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Minette
To know her was to love her.
Born in the very heart of the dangers of the English Civil War, smuggled out of the clutches of Parliament as a toddler and then raised in near penury in exile in France, the charming and beautiful Princess Henrietta-Anne Stuart, youngest daughter of Charles I and Henrietta Maria is the original Cinderella, waiting breathlessly and with some trepidation for the moment when her family’s fortunes will be restored and she can reclaim her proper place in the world.
A treat for all fans of The Secret Diary of a Princess by the same author, Minette leads the reader into the flamboyant, exciting and treacherous world of Louis XIV's Paris and Charles II's raucous Restoration court as seen through the eyes of an enchanting and unforgettable heroine.
This is the first book in a two part series about the youngest and favourite sister of Charles II.
Born in the very heart of the dangers of the English Civil War, smuggled out of the clutches of Parliament as a toddler and then raised in near penury in exile in France, the charming and beautiful Princess Henrietta-Anne Stuart, youngest daughter of Charles I and Henrietta Maria is the original Cinderella, waiting breathlessly and with some trepidation for the moment when her family’s fortunes will be restored and she can reclaim her proper place in the world.
A treat for all fans of The Secret Diary of a Princess by the same author, Minette leads the reader into the flamboyant, exciting and treacherous world of Louis XIV's Paris and Charles II's raucous Restoration court as seen through the eyes of an enchanting and unforgettable heroine.
This is the first book in a two part series about the youngest and favourite sister of Charles II.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 10, 2013
About the author
Melanie Clegg
15 books310 followersInternational woman of history, biographer, posh doomer, chaotic good, anxious, ENFP, flame haired Robespierre, Scottish, a sweet titbit for the Devil's mouth.
To date, my published books include biographies of Marie de Guise, Henrietta Anne of England, Margaret Tudor and Empress Alexandra of Russia, all of which were published by Pen and Sword Books.
My next book, a biography of Madame Élisabeth, sister of Louis XVI, is due to be published by Pen and Sword Books in the summer of 2023.
After this, I am contracted to write about women guillotined during the French Revolution, Louis Antoine de Saint-Just, Marie Antoinette, Madame Royale, Louis XVI and the daughters of Louis XIV.
To date, my published books include biographies of Marie de Guise, Henrietta Anne of England, Margaret Tudor and Empress Alexandra of Russia, all of which were published by Pen and Sword Books.
My next book, a biography of Madame Élisabeth, sister of Louis XVI, is due to be published by Pen and Sword Books in the summer of 2023.
After this, I am contracted to write about women guillotined during the French Revolution, Louis Antoine de Saint-Just, Marie Antoinette, Madame Royale, Louis XVI and the daughters of Louis XIV.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 21, 2013
Warning. This book is based upon known historical events and people, and they will be freely discussed in this review. If you are unfamiliar with this period and wish to remain spoiler free, I recommend you not read this review.
This is the first of two books based on the life of Princess Henrietta Anne (Minette), younger sister to Charles II. Told in the first person narrative, the book begins in 1654. The Stuarts are in exile and a young Minette is living in Paris with her mother, with money and apartments provided by the French crown (well, they are all family). The bulk of the story in this book revolves around Minette's teenage years living at the French court and the slippery slope of being a penniless princess in the world of kings and courtiers. The latter part of the book covers Minette's grand visit to England after brother Charles gets his crown; her return to France and marriage to Philippe, Louis XIV's younger brother.
My thoughts? I liked this one a lot, I've always been interested in Minette's story and there aren't that many books to pick and choose from - more often than not she's a secondary character - so hats off to Ms. Clegg for telling her story. I generally don't like the first person narrative, but I thought it was well done in this one, extra pluses for not talking to herself about how beautiful she was (a pet peeve of mine). I appreciated the way dialogue and interaction with other characters was used to recount back-history to the reader, as opposed to the tedious info dumps I've seen from other authors. It was abundantly clear how much she loved her family (especially her brothers), as well as how her brothers adored her. I very much appreciated this take on Minette, she was a genuinely good, caring person without the heavy sugar-coated Mary-Sue heroines you see from other authors. I'm looking forward reading more on Philippe and Armand, and again hats off to the author for not succumbing to the temptation to overwrite Philippe's character and turn him into a flaming OTT homosexual.
I did find a few typos scattered here and there, but nothing that really detracted from the story. Anxiously awaiting book #2.
FTC disclosure: Amazon verified purchase.
This is the first of two books based on the life of Princess Henrietta Anne (Minette), younger sister to Charles II. Told in the first person narrative, the book begins in 1654. The Stuarts are in exile and a young Minette is living in Paris with her mother, with money and apartments provided by the French crown (well, they are all family). The bulk of the story in this book revolves around Minette's teenage years living at the French court and the slippery slope of being a penniless princess in the world of kings and courtiers. The latter part of the book covers Minette's grand visit to England after brother Charles gets his crown; her return to France and marriage to Philippe, Louis XIV's younger brother.
My thoughts? I liked this one a lot, I've always been interested in Minette's story and there aren't that many books to pick and choose from - more often than not she's a secondary character - so hats off to Ms. Clegg for telling her story. I generally don't like the first person narrative, but I thought it was well done in this one, extra pluses for not talking to herself about how beautiful she was (a pet peeve of mine). I appreciated the way dialogue and interaction with other characters was used to recount back-history to the reader, as opposed to the tedious info dumps I've seen from other authors. It was abundantly clear how much she loved her family (especially her brothers), as well as how her brothers adored her. I very much appreciated this take on Minette, she was a genuinely good, caring person without the heavy sugar-coated Mary-Sue heroines you see from other authors. I'm looking forward reading more on Philippe and Armand, and again hats off to the author for not succumbing to the temptation to overwrite Philippe's character and turn him into a flaming OTT homosexual.
I did find a few typos scattered here and there, but nothing that really detracted from the story. Anxiously awaiting book #2.
FTC disclosure: Amazon verified purchase.
September 4, 2015
I simply think that I'd be more interested in reading a really biography about Minette than a fictionalized version of her life. These things can work but this book covers her life between the age of 11 and 17 and that results in two problems:
1) It's also a First Person POV and her voice doesn't sound like a eleven year old at all. I still hugely preferred that over the author trying to imitate a first person-narration of a young child (which honestly would have been annoying to me no matter if she managed to get it right or failed at it) but I still did a double-take the first time I read how old she was because what? Eleven? Seriously?
2) Nothing much happened to Minette during that time. OK that is perhaps the wrong thing to say. She still had a much more exiting life than any eleven year olds who aren't the daughters of an executed king and who life in exile but she still can't do much. Because she is so young (and because her mother is...a complicated character). So this book is her going to balls, her reacting to news about what her siblings are doing, more balls and some romance. Now I don't mind any of these things but I generally prefer less balls and more of the other.
Minette simply had almost no own agency which is logical and understandable considering the circumstances but for me that was still rather frustrating to read.
A second book about the rest of Minette's life is planned and since I like the author and from what I read Minette's life will become really interesting then* I will probably still read it.
*it's not even that the six years described in this book were boring. Just, as said, a biography might have been better since it could have put all the events in a bigger context.
1) It's also a First Person POV and her voice doesn't sound like a eleven year old at all. I still hugely preferred that over the author trying to imitate a first person-narration of a young child (which honestly would have been annoying to me no matter if she managed to get it right or failed at it) but I still did a double-take the first time I read how old she was because what? Eleven? Seriously?
2) Nothing much happened to Minette during that time. OK that is perhaps the wrong thing to say. She still had a much more exiting life than any eleven year olds who aren't the daughters of an executed king and who life in exile but she still can't do much. Because she is so young (and because her mother is...a complicated character). So this book is her going to balls, her reacting to news about what her siblings are doing, more balls and some romance. Now I don't mind any of these things but I generally prefer less balls and more of the other.
Minette simply had almost no own agency which is logical and understandable considering the circumstances but for me that was still rather frustrating to read.
A second book about the rest of Minette's life is planned and since I like the author and from what I read Minette's life will become really interesting then* I will probably still read it.
*it's not even that the six years described in this book were boring. Just, as said, a biography might have been better since it could have put all the events in a bigger context.
August 9, 2018
Melanie Clegg is a really gifted writer. Minette's story isn't the most eventful, as most of the chaos and danger surrounding her father's tragic reign occurred when she was a very small child. However, I was riveted by Clegg's prose which gave us minute details of Minette's childhood with her mother, Henrietta Maria, the unfortunate widow of Charles I of England. They stayed in exile in France and were supported by the kindness of Louis XIV, while her older brothers work to restore the monarchy in England. Minette has a close relationship with all of her brothers, most notable, the future Charles II and James II. Minette is humbled by her lack of wealth, and has a sweet disposition which makes her character truly likeable. She is under scrutiny at the French court as the highest ranking Princess and has to contend with the intrigue and gossip led by Cardinal Mazzerin's nieces, while being the poorest dressed at court due to their strained financial situation. She befriends Athenais de Rochechouart (a future powerful mistress of Louis XIV) and begins to shed some of her naivety. I can't wait for Clegg's sequel as I really have enjoyed this piece.
November 19, 2017
Published by Madame Guillotine in 2013, Minette is the first part of Melanie Clegg’s two-part series of historical fiction books about Henrietta Anne, youngest daughter of King Charles I of England and his French-born queen, Henrietta Maria. Melanie Clegg is best known for her works about Marie Antoinette, and her books set during the eighteenth century. For this, however, she turns to another favourite time period of hers, seventeenth-century France and England and centres on the lives of the impoverished, exiled Stuart family in the 1650s following their defeat in the English Civil Wars and King Charles’s execution.
Written in first person present tense through Minette’s eyes, I thoroughly enjoyed Clegg’s characterisations of some of my favourite Stuart personas: James II (when still Duke of York), Rupert of the Rhine, Philippe, Louis XIV, Athenais, the Mazarinettes, etc. I think she made very realistic characterisations for all the characters, especially Henrietta Maria. Clegg, a historian, clearly knows even the lesser-known details of the historical figures involved and does a good job of filtering in these facts into the storyline without being heavy-handed.
This book felt like the literary equivalent of eating a sumptuous dessert: sweet, frothy, decadent, especially with all the references to the characters’ clothing and hair (this is something Clegg is known and loved for by fans). There is something unquestionably romantic about the whole thing. That being said, the book as a whole lacks the gravitas that some historical fiction readers enjoy. If you’re anything like me, you’ll welcome Clegg’s style of writing for it is fun escapism. I look forward to reading the sequel, which is currently in the works!
The SCL rating: 4/5
Written in first person present tense through Minette’s eyes, I thoroughly enjoyed Clegg’s characterisations of some of my favourite Stuart personas: James II (when still Duke of York), Rupert of the Rhine, Philippe, Louis XIV, Athenais, the Mazarinettes, etc. I think she made very realistic characterisations for all the characters, especially Henrietta Maria. Clegg, a historian, clearly knows even the lesser-known details of the historical figures involved and does a good job of filtering in these facts into the storyline without being heavy-handed.
This book felt like the literary equivalent of eating a sumptuous dessert: sweet, frothy, decadent, especially with all the references to the characters’ clothing and hair (this is something Clegg is known and loved for by fans). There is something unquestionably romantic about the whole thing. That being said, the book as a whole lacks the gravitas that some historical fiction readers enjoy. If you’re anything like me, you’ll welcome Clegg’s style of writing for it is fun escapism. I look forward to reading the sequel, which is currently in the works!
