The King of Montreal: A Novel

by Daniela I. Norris

The year is 1800 when Louis-Charles, only fifteen years old, arrives in Montréal. Known to everyone as Charles, he has escaped France aboard the ill-fated packet ship Freedom. Rescued by Basque fishermen, Charles is taken to the port of Montréal and left there to fend for himself as he bears the heavy secret of his true identity. A story of adventure, resilience, and historical mystery, The King of Montréal takes place in one of North America’s most beautiful cities.

176 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2025

About the author

Daniela is a former diplomat, turned political writer, and with age and wisdom - now spiritual author and speaker.

On Dragonfly Wings - a skeptic's journey to mediumship (Axis Mundi Books) and Collecting Feathers: Tales from the Other Side (Soul Rocks Books) were out in 2014, followed by a trilogy of inspirational novels: Recognitions (2016), Premonitions (2019) and Precognitions (2020). The series is a Literary Classics Gold Award winner.


www.danielanorris.com

Reviews

[Charis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and Lodestone Books for letting me read this advance copy!

I wanted to like this book better -- it is written with pleasant clarity and the author has done a lot of research. The premise is also intriguing.

However, the book never really gets off the ground in terms of tension. I didn't feel any interest in the developing relationship between the leads, the protagonist's quest to make something of himself felt unimportant, and there were a lot of side plots for such a short book. I never felt like I got to know the characters properly. The end didn't resolve anything; it felt like it ended half way through? It was a very short read.

There was also a strange fixation on how noticeably aristocratic the protagonist was, and how it made him 'better': the plot tried to correct that with a democratic message, but it didn't take away from the constant insistence that he was different and better than the people around him because of his background.

[H.R.H. Carpathia]

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced read.
Heart in a glass.
This novel tells an imagined story of Louis-Charles, dauphin of France in a had he escaped, reminiscent of Grand Duchess Anastasia survival stories. There is a bit of history about the ill fated prince woven into the story which is always nice in historical books. However, I never felt like I knew any of the characters. It also felt like I was reading two stories at once. Some of the book is in first person from Louis’s point of view and others parts are told in third focusing on the men of the ship that carried him. These could have been two separate books. Louis-Charles’s voice also did not sound like that of a fifteen year old boy. I believe this novel would most interest those who like French and Canadian history and ‘what-if’ stories. It is clear a lot of research went into making this story.

[Swapna Peri · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when royalty is stripped of its crown and thrown into the whirlwind of exile?

In "The King of Montréal", Daniela Norris answers this question with evocative brilliance. We follow the imagined fate of Louis-Charles, the young Dauphin of France, as he flees post-revolutionary chaos and seeks refuge in the bustling, unforgiving streets of Montréal. Norris beautifully blends historical fact with inventive storytelling, painting the portrait of a displaced prince searching for his identity in a world that no longer reveres him. Themes of *belonging*, *resilience*, and *reinvention* pulse through the novel, with streetwise friends becoming unexpected guides in his emotional and physical survival.

The novel doesn't just rest in the 18th century—it seamlessly traverses time, pulling readers into the salons of Paris where Benjamin Franklin makes a fur-capped splash and influences political currents with effortless charisma. Norris’s vivid descriptions bring to life Jules, an aide to Voltaire, who reminisces about revolutionary ideals and American charm, particularly in the famed La Loge des Neuf Soeurs. Through Jules’s eyes, we witness the intellectual energy of the time and its ripple effects. Then, on the Canadian front, Charles—rescued from the sea and stripped of royal privilege—crosses paths with Roisin, a spirited Irish girl whose loyalty and fiery courage become the emotional heart of the story.

Roisin and Charles’s bond is one of quiet power. Together, they navigate market life, prejudice, and the daily grind of survival. Roisin fiercely protects Charles, even when the odds are stacked against them, and her strength becomes an anchor for them both. Their shared hopes, subtle affections, and unspoken dreams of reconnecting with lost family members make their relationship feel tender and grounded in the real struggles of the working class. The contrast between their impoverished surroundings and the richness of their emotional connection adds a poignant tension to the narrative.

As the novel sails toward its finale, Louis-Charles (now Charles) prepares to reclaim his identity, both publicly and personally. Onboard the ship to Montréal, he finds purpose among the crew, while Jules contemplates the philosophical underpinnings of equality and education with a sailor’s wisdom. Back on land, Roisin’s nurturing relationship with a young girl showcases her growth and longing for something more. Ultimately, "The King of Montréal" is not just a tale of historical what-ifs—it’s a soulful meditation on identity, connection, and the unyielding human will to begin again. Norris spins her tale with compassion, creativity, and just enough sparkle to remind us that history often holds more secrets than we think.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure. This post is a review of a book I was sent for free. All opinions are my own..

This book is aimed at the young adult / coming of age genre and is a fictional tale set in 1800, based on an alternative storyline for the last Dauphin of France, Louis-Charles. Historical records indicate that Louis-Charles died in captivity in Paris in 1795, age 10.

