Insatiable: A Macabre History of France ~ L'Amour: Marie Antoinette

by Ginger Myrick

***WARNING*** This book is a work of ALTERNATE HISTORY and borderline HORROR with graphic depictions of violence. If you are looking for a straight retelling of Marie Antoinette’s story, DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK.

In 1770, fourteen-year-old Austrian archduchess, Maria Antonia, left her homeland to marry the most sought after prince in Europe. Upon stepping into France she became Dauphine Marie Antoinette and assumed a fairytale life would follow.

But being the Queen of France is not all masked balls, beautiful dresses, and extravagant living. There are horrifying and unnatural forces at work behind the scenes, a mysterious plague causing a sinister transformation in the residents of Paris. When Marie Antoinette learns the details, she is stunned to find out that France has kept the secret for over two hundred years, and now she will be burdened with one of her own.

Determined to be the obedient daughter of the iron-willed Holy Roman Empress, she agrees to fulfill her commitment to the French Crown, until she unexpectedly falls for the handsome Swedish count, Axel von Fersen. Torn between her husband and her true love, her duty and her desire, Marie Antoinette longs for the day when she can be free to choose her path and follow her heart.

402 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 21, 2014

About the author

Winner of the Rosetta Literary Contest 2012 and author of five historical novels, Ginger Myrick was born and raised in Southern California. She is a self-described wife, mother, animal lover, and avid reader. Along with the promotion for INSATIABLE: A MACABRE HISTORY OF FRANCE ~ L'AMOUR: MARIE ANTOINETTE, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, WORK OF ART, THE WELSH HEALER, and EL REY, she is currently crafting novel #6. She is a Christian who writes meticulously researched historical fiction with a 'clean' love story at the core. She hopes to show the reading community that a romance need not include graphic details to convey deep love and passion.


The photo is of myself and my dog, Palhaço.

Reviews

[Arleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

French Revolution meets Walking Dead in this alternative history mash-up by a prolific author who has explored Renaissance Iberia, Medieval Wales, 19th Century New York and the American Civil War in her previous novels: El Rey, The Welsh Healer, Work of Art, and But for the Grace of God

Following Marie Antoinette from her happy childhood as the Empress of Austria’s youngest daughter, through her difficult transition from archduchess to dauphine and finally to Queen of France, readers are immediately aware of a sinister undercurrent in the historically accurate narrative. France is harboring a terrible secret within its borders–concealed since the time of Catherine de’ Medici. Against her husband’s dying wishes, the Holy Roman Empress forged the alliance with France that sent 14-year-old Antonia to this dangerous and peculiar court, where strange etiquette, outrageous styles and thickly coated make-up are not simply fashion statements. Our protagonist must find her way through Versailles’ long-established rituals, woo a reluctant husband and accomplish her main duty of producing an heir.

Marie Antoinette’s shy and standoffish bridegroom is one of the story’s unsung heroes–a refreshing portrayal–and her famous love affair with Axel von Fersen is played out brilliantly. The mort-vivant aren’t the only adversaries along the way–Madame du Barry and some of the King’s relations enjoy causing trouble as well. Add political intrigue and romance to the mix, and this historical horror novel is indeed an engrossing, cross-genre tale. The only complaint I can imagine is that there is an abridgment of Revolution details near the end, but it simply would not have been possible within the almost 400 pages. For readers not into the horror scene, I can attest that it’s not too gruesome–tastefully done would be an excellent pun (and rhyme!)

Once again Ginger Myrick has proven her talents with yet another style, bringing her tally to 5 within two years, including history, romance, fantasy, mystery and horror!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first meeting with Marie-Antoinette was at age 8 upon reading Alexandre Dumas' excellent Le Chevalier de Maison Rouge.
While I felt sorry for the sad lady in the Prison du Temple, I wondered at length why anyone would grow so in love with her to the point of staging the intricate Carnation Plot and endangering the lives of many to rescue her.

From then on, I read many books about Marie-Antoinette, and while each time I grew more sensitive to her plight and more unsettled at her terrible fate, I still could not understand the romantic infatuation with the Queen.

Well, this book changed my feelings. I absolutely loved Ginger Myrick's characterization of Marie-Antoinette. This book is in essence a biography of her life set in a horror paradigm. I loved it.

Everything about this novel was not only painstakingly researched and fascinating, but the prose was also immensely enjoyable.

The macabre aspects were stylish and suspenseful. (The key and secret passage escape scene had me on the edge of my seat - so to speak!) In short, I loved the author's deft merging of the horror and historical genre. The paradigm was well staged with great attention to detail which rendered it quite plausible.

Yet the true strength of this book's horror dimension is not that it plays an added entertaining role, but rather that it achieves an unsettling social commentary in an almost satirical manner. As the novel progressed into the well-known Reign of Terror, the story's supernatural horror elements became overshadowed by the horrors of reality. It was reality, not fiction, that gutted me. And here lies the social commentary - during certain historical events, we witness human horror on such unprecedented scale that one might wonder whether these might as well have resulted from macabre supernatural forces.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

[Mercedes Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an avid reader of Historic Fiction, I thought I would scream if I exposed myself to yet another book about Marie Antoinette. Still, I was intrigued by the macabre twist and decided to give her another fling. I'm glad I did; it was quite fun. Antoinette was lively and sweet, and Ginger admittedly glosses over (for the most part) the myriad of faux pas that turned France against her. That's OK; it's not what the book is about.

I was well into the novel before the suggestions of something wicked evolved into something more specific, and I must admit that I found the titillation more enjoyable than the ultimate exposure of the thing everyone was afraid of. I will say, the bizarre behavior of the mob during the French Revolution actually makes the story line almost believable, except for the fact that, once Antoinette is guillotined, the story ends and the ghastly apocalypse surely must go on. I felt like the author painted herself into a corner. Here is all of Paris in a ghoulish stew. Now what?

Aside from that, it was kind of interesting to follow an alternative explanation of Louis XVI's apparent sexual dysfunction and miraculous recovery after seven years of infertility. Even Antoinette's affair with Fersen takes on a gloss of legitimacy. Although I ultimately found the Royal involvement in the plot line a little hard to swallow, I do admit it was clever!

[Linda Root · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit to never having been partial to Marie Antoinette, even though I knew she never made the statement 'let them eat cake.' i simply am of the opinion that she should have fled to Austria with her children when there was still an avenue of escape open, and that she owed it to progeny to same them. Foremost in my review is my realization that not even Ginger Myrick could make me like this woman. Next comes the second challenge Myrick faces in courting me as an enthusiastic reader--in essence, with the abundance of horror in the current world, I do not wish to let it invade my leisure time. Thus, it is with great surprise that I declare this, in my opinion, to be Ginger's Myrick's masterpiece. While I cannot call it my favorite among her books, because I am still repulsed by the horror and the violence, Mrs. Myrick has managed to create an almost plausible answer to the degree of brutality of the citizens of Paris. If anything, the mort vivant of Ginger's book exercise more restraint than the mob invading the Tuilleries and mutilating the royals within their grasp. I rank this book a four star not because of my personal prejudices, but because at times I found it to drag along, much as Antoinette's life suffered lackluster spells during Axel Fersen's absences. If there were a 5-, that is how I would rate it.

I agree wholeheartedly with other reviewers who have cautioned readers to heed Ginger's caveat. This is not a fictionalized biography of Marie Antoinette, but a very macabre interpretation of what might have happened in the paralleled universe of the macabre. The book most assuredly establishes Ginger Myrick as a serious, talented and fearless author whose imagination knows no prison.

[Robert Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

By Robert
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Insatiable: A Macabre History of France ~ L'Amour: Marie Antoinette (Kindle Edition)
I have read several of Ginger Myrick's novels. I read the first book because at the time I was writing historical fiction set in the western United States and wanted to read other aspects. What I discovered was that my work was not even close to Ms. Myricks in detail to fact, presentation, or her ability to wrap several genres into the fabric of historical fiction. That said - INSATIABLE: A MACABRE HISTORY OF FRANCE: MARIE ANTOINETTE is my favorite to date. Tantalizing, intriguing, at times mysterious, sexy little a little boy and girl's first stolen kiss, the novel was emchanting. and as the title suggest macabre. A great read, twisiting horror, historical fiction, love and hate, all into one flowing novel. You will not guess the end even though the readers of history and historical fiction know well the story of Marie
Antoinette - mayhaps the rich can even have their hearts broken. Well worth your time.

[Treva Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate to admit it took me awhile to finish. I started reading it last Wednesday Nov 19 and could not put it down. I would drain the battery on the Ipad and switch to the phone and back.

I absolutely loved how the story was woven around French History. Brilliant!
The story of the King and Queen has also been an interested but to find something as interesting as this written into the framework as to how and why French Court behaves or reacts to everyday life.

I would have liked to seen the story flush out more of how the Walking Death became part of their Society.

Ginger does it again, is all I can say.

I will write more soon. I need time to savor this blend of story writing.

[Shan Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely in awe

Ginger has taken her writing to a whole other level in this one. I don't even know where to begin. Marie Antoinette has entered an union of marriage for political purposes. She slowly begins to see and learn if Frances deep dark secret but will she survive the turn of events ?

[Darlene Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Macabre Interwoven with History

The author has successfully woven a morbid aspect into the sad tale of Marie Antoinette and the Capet royal house while retaining the authenticity of history. Well done.