoroughly, stupidly unlikeable.
Overall this was a great read and I'm definitely looking forward to more novels from Ms. Perrat! If you love books about France or historical fiction in general, I would recommend checking this out.
I love historical fiction, and this book held me tight from the first chapter. We first meet Victoire as a child in her tiny village of Lucie-sur-Vionne, where the rumors of revolution are just beginning to be heard. They mean little to Victoire until she sees her father murdered and her mother executed for witchcraft. Left with only her brother and forced to depend on the charity of the village, Victoire goes to Paris as a maid, determined to make her way up in the world and somehow avenge her family.
Her life in Paris becomes even more tumultuous, however, as her personal troubles and the rising waves of revolution coincide. Spirit of Lost Angels traces Victoire's journey over the years, to Paris and back to Lucie-sur-Vionne and back again, as she fights to maintain her courage and her sanity in the face of hardship and horror.
This is an awesome debut novel, and apparently the first in a series, which makes me super-happy. The book moves at a very quick pace, so you never have a chance to get bored. At the same time, it's very rich in detail. I felt like the time period was very well-researched and all of the characters felt very authentic. Victoire is an excellent heroine, spirited and colorful but not without her share of flaws, which I found really refreshing; I've read way too many books with heroines that are either unbelievably angelic or thoroughly, stupidly unlikeable.
Overall this was a great read and I'm definitely looking forward to more novels from Ms. Perrat! If you love books about France or historical fiction in general, I would recommend checking this out.
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