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Panico! : Marie Antoinette's Journey During the Reign of Terror
From shy Austrian princess to vilified French queen.
“I am the venom in your veins...”
To this day, Marie Antoinette remains a very polarizing and controversial queen. Known for her extravagant fashion and luxurious lifestyle, she quickly became the hated symbol of aristocratic indulgence and depravity. The Revolutionists made her the scapegoat for all of their rage, which led her to the scaffold.
This poetry book captures Marie Antoinette's journey from leaving Versailles in 1789 to navigating the Reign of Terror and her untimely demise in 1793. A journey compiled by despair and loss—but that ultimately forged the path for Marie Antoinette to showcase her bravery and resilience. Told in the point of view of the unfortunate Queen, you will experience the highs and lows of her years in captivity. From gilded queen to widow Capet—this book explores Marie Antoinette's plight in a way that is both intimate and raw. Experience history like you never have before in these poems that read like confessions and leave a mark long after you've reached the end.
“I am the venom in your veins...”
To this day, Marie Antoinette remains a very polarizing and controversial queen. Known for her extravagant fashion and luxurious lifestyle, she quickly became the hated symbol of aristocratic indulgence and depravity. The Revolutionists made her the scapegoat for all of their rage, which led her to the scaffold.
This poetry book captures Marie Antoinette's journey from leaving Versailles in 1789 to navigating the Reign of Terror and her untimely demise in 1793. A journey compiled by despair and loss—but that ultimately forged the path for Marie Antoinette to showcase her bravery and resilience. Told in the point of view of the unfortunate Queen, you will experience the highs and lows of her years in captivity. From gilded queen to widow Capet—this book explores Marie Antoinette's plight in a way that is both intimate and raw. Experience history like you never have before in these poems that read like confessions and leave a mark long after you've reached the end.
99 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 6, 2025
4 people want to read
About the author
Azzurra Nox
25 books198 followersBorn in Catania, Sicily, she has led a nomadic life since birth. She has lived in various European cities and Cuba, and currently resides in the Los Angeles area. Always an avid reader and writer from a young age, she loved entertaining her friends with ghost stories. She loves horror movies, cats, and a good rock show. She dislikes Mondays and chick-flicks. CUT HERE, her debut paranormal urban fantasy was inspired by a nightmare the writer had a few years ago. Some of her favourite authors include Anne Rice, Oscar Wilde, Chuck Palahniuk, and Isabella Santacroce.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 28, 2025
AZZURRA NOX'S NEW BOOK PANICO!, AN IMAGINATIVE LOOK INTO MARIE ANTOINETTE'S FINAL DAYS
". . . France will learn to laugh again, My blood and bones—Their joy."
Azzura Nox weaves a unique perspective on a historical story with her poetry collection Panico!
Marie Antoinette has long been a controversial queen from her infamously (incorrect) "let them eat cake"' quote to her beheading in 1793. But, how well does anyone know the woman behind the frivolous spending and elaborate costumes?
Nox taps into Antoinette's regret and pain as the queen sits in a prison contemplating her royal life. Her love and worry for her children and her self-awareness as a misguided member of the royal family serve as intriguing themes and written with clarity and dynamic imagery.
Panico! is meant to be read from start to finish which allows readers a fluid reading experience from the point-of-view of the doomed queen. The perfect pacing, somber emotional word choices, and effective stanza breaks keeps readers glued to the page.
This unique and creative collection will cast a different light on a queen who tried and failed to lead a nation and who found her compassion too late.
". . . France will learn to laugh again, My blood and bones—Their joy."
Azzura Nox weaves a unique perspective on a historical story with her poetry collection Panico!
Marie Antoinette has long been a controversial queen from her infamously (incorrect) "let them eat cake"' quote to her beheading in 1793. But, how well does anyone know the woman behind the frivolous spending and elaborate costumes?
Nox taps into Antoinette's regret and pain as the queen sits in a prison contemplating her royal life. Her love and worry for her children and her self-awareness as a misguided member of the royal family serve as intriguing themes and written with clarity and dynamic imagery.
Panico! is meant to be read from start to finish which allows readers a fluid reading experience from the point-of-view of the doomed queen. The perfect pacing, somber emotional word choices, and effective stanza breaks keeps readers glued to the page.
This unique and creative collection will cast a different light on a queen who tried and failed to lead a nation and who found her compassion too late.
August 9, 2025
🔥 BRO vs. PANICO! : Marie Antoinette’s Journey During the Reign of Terror by Azzura Nox 🔥
🥊 The Book: The crown is slipping. The guillotine is waiting. Panico! is a poetry collection chronicling Marie Antoinette’s final years—from her fall from gilded glory to her execution. it’s a mix of despair, defiance, and unexpected resilience. This isn’t just powdered wigs and pastries. It’s a raw, lyrical descent into the end of an era.