But with fiction, you have free rein, so the story begins in Montréal with Charles (Louis-Charles), aged 15, newly arrived with nothing but the clothes on his back, living alone on the streets. How resilient can he be in this situation?

Chapters flick back and forth between Montréal and a sea journey from Le Havre in France. He had travelled under a false identity as the “grandson” of Jules Badeau, his tutor of the last few years. But where is Jules now? What happened on the ship? Can Charles still follow Jules’ original plan?

We also learn of his whereabouts in the previous 5 years, since when it was assumed he had died in the french prison. How had he secretly escaped and where had he been hidden?

Ridiculed by other street boys, he is happy to make three good friends a few weeks later. These are firstly a 17 year old Irish girl, Roisin, also recently arrived in the city and then later Kariwase and his older brother Jacob Fast Deer, indigenous Mohawks, These friendships are integral to the story too, which weaves in adventure, mystery and romance.

I loved the pace of this book, as its short chapters quickly flipped us from one scene to the next. Plus even minor characters like some of ship crew were reasonably fleshed out.

However the book was a bit shorter than I would have hoped at just 157 pages and did end rather abruptly, although on the plus side, it did leave room for a potential follow-up.

A fascinating historical tale, for which the author clearly put in a lot of research.

[Tammy S. Dewhirst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniela Norris’s The King of Montréal is an imaginative work of historical fiction that reimagines the fate of Louis-Charles, the lost dauphin of France, as if he had escaped the Revolution and found himself in early 19th-century Montréal. This “what if” premise gives the novel a fascinating layer of reimagined history, blending fact and speculation into a compelling survival story.

What Norris vividly evokes the atmosphere of Montréal in 1800—the bustling port, the rough street life, and the challenges of a city in transition. The protagonist’s struggle to conceal his identity while navigating gangs, poverty, and the uncertainty of exile makes for an engaging adventure. At times, the pacing drags and certain sections feel slower than necessary, but the central character arc and the imaginative premise keep the reader invested.
What stands out most is the way Norris uses reimagined history to explore themes of resilience, belonging, and identity. By placing the dauphin in a Canadian setting, she opens up new possibilities for how history might have unfolded, while still grounding the narrative in authentic detail.

Overall, The King of Montréal is a creative and atmospheric novel that balances adventure with historical speculation. It’s a rewarding read for those who enjoy young adult historical fiction and the intrigue of “what if” scenarios, even if it isn’t flawless in execution.

[Carolina Familia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Lodestone books for a copy of this book.

I was intrigued by the synopsis of this story as I don’t know too much about French or early Canadian history. But the story left me with so many questions, still eager to learn more.

This book is for young adult readers, but as it is plainly written I’d say it’s meant for really young readers. The story follows Louis-Charles, or Louis XVII, the lost king of France. He escapes France after the revolution and lands in Montreal after his boat is shipwrecked. We follow his journey to survive on his own in Montreal and eventually make his way to New York to find someone who can help him return to France. There was very little action or interesting events and it was very repetitive. Possibly to help young readers learn important facts about the story? I did enjoy reading the historical details regarding the French revolution and the part with the French-Basque sailors. I’m not sure if there will be a follow up to this book, as the ending was not complete. Will recommend this book to new readers interested in learning about Canadian History.

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly sluggish and repetitive despite coming in under 200 pages, an unfortunate mismatch with its promise of adventure. There was little of the intrigue or suspense I’d expect from a novel centered on the lost dauphin. The narrative never builds tension or stakes, and any potentially compelling developments are flattened by the dry, monotonous tone. The characters are difficult to connect with. The setting, which initially intrigued me as a current Montreal resident, is disappointingly underexplored. There's little atmosphere or historical detail to immerse the reader in the era or city, and the book does little to distinguish itself from other fictional takes on this well-worn historical jumping-off point. This book is forgettable. There’s no life in the storytelling, and it felt like a chore to finish. I rarely say this, but I wish I had put it down sooner. Skip this one, there are far better ways to spend an afternoon.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lodestone Books for the opportunity to read this book.

[Sue Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the King & Queen of France are killed their son is put into prison. He is helped to escape and put on a passage to America with the promise of a bright future but the passage isn't as expected and he finds himself in Montreal trying to survive. He meets a girl and falls in love but he has to find help and a particular person who can help him. I loved this book and trying to write a review without giving too much away was hard and I'm hoping there will be more to come and we can follow the story furthur.

[Forever Young Adult]

Graded By: Regina
Cover Story: Royal Blue
BFF Charms: Big Sister, Yay, Natalie Imbruglia
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
Talky Talk: Early Draft
Bonus Factors: Montréal, Coach Taylor Award
Anti-Bonus Factor: Ambiguous Ending
Relationship Status: Désolée

Read the full book report here.

[Kamini Mehta · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting tale about the secret escape of Louis-Charles during the French revolution. It builds slowly and philosophically as Charles finds ways to survive on the streets of Montreal. I did feel like I needed just a bit more, to flesh out the story properly.

[Alex Helm · Rating 1 out of 5]

the french monarchy reaped what they sowed and deserved everything that happeneed to them