The SCL rating: 4/5
April 21, 2013
This book tells the story of Minette, Charles II's youngest sister, and covers the period from 1654 up until 1660 when she married the Duc d'Orleans. It's very well written and engaged me thoroughly from the start. I loved the descriptions of life at the French court, and how the characters were brought to life. I found myself almost in tears at a few points in the book, one scene where Minette goes to see the site of her father's execution was one that I found especially poignant. This book is so interesting, the period it covers is one that I've always found fascinating. Melanie is a fantastic writer and brings her characters to life, so much so that you feel you actually know them.
September 5, 2021
Ah, it's so hard to read historical fiction that ends on a high note when you know it doesn't ultimately end that way.
Anyway, that aside, I loved this book. Well-drawn characters, good pacing, immersive history. I felt for Minette and I loved the characterization of her mother. The focus on how these two women felt in the aftermath of the revolution and how these events shaped them was well done...and heartbreaking. Not much insight into Charles II or Louis XIV, but that's okay. Melanie Clegg is a historical author to watch.
Anyway, that aside, I loved this book. Well-drawn characters, good pacing, immersive history. I felt for Minette and I loved the characterization of her mother. The focus on how these two women felt in the aftermath of the revolution and how these events shaped them was well done...and heartbreaking. Not much insight into Charles II or Louis XIV, but that's okay. Melanie Clegg is a historical author to watch.
July 11, 2020
I enjoyed the book and it was a bit different from other books that I have read about Minette. Those books implied that she was entranced by Louis at a very early age, whereby, in this book it doesn't present itself that way. I loved the balance between narrative and dialogue (I prefer books heavy on dialogue) and the descriptions of the clothing and castles were wonderful. The book took its time in telling the story and I eagerly await the sequel.
January 18, 2014
I loved this book - Clegg is so good at getting into the heads of the people whose lives she is essentially journaling. And living in Minette's head and world for a while was interesting. She's a historical figure I only knew a little bit about, and the period of the Restoration is a fascinating one. This book is just part one of the story and I can't wait to read more!
May 7, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. Full of historical detail and descriptions. It was easy to read and the development if the plot excellent. I look forward to the next book dealing with the latter half of Minette's life.
April 13, 2013
Excellent. More please!!
September 19, 2022
Melanie Clegg turns out another great book! The only complaint I have is that it ends way too abruptly, but there will be a follow-up to this one.
May 27, 2013
I read this charming book while invilgilating SATs for Year 6 :) Another fascinating insight into historical French royalty & some lovely new to me people to fall in love with :)
December 6, 2024
"Minette" is a breezy historical fiction focused on the early years of Princess Henrietta Anne of House Stuart. Having fled with her family to France after the English Civil War, the girl nicknamed "Minette" grew up at the court of her cousins, the French royalty. Over time, her family's reversal of fortunes gave her a Cinderella-like story, which Clegg tells here in the format of fiction.
What's good: Minette's story is less told in historical fiction. She's an interesting figure and she lived in proximity to equally interesting characters. The book does a good job of showing the life and perspective of a young girl in her time period.
What's iffier: The book cuts off at a major turning point of Minette's life. This was apparently due to the fact that the author intended on writing a sequel to this novel, but since that book isn't available, please be aware the book feels a bit incomplete as a result.
What's good: Minette's story is less told in historical fiction. She's an interesting figure and she lived in proximity to equally interesting characters. The book does a good job of showing the life and perspective of a young girl in her time period.
What's iffier: The book cuts off at a major turning point of Minette's life. This was apparently due to the fact that the author intended on writing a sequel to this novel, but since that book isn't available, please be aware the book feels a bit incomplete as a result.
May 27, 2016
Born in the heart of the English Civil War and smuggled out of England as an infant, Princess Henriette has lived most of her life as an exile in the French Court. The youngest daughter of the unfortunate Charles I, Henriette and the rest of her family wait in hope of their fortunes being restored as she is brought up in the decadent and treacherous court of Louis XIV. A rags-to-riches story, Minette follows Henriette’s early adolescence as she and her family fight to survive.
This was a nice little book – not a sweeping epic, but still very entertaining. Henriette (or Minette to her family) led a very turbulent life from a young age and anyone familiar with her story will know that things were never smooth sailing for her. During her refuge in France with her mother she lived pretty poorly alongside her French cousins due to their allowance being scarce, and what money they did have was shared with the other English aristocrats in exile or sent to England for war the effort. She didn’t exactly live the life of luxury accustomed to a seventeenth century princess but her character was charming; she’s sweet and attentive and I found her to be an interesting historical figure. I read this book already knowing about Henriette’s later life so it was fun to see how Clegg dealt with depicting her childhood.
Despite her seemingly hectic early years very little seems to happen to Henriette, at least until the final third of the book. Living in exile isn’t the most glamorous of positions to be in – there’s a lot of hearing about thing happening elsewhere, what her brother the soon to be Charles II is up too, the battles being fought away from the French court, and what occurred before Henriette was born. I’m not saying it isn’t interesting but there was a limit to what a seventeenth century princess could do and for Henriette it’s lots of balls and lots of waiting.
It’s not until Charles II is welcomed back to England that things really start to change for her; her family final have money and respect once more so that’s an up, and once that happens people start to take notice of her in a kind of she’s-the-sister-of-a-king-and-we-need-an-alliance sort of way. Henriette’s a pretty sad figure – her life was full of early family deaths and strained relationships so this isn’t the happiest read of your life but it’s still very good fictional portrayal of an unconventional historical princess.
Clegg is apparently working on a second novel about Henriette which will probably pick up where this story left off so I’ll be sure to check that out when it’s published.
This was a nice little book – not a sweeping epic, but still very entertaining. Henriette (or Minette to her family) led a very turbulent life from a young age and anyone familiar with her story will know that things were never smooth sailing for her. During her refuge in France with her mother she lived pretty poorly alongside her French cousins due to their allowance being scarce, and what money they did have was shared with the other English aristocrats in exile or sent to England for war the effort. She didn’t exactly live the life of luxury accustomed to a seventeenth century princess but her character was charming; she’s sweet and attentive and I found her to be an interesting historical figure. I read this book already knowing about Henriette’s later life so it was fun to see how Clegg dealt with depicting her childhood.
Despite her seemingly hectic early years very little seems to happen to Henriette, at least until the final third of the book. Living in exile isn’t the most glamorous of positions to be in – there’s a lot of hearing about thing happening elsewhere, what her brother the soon to be Charles II is up too, the battles being fought away from the French court, and what occurred before Henriette was born. I’m not saying it isn’t interesting but there was a limit to what a seventeenth century princess could do and for Henriette it’s lots of balls and lots of waiting.
It’s not until Charles II is welcomed back to England that things really start to change for her; her family final have money and respect once more so that’s an up, and once that happens people start to take notice of her in a kind of she’s-the-sister-of-a-king-and-we-need-an-alliance sort of way. Henriette’s a pretty sad figure – her life was full of early family deaths and strained relationships so this isn’t the happiest read of your life but it’s still very good fictional portrayal of an unconventional historical princess.
Clegg is apparently working on a second novel about Henriette which will probably pick up where this story left off so I’ll be sure to check that out when it’s published.
September 26, 2017
Great Read!
I found the story kept my attention. Been looking forward to the next book coming. Unfortunately not sure when the next book will be available to her US fans. Please make it available to US Kindle download
I found the story kept my attention. Been looking forward to the next book coming. Unfortunately not sure when the next book will be available to her US fans. Please make it available to US Kindle download
September 16, 2014
What a light, yet not at all breezy, look at Minette this was. Court life is depicted from Minette's viewpoint and she is a whole 15 at the end of the book so anyone looking for the seamier side of 17th century French court life might be disappointed. I say might because I didn't miss it at all. I was immediately drawn in by Minette's character and the often sad events of her early life.
I also feel that I now know better many "minor" characters who circled Minette and her mother Queen Henrietta, especially those from the Netherlands. I love the way Charles and Phillipe are written...frankly I love the way everyone is written. Everything flowed naturally and I found myself caught up in the story every time I picked it up, which wasn't often; I read through it in a few sittings.
Melanie Clegg writes my very favorite history blog and this book has everything her excellent blog entries have, mainly a carefree touch to very well-researched material. Melanie always brings history to life seemingly effortlessly and "Minette" is no exception.
I also feel that I now know better many "minor" characters who circled Minette and her mother Queen Henrietta, especially those from the Netherlands. I love the way Charles and Phillipe are written...frankly I love the way everyone is written. Everything flowed naturally and I found myself caught up in the story every time I picked it up, which wasn't often; I read through it in a few sittings.
Melanie Clegg writes my very favorite history blog and this book has everything her excellent blog entries have, mainly a carefree touch to very well-researched material. Melanie always brings history to life seemingly effortlessly and "Minette" is no exception.
August 5, 2013
I have the curse. When I begin reading something I must finish it; no matter if I love or hate it. My face scowled with dread as I began reading this book, thinking the curse had hit again. The beginning was a tad slow. The main protagonist expressed herself in an almost simple and cataloging manner. However, something kept me going. As the book progressed and the protagonist grew older I noticed the style evolved with her. The chapters became more detail oriented and the character herself grew more bold and filled with intrigue. Over-all i feel this book provided a rich look into a world of luxury where fashion and courtly life were priorities. From what I understand another book is due to continue the life of Minette, but seeing as how short it was, I really felt that the author could have put the two together for a more fulfilling read.
September 1, 2013
Another great book by Melanie. This was always going to be a winner for me because of the subject (restoration England/Charles II/Minette), my favourite period in time. However, it's a fantastic book, regardless of my period bias. It follows the life of Henrietta-Anne of England, youngest daughter of Charles I and Henrietta Maria. This is the first half of Minette's life in this volume, where she is a princess of England living in exile in France with her mother and her mother's relations. I believe there is a second volume on the cards entitled Madame, detailing Minette's life after her marriage to The Duke of Orleans and as Madame of France. I can't wait for this, I hope I don't have to wait too long.
September 14, 2013
An unusual novel about royalty, as this takes place almost entirely when the court of Charles II is in exile. Minette is his youngest sister, raised almost entirely in France and on the good will and obligations of her mother's family. It is slow to build, and projected to continue as it leaves Minette very young (and newly married, but no spoilers here as to who - that's a great part of the story). Enough court life, fashion, and royal goings-on to suffice for the fans or royal fiction, enough religious strife, political strife and world events to satisfy those who read historicals for that reason. As the character is a lovely, blossoming young princess, of course romance is in the air throughout.
October 16, 2014
This book was strange because in some ways it was a quick and interesting read, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't almost bored to tears sometimes with Minette. She seems to not have any opinions of her own and just happily does whatever her mom or brothers want her to do while being just a really good person. We get hints that she's well educated, but seems to have no opinions on politics or court life at all, other than saying she would just let the people who executed her father go happily on their way if "they promised to never come back." Everyone talks about how they adore her, and I have to wonder why, unless it's just because she's a dutiful daughter her keeps her mouth shut. She just came off as extraordinarily naive and boring, but maybe she gets more interesting later in life.
July 2, 2013
I just finished this, and I really enjoyed it. I wasn't aware that Clegg is writing a sequel until I got to the back of the book. To be honest, I was relieved because I really worried that she was cutting Minette's story in half.
I went to Amazon and bought her Secret Diary of a Princess, the novel of Marie Antoinette. I'd add the link, but for some reason the add book/ author option isn't working today.
I really loved Clegg's writing style. I hope my second book by her will be just as enjoyable.
If you're reading this Melanie- I'm on tethers waiting for the sequel!!!
I went to Amazon and bought her Secret Diary of a Princess, the novel of Marie Antoinette. I'd add the link, but for some reason the add book/ author option isn't working today.
I really loved Clegg's writing style. I hope my second book by her will be just as enjoyable.
If you're reading this Melanie- I'm on tethers waiting for the sequel!!!
April 7, 2014
This is a 2 part book series. To be honest not sure I will read book two. I love historical fiction. I enjoy this time period but felt no connection to the characters. I think in an attempt to show their flaws, unfortunately, as a reader I was not invested or just disliked them. The amount of political intrigue and the consequences of a misstep in royal court are glossed over. The threat looms but never seems real. The same goes for the social hierarchy and change of fortunes. I would hate to think I read a whole book that was only laying the groundwork for the second book.
March 18, 2015
What a fabulous book! I have to say it's the best of this genre I've read in ages! It's definitely my favourite book by Melanie Clegg so far- she is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.
On to the book itself: it's delightfully written, fast paced and easy to read (which I always find is a good thing), and it's historically accurate without being tedious. However, my favourite aspect would have to be it's wonderful cast of characters- there were many ladies I'd love to be friends with, and many men that made me quite... swoony!
I most definitely cannot wait for the sequel!
On to the book itself: it's delightfully written, fast paced and easy to read (which I always find is a good thing), and it's historically accurate without being tedious. However, my favourite aspect would have to be it's wonderful cast of characters- there were many ladies I'd love to be friends with, and many men that made me quite... swoony!
I most definitely cannot wait for the sequel!
November 13, 2013
Great book. I had never even heard of Minette before I read the book's description. I was of course familiar with her brothers, Charles and James. I enjoyed reading about her life in exile in France and her return to England. I ached for her at the end and eagerly await the sequel. Why aren't there more books about the Stuarts? I especially liked learning about Harry, which brought up an interesting historical what- if.
November 19, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this book; light and a quick read, its protagonist is someone I had never read a book about before but found an interesting topic: Henrietta-Anne, the sister of Charles II and James II. The first of two novels, it tackles the earlier years of her life, when she lived in exile in France. I found it believable and engaging and would recommend it for anyone with an interest in the Restoration or the court of a young Louis XIV.
May 6, 2016
The first of two novels about the life of Princess Henrietta of England, affectionately called Minette by her nearest and dearest including her brother Charles II. Told from the princess's own POV, the book covers her life from the age of 11 until her wedding to Prince Philippe, the younger brother of French King Louis XIV. An enjoyable read, although the more interesting part of her life will have to wait until the second book, whenever that comes out.
January 18, 2014
I loved this book - Clegg is so good at getting into the heads of the people whose lives she is essentially journaling. And living in Minette's head and world for a while was interesting. She's a historical figure I only knew a little bit about, and the period of the Restoration is a fascinating one. This book is just part one of the story and I can't wait to read more!
September 15, 2013
A tender and engaging novel about a young Stuart princess who lived during the 17th century. Minette is the sort of person born to be the heroine of a novel--beautiful, strong and in deep trouble. I especially liked the way Clegg brings her artist's eye to the setting. Never has this time period seemed so vivid to me. Look forward to reading the sequel.
September 26, 2019
Really good story, Minette is a great character to follow and the Stuarts are thoroughly humanized. Wish I had known this was a series before I read, because the plot seemed meandering at times. Pacing left soe to be desired, but the atmosphere makes up for it. Can't wait for the next book!
June 11, 2015
I have read other books about Minette, who is one of my favourite historical characters and I thought this would probably be enjoyable but more of the same. However I enjoyed Melanie Clegg's fresh look and was quite disappointed when the book ended.
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