💪 The Bro: I haven’t read a poem since Ms. Kessler’s senior-year English class (and that was under protest), so I didn’t expect much. But Nox’s work hit different. It’s poetry for poetry lovers and poetry haters—flowing like prose, never bogging down in format. And Nox makes you care, even if you walked in ready to throw a baguette.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 1: First Impressions
• The opening pieces drop you right into the crumbling opulence.
• The voice feels authentic without being weighed down by overly archaic language.
• Even as someone who side-eyes poetry, I was pulled in by the seamless flow from piece to piece.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 2: In the Thick of It
• The emotional beats land (fear, grief, defiance) all without slipping into melodrama.
• The transitions between historical moments are smooth, making it read almost like a narrative novella.
• The sympathy Nox builds for Marie is impressive, especially given her polarizing legacy.
• Even knowing how the story ends, there’s tension in the waiting.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 3: The Home Stretch
• By the end, you’re not just reading about Marie—you feel like you’ve been sitting in that cell with her.
• The brevity of the collection works. There is no filler, just impact.
⸻
🔥 FINAL BELL: The ARC Bro Scorecard 🔥
🥊 Unanimous Decision – Nox takes a queen history loves to hate and makes her achingly human. Whether you’re a poetry fan or haven’t touched verse since high school detention, this is a fast, elegant, and surprisingly gut-punch read. Forget the cake—Nox served a full-course tragedy, and it’s worth every bite.
🥊 The Book: The crown is slipping. The guillotine is waiting. Panico! is a poetry collection chronicling Marie Antoinette’s final years—from her fall from gilded glory to her execution. it’s a mix of despair, defiance, and unexpected resilience. This isn’t just powdered wigs and pastries. It’s a raw, lyrical descent into the end of an era.
💪 The Bro: I haven’t read a poem since Ms. Kessler’s senior-year English class (and that was under protest), so I didn’t expect much. But Nox’s work hit different. It’s poetry for poetry lovers and poetry haters—flowing like prose, never bogging down in format. And Nox makes you care, even if you walked in ready to throw a baguette.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 1: First Impressions
• The opening pieces drop you right into the crumbling opulence.
• The voice feels authentic without being weighed down by overly archaic language.
• Even as someone who side-eyes poetry, I was pulled in by the seamless flow from piece to piece.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 2: In the Thick of It
• The emotional beats land (fear, grief, defiance) all without slipping into melodrama.
• The transitions between historical moments are smooth, making it read almost like a narrative novella.
• The sympathy Nox builds for Marie is impressive, especially given her polarizing legacy.
• Even knowing how the story ends, there’s tension in the waiting.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 3: The Home Stretch
• By the end, you’re not just reading about Marie—you feel like you’ve been sitting in that cell with her.
• The brevity of the collection works. There is no filler, just impact.
⸻
🔥 FINAL BELL: The ARC Bro Scorecard 🔥
🥊 Unanimous Decision – Nox takes a queen history loves to hate and makes her achingly human. Whether you’re a poetry fan or haven’t touched verse since high school detention, this is a fast, elegant, and surprisingly gut-punch read. Forget the cake—Nox served a full-course tragedy, and it’s worth every bite.
July 14, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this work in exchange for an honest review. Thanks so much.
For those history fans who know of the Reign of Terror, strap yourselves in because only sadness awaits. If you're not acquainted, you're about to be as this story recounts Marie Antoinette's remaining years during a horrific time. The entire story is told from Marie Antoinette's POV. We see her struggle, her sadness, but also her strength as even as violence and mockery surround her, she does not give in. We know the end of the story that awaits her but seeing her fight inwardly through it all and forgive those who have wronged her is special. When I was reading this, it reminded me of the style of Dante's Inferno. If you are a history buff or want to see a story from Marie Antoinette's viewpoint, I recommend it.
For those history fans who know of the Reign of Terror, strap yourselves in because only sadness awaits. If you're not acquainted, you're about to be as this story recounts Marie Antoinette's remaining years during a horrific time. The entire story is told from Marie Antoinette's POV. We see her struggle, her sadness, but also her strength as even as violence and mockery surround her, she does not give in. We know the end of the story that awaits her but seeing her fight inwardly through it all and forgive those who have wronged her is special. When I was reading this, it reminded me of the style of Dante's Inferno. If you are a history buff or want to see a story from Marie Antoinette's viewpoint, I recommend it.
July 10, 2025
Publishing date: 06.05.2025 (DD/MM/YYYY)
Thank you to NetGalley and Black Rainbow Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
Odd read for me. I do really enjoy poetry, but this felt less like poetry and more like a flowery short story. Just the way it was written.
This follows the downfall of Marie Antoinette and her family from capture to, well spoilers if you didn't know, their deaths. We get to see how Marie was treated, held captive, and how rapidly she declines. It isn't graphic per se, but I could vividly imagine her cell, the smell, her disdain and grief, and almost everything else. That is what this book does best I believe, putting us into her shoes.
Giving this 3 stars. My feelings for it are a little mixed, but it is okay for what it is.
Thank you to NetGalley and Black Rainbow Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
Odd read for me. I do really enjoy poetry, but this felt less like poetry and more like a flowery short story. Just the way it was written.
This follows the downfall of Marie Antoinette and her family from capture to, well spoilers if you didn't know, their deaths. We get to see how Marie was treated, held captive, and how rapidly she declines. It isn't graphic per se, but I could vividly imagine her cell, the smell, her disdain and grief, and almost everything else. That is what this book does best I believe, putting us into her shoes.
Giving this 3 stars. My feelings for it are a little mixed, but it is okay for what it is.
September 23, 2025
This was so well done! I'm not usually drawn to poetry, but I do enjoy it in a narrative form. This book follows the downfall of the French Monarchy during the French Revolution from Marie Antoinettes perspective. It provides insight into how she may have been feeling during this time leading up to her inevitable death. It may be the first time I've ever read from her perspective and have a less screwed view of what she was like. It's such a beautifully told tragedy.
May 10, 2025
Beautifully tragic poetry written from Marie Antoinette's perspective during her final years as an imprisoned queen. Nox truly captures the savagery and terror of the experience with her spot-on imagery and poignant emotion. Marie's grief, longing, and courage will absolutely break your heart. A profound, dark collection perfect for history lovers.
June 18, 2025
This was a harrowing story told in verse, one that I found quite emotional at times. I love books told in verse and this was no exception, but I will say at times the grammar felt a bit off.
That said, it was still very impactful and something I highly recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
That said, it was still very impactful and something I highly recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
August 11, 2025
Are you one of those people who finds poetry boring? Panico might just change your mind.
This book tells the story of Marie Antoinette’s final years. A queen we’ve all heard of, even if it’s only for the way her life ended… in front of a crowd… meeting the guillotine.
So forget about the big dresses and fancy parties, and instead get ready for an emotional and raw journey where we gain insight into her life. What and who were important to her and how she is stripped of everything and everyone until she meets her demise.
And it’s all written in poetry format!
Now, I don’t usually read historical fiction or poetry, but I devoured this book!
It’s dark, tragic, and heartbreaking, and somehow I felt like I was Antoinette’s confidant.
5 stars from me!
This review and more here:
Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube
This book tells the story of Marie Antoinette’s final years. A queen we’ve all heard of, even if it’s only for the way her life ended… in front of a crowd… meeting the guillotine.
So forget about the big dresses and fancy parties, and instead get ready for an emotional and raw journey where we gain insight into her life. What and who were important to her and how she is stripped of everything and everyone until she meets her demise.
And it’s all written in poetry format!
Now, I don’t usually read historical fiction or poetry, but I devoured this book!
It’s dark, tragic, and heartbreaking, and somehow I felt like I was Antoinette’s confidant.
5 stars from me!
This review and more here:
Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube
September 20, 2025
Thank you NetGalley, for this book to read for an honer review
This is a poetry formed book based on Marie Antoinette and it was an OK read but I just couldn't get into it, so for me I don't have much to say other then some may like and some might not
This is a poetry formed book based on Marie Antoinette and it was an OK read but I just couldn't get into it, so for me I don't have much to say other then some may like and some might not
December 27, 2025
Lush, bloody and engrossing
November 30, 2025
‘It’s my head they want on a pike. It’s my blood they want on their hands.
The will not stop. The will not stop.
Not until they have what they want.
What they want is me.’
The will not stop. The will not stop.
Not until they have what they want.
What they want is me.’
August 11, 2025
Stacked with beautiful prose and full of conflicting emotions, this short read is well worth the time! The author does a great job of making the reader actually feel sympathetic towards the notorious Marie Antoinette, villain of France. She may have been totally unfit to rule the great nation of France, but we may have misunderstood her callousness towards the people starving in the streets. Was she just young and naive, and only thought of herself and her family, or did she really feel remorse for the people that she let down while in prison? Take a look to find out!
June 3, 2025
This is the dark journey that Marie Antoinette went on after living in extravagance. It is harrowing and heartbreaking. Instead of a gaudy caricature, Azzurra makes Marie Antoinette feel real and complex. Azzura beautifully combines horror with historical fiction to create a devastatingly epic collection of poetry.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews