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Assiti Shards #19
1636: The Cardinal Virtues
Book #19 in the multiple New York Times best-selling Ring of Fire series. After carving a free state for itself in war-torn 17th century Europe, citizens of the modern town of Grantville, West Virginia must contend with France's infamous Cardinal Richilieu, who is determined to keep his grip on power no matter what history says.
France, 1636 . . . It has been twenty years since King Louis took Aña Maria Mauricia, daughter of Spain's King Philip III, as his wife, and their union has not yet produced an heir. Under the guidance of his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu, a plan is developed to remedy that situation. Once she is with child, Queen Anne goes into seclusion to guard her health and protect her from those who would prefer that the child is never born—France’s foreign enemies as well as schemers such as Monsieur Gaston d’Orleans, the King’s younger brother and heir. When the Crown’s opponents make their move, factions inside and outside France must choose sides and help determine the future and fate of the Kingdom.
France, 1636 . . . It has been twenty years since King Louis took Aña Maria Mauricia, daughter of Spain's King Philip III, as his wife, and their union has not yet produced an heir. Under the guidance of his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu, a plan is developed to remedy that situation. Once she is with child, Queen Anne goes into seclusion to guard her health and protect her from those who would prefer that the child is never born—France’s foreign enemies as well as schemers such as Monsieur Gaston d’Orleans, the King’s younger brother and heir. When the Crown’s opponents make their move, factions inside and outside France must choose sides and help determine the future and fate of the Kingdom.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2015
45 people are currently reading
402 people want to read
About the author
Eric Flint
250 books874 followersEric Flint was a New York Times bestselling American author, editor, and e-publisher. The majority of his main works were alternate history science fiction, but he also wrote humorous fantasy adventures.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
March 24, 2018
It is very rare that I do not really enjoy one of Eric Flint's novels, especially those in the 1632 / Ring Of Fire series. This book was NOT a waste of my time. But neither did it ever manage to truly engage me. It left me feeling like I was drowning in French, and Catholic titles. None of the characters were all that interesting. And there were very few words devoted to any of the main "players" in the 1632 universe. All in all, its only value to me might be in the context of the greater 1632 universe, and it's future.
January 20, 2016
In 1636: The Cardinal Virtues, Eric Flint and Walter Hunt move the action west into France where the ongoing strife between King Louis and his loyal minister Richelieu and his brother the scheming Monsieur Gaston, Duc d'Orleans is boiling over. Richelieu has concocted a plan to get the barren Queen Anne pregnant and to provide Louis with an heir, a plan that would see an end to Gaston's long-held dream of supplanting his brother on the throne. Upon learning of this pregnancy, Gaston chooses a desperate course, orchestrating the assassination of Louis and Richelieu and allying with Spain to put himself on the throne. All that stands in Gaston's way are Richelieu's picked men, a secret society of noblemen sworn to defend the crown, Queen Anne, and a handful of up-timers.
This book picks up directly after the events depicted in Eric Flint's story in the last Grantville Gazette, in which the USE and France made peace (as Richelieu finally realized that he couldn't prevent the influence of the Ring of Fire from spreading and it was best to accept it and move on). This is important to note because the book starts off with France and the USE on fairly friendly terms with everyone talking about how they aren't enemies anymore but if you've just been reading the main books then the last time the USE and France had anything to do with each other was 1634: The Baltic War, and that was less than collegial.
I've long thought that France was a weakness in the Ring of Fire stories. Flint's stories have kind of glossed over the Huguenot issue (considering how the Irish rebels have gotten such repeated inclusion, it seems rather unfair given how badly they got screwed in our history that their only presence is in the form of a band of rather unhinged assassins and a handful of character playing "don't ask, don't tell" on the issue), Richelieu got painted as a major Opponent early on and then Flint decided that was unfair to the historical character and hid him in the background long enough to make it reasonable for everybody to make peace, and the French in general often are thrown into stories as enemies of convenience (see 1636: Commander Cantrell in the West Indies, for instance). There are repeated references to the clash between King Louis and Monsieur Gaston in previous books, but frankly, until now it was such an obscure element (and of limited importance to the main story) that I can't say it really interested me. Well, this book rectifies quite a bit of that. The French may not be the most likeable characters in post-Ring of Fire Europe, but this book manages to at least flesh out French politics of the time enough to finally provide some depth to characters such as Richelieu, Gaston, Louis, Mazarin, and Turenne.
As a side-novel in the Ring of Fire series, Cardinal Virtues is both a success and a failure. On the success side, the novel is interesting and well-written with several interesting new characters and a fluid unpredictable narrative. On the failure side, Cardinal Virtues is the fourth RoF side-novel in a row that lacks any sort of conclusion (basically, every RoF novel that has 1636 in the title apart from 1636: The Devil's Opera). Frankly, if you were hoping for a story of French armies clashing in Paris, then this is not the novel you wanted. As other reviewers have pointed out, this book details the events leading UP to the French Civil War, but apart from various back-alley intrigues, all the fighting is between the French and the Spanish (and it's just one chapter). So Flint and Hunt get all the pieces in place with everybody picking sides (could the Netherlands FINALLY tell the Spanish to go to hell? It's about freaking time!) and the story ends. The story is also a bit of a failure from its place in the series as a whole. If you were hoping the story would touch on ongoing elements like the role of the Committees of Correspondence in France or give some hints as to what happened in Italy after the Mallorca incident, then tough luck, because the CoC isn't even mentioned (seems insane with France on the verge of a nobility-driven civil war that the peasantry isn't getting disgruntled) and events in Italy are left pretty much where they were in 1635: Papal Stakes with the two popes locked in an apparent Holy Cold War. Apart from the work done to flesh out France, the only really interesting bits (from a world-building perspective) is that the book has a chapter detailing how the USE's government is functioning since the end of its pseudo-civil war.
All in all, Cardinal Virtues is a well-written book and it's interesting but it's incomplete and we've now got at least five hanging threads in the Ring of Fire universe from incomplete novels: the West Indies storyline, the Austrian storyline, the Russian storyline, the main storyline, and now France. I'm hopeful that the next book, which picks up the story in Britain, will be self-contained, but I'm probably being overly optimistic (UPDATE (1/20/2016): I was, make it 6 hanging threads). All of which seem to be waiting on the bloody Turks to launch their invasion of Austria just so we can get the story moving forward again, and from what Eric Flint says, we're not getting that book until 2017! GAH! I love this series, but it's starting to feel like it's getting bloated on too many side stories and not enough plot/world progression.
This book picks up directly after the events depicted in Eric Flint's story in the last Grantville Gazette, in which the USE and France made peace (as Richelieu finally realized that he couldn't prevent the influence of the Ring of Fire from spreading and it was best to accept it and move on). This is important to note because the book starts off with France and the USE on fairly friendly terms with everyone talking about how they aren't enemies anymore but if you've just been reading the main books then the last time the USE and France had anything to do with each other was 1634: The Baltic War, and that was less than collegial.
I've long thought that France was a weakness in the Ring of Fire stories. Flint's stories have kind of glossed over the Huguenot issue (considering how the Irish rebels have gotten such repeated inclusion, it seems rather unfair given how badly they got screwed in our history that their only presence is in the form of a band of rather unhinged assassins and a handful of character playing "don't ask, don't tell" on the issue), Richelieu got painted as a major Opponent early on and then Flint decided that was unfair to the historical character and hid him in the background long enough to make it reasonable for everybody to make peace, and the French in general often are thrown into stories as enemies of convenience (see 1636: Commander Cantrell in the West Indies, for instance). There are repeated references to the clash between King Louis and Monsieur Gaston in previous books, but frankly, until now it was such an obscure element (and of limited importance to the main story) that I can't say it really interested me. Well, this book rectifies quite a bit of that. The French may not be the most likeable characters in post-Ring of Fire Europe, but this book manages to at least flesh out French politics of the time enough to finally provide some depth to characters such as Richelieu, Gaston, Louis, Mazarin, and Turenne.
As a side-novel in the Ring of Fire series, Cardinal Virtues is both a success and a failure. On the success side, the novel is interesting and well-written with several interesting new characters and a fluid unpredictable narrative. On the failure side, Cardinal Virtues is the fourth RoF side-novel in a row that lacks any sort of conclusion (basically, every RoF novel that has 1636 in the title apart from 1636: The Devil's Opera). Frankly, if you were hoping for a story of French armies clashing in Paris, then this is not the novel you wanted. As other reviewers have pointed out, this book details the events leading UP to the French Civil War, but apart from various back-alley intrigues, all the fighting is between the French and the Spanish (and it's just one chapter). So Flint and Hunt get all the pieces in place with everybody picking sides (could the Netherlands FINALLY tell the Spanish to go to hell? It's about freaking time!) and the story ends. The story is also a bit of a failure from its place in the series as a whole. If you were hoping the story would touch on ongoing elements like the role of the Committees of Correspondence in France or give some hints as to what happened in Italy after the Mallorca incident, then tough luck, because the CoC isn't even mentioned (seems insane with France on the verge of a nobility-driven civil war that the peasantry isn't getting disgruntled) and events in Italy are left pretty much where they were in 1635: Papal Stakes with the two popes locked in an apparent Holy Cold War. Apart from the work done to flesh out France, the only really interesting bits (from a world-building perspective) is that the book has a chapter detailing how the USE's government is functioning since the end of its pseudo-civil war.
All in all, Cardinal Virtues is a well-written book and it's interesting but it's incomplete and we've now got at least five hanging threads in the Ring of Fire universe from incomplete novels: the West Indies storyline, the Austrian storyline, the Russian storyline, the main storyline, and now France. I'm hopeful that the next book, which picks up the story in Britain, will be self-contained, but I'm probably being overly optimistic (UPDATE (1/20/2016): I was, make it 6 hanging threads). All of which seem to be waiting on the bloody Turks to launch their invasion of Austria just so we can get the story moving forward again, and from what Eric Flint says, we're not getting that book until 2017! GAH! I love this series, but it's starting to feel like it's getting bloated on too many side stories and not enough plot/world progression.
November 27, 2015
This one should be subtitled 'Sympathy for the devil'.
September 18, 2018
I enjoyed the beginning but after the ambush I thought the story line dragged. I'm not a fan of Terrye Jo Tillman but I enjoyed having Sherrilyn and Turenne mixing things up!
July 24, 2015
The Ring of Fire series has become something of a giant sprawling mess (almost like real history, which was of course, the point) to the point where it's very easy to miss several books and not always be sure what's going on. Fortunately, anybody who's read more than a book or two in the series won't have much trouble with The Cardinal Virtues (although I'm pretty sure I missed how Sherrilyn Maddox got injured and ended up rehabbing in France, it's not something I really needed to know to understand the story). This book is also likely to be a fairly crucial turning point going forwards, certain political realities may have changed significantly by the end of this book. Set primarily in France, this is a tale of intrigue in the French court which of course means the titular Cardinal is Richelieu, who gets a rather different (and probably more realistic) portrayal here than the one most people are familiar with from the Three Musketeers.
February 10, 2016
Two and a half stars. A whole lot of intrigue with very little story and even less character development.
When Eric Flint started this series many years ago, he often talked of the idea of following average people in the midst of extraordinary events. While the events in the chapter of the Ring of Fire universe are indeed extraordinary; the 'ordinary' people seen to be swept away instead of swept up. It also didn't help this review that the book contained not even a hint of a conclusion, I am not even sure if it hit a climax. This felt very much like a long opening chapter in a larger story with no end in sight.
When Eric Flint started this series many years ago, he often talked of the idea of following average people in the midst of extraordinary events. While the events in the chapter of the Ring of Fire universe are indeed extraordinary; the 'ordinary' people seen to be swept away instead of swept up. It also didn't help this review that the book contained not even a hint of a conclusion, I am not even sure if it hit a climax. This felt very much like a long opening chapter in a larger story with no end in sight.
December 18, 2015
I agree with an earlier reviewer, I seemed to get lost amongst the French and Catholic titles
September 22, 2015
France is on the brink of civil war. Another great book in the 1632 series.
May 9, 2020
I originally became fascinated with the history of the Bourbon kings of France after reading _Newton's Cannon_, in which an aging Louis XIV was the principal antagonist (I can't call him a *villain* because everything he did, he did for the _gloire_ of La Belle France). So when I first saw _1632_, I immediately wondered how it would affect his youth.
And here is the novel that looks at how his (or his analog's, since the butterfly effect ensures it'll be a different sperm and egg producing the character called Louis the God-Given -- we'll leave the questions of whether it's the same soul to the theologians) first months go in this strangely changed world. It clearly takes place in the aftermath of _1625: The Papal Stakes_, since several characters are living with the fallout of those events.
I really like the two strong, confident but not overbearing or obnoxious women are playing such major parts. Both of them are making their own way in a world where the legal status of women is far more constrained, in ways that make me think of how Heinlein's women always have agency and the wit and wisdom to know how to use it within the framework of their society, whether by knowing how to hint and save face or when to use a woman's wiles or traditional feminine skills to effect a most un-traditional goal.
My biggest problem is never being sure whether Richelieu really was killed in the ambush that assassinated Louis XIII. If there was a definite death scene, it slipped right past me. I'd like to re-read it some time, paying close attention to details like that, but right now my to-be-read pile is stacked to the ceiling. It's a far cry from the days when I'd scour our tiny public library for any science fiction, and when we moved to a larger town where the library had *three whole bookcases* of science fiction and I thought I'd died and gone to reader heaven.
And here is the novel that looks at how his (or his analog's, since the butterfly effect ensures it'll be a different sperm and egg producing the character called Louis the God-Given -- we'll leave the questions of whether it's the same soul to the theologians) first months go in this strangely changed world. It clearly takes place in the aftermath of _1625: The Papal Stakes_, since several characters are living with the fallout of those events.
I really like the two strong, confident but not overbearing or obnoxious women are playing such major parts. Both of them are making their own way in a world where the legal status of women is far more constrained, in ways that make me think of how Heinlein's women always have agency and the wit and wisdom to know how to use it within the framework of their society, whether by knowing how to hint and save face or when to use a woman's wiles or traditional feminine skills to effect a most un-traditional goal.
My biggest problem is never being sure whether Richelieu really was killed in the ambush that assassinated Louis XIII. If there was a definite death scene, it slipped right past me. I'd like to re-read it some time, paying close attention to details like that, but right now my to-be-read pile is stacked to the ceiling. It's a far cry from the days when I'd scour our tiny public library for any science fiction, and when we moved to a larger town where the library had *three whole bookcases* of science fiction and I thought I'd died and gone to reader heaven.
March 14, 2024
The King is dead. Long live the King.
But... who is the king?
This is the question that is asked through the bulk of this book. Long before Louise XIV can utter his famour "I am the state," his uncle Gaston is saying a resounding "No you are not." Very early on in this book [spoilers], and once they do, everyone else must pick sides. Do you want Lou or G to be the next king of France?
I have been trying to read this series in chronological order, but since so many books are taking place in so many different locations, there is bound to be some overlap. Multiple previously read books have talked about the "troubles" in France. This book, finally, reveals exactly what those troubles are. The book itself is OK and certainly not one of my favorites. But considering its importance for European and world events, especially the [more spoilers], it is definitely not a book that can be skipped over.
But... who is the king?
This is the question that is asked through the bulk of this book. Long before Louise XIV can utter his famour "I am the state," his uncle Gaston is saying a resounding "No you are not." Very early on in this book [spoilers], and once they do, everyone else must pick sides. Do you want Lou or G to be the next king of France?
I have been trying to read this series in chronological order, but since so many books are taking place in so many different locations, there is bound to be some overlap. Multiple previously read books have talked about the "troubles" in France. This book, finally, reveals exactly what those troubles are. The book itself is OK and certainly not one of my favorites. But considering its importance for European and world events, especially the [more spoilers], it is definitely not a book that can be skipped over.
May 1, 2019
This series has become so big and all-encompassing that it is starting to get difficult to keep up with all of the sub-plots and intrigues going on throughout Europe. While this book features almost entirely peripheral characters from previous books, there are many well-known and "real" people included, which also makes this book series so much fun. I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey of the misplaced uptimers and their effects on the downtime world. I look forward to catching up with these characters as well as the many others - both uptime and downtime.
July 7, 2017
There are three distinct story lines in this volume from the ROF universe...Queen Anne, Cardinal Richelieu, and Monsieur Gaston. All three feature an uptime female as an integral character, and I enjoyed the way the uptime thought processes of those women moved the plot. And the final few pages definitely left me wanting more...
September 2, 2023
1636 France in the Ring of Fire Universe. Gaston, Duc d’Orleans is scheming. Queen Anne is pregnant and in seclusion in an unknown place. Sherrilyn Maddox is a colonel serving with Marshal Turenne. Terrye Jo Tillman is a radio operator in the employ of the Duke of Savoy. Because of Gaston’s scheming events begin to happen and get out of hand.
December 8, 2025
Slowly catching up on my backlog from the Ring of Fire universe. Accompanying Cardinal Richelieu to see his pregnant wife, King Louis XIII is accidentally killed when assassins tried to kill Richelieu. Monsieur Gaston had approved the assassination attempt, but was satisfied with the result. So who will rule France - Gaston or baby Louis? An interesting addition to the Ring of Fire canon.
January 28, 2018
I think the reason I enjoyed this one so much was because it showed the effects of the Ring of Fire but on more of a world stage away from Germany. The writing is very organized and the flow of the book was better than some of the other RoF books. This one was a winner for me.
September 20, 2019
Not bad
I find it difficult to keep track of the story arc sometimes. I'm currently reading the entire ROF as per Mr. Flint's suggested R. O. But... This wasn't one of the better books in the series. Worth reading but not my favorite
I find it difficult to keep track of the story arc sometimes. I'm currently reading the entire ROF as per Mr. Flint's suggested R. O. But... This wasn't one of the better books in the series. Worth reading but not my favorite
March 20, 2020
The French Connection
An intriguing plot of cunning, schemes, and betrayal portrayed against 17th century France. The king is well, the king is dead,the king is missing. In that order. Good read!
An intriguing plot of cunning, schemes, and betrayal portrayed against 17th century France. The king is well, the king is dead,the king is missing. In that order. Good read!
May 18, 2021
Read it fast, the pacing was good, the intrigue was good. The ending cliffhanger makes you eager to know how the narrative continues for France and I look forward to finding a follow-up to the whole political intrigue mess that is developing from this novel.
October 7, 2021
Events in France around the plots of Louis XIII's brother Gaston and Richelieu and various other plotters, with a couple of hireling American women caught up in them. This is a "meanwhile, off in France," story, while the USE folks are busy elsewhere. Good stuff.
December 3, 2022
Perhaps the machinations of politics is always dreary with little resolution. I found it to be too much so in this installment of the Ring of Fire saga. I can slog through a lot but the ending while probably realistic was downbeat. I can watch the nightly news for that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2024
Weird reading experience. Went from “wow I’m rlly enjoying this a lot why haven’t they covered France before” to “ugh they’re doing the same revolution bit they did in literally every other thread” to “oh ok this actually feels different and not rehashed plot”. Still rlly enjoyed it by the end.
December 28, 2025
Decent read, but slow to develop
Not as clear or concise development of the characters involved. Recommends for those who have read many of the earlier books and are looking for side notes on how things developed
Not as clear or concise development of the characters involved. Recommends for those who have read many of the earlier books and are looking for side notes on how things developed
July 1, 2017
This one is centered in France and ends with succession turmoil & an "Elvis" mystery. Where or where is the missing body?
July 11, 2017
Another good installment of this series. No European country is left unscathed by the 'Ring of Fire'. I look forward to the sequel to this storyline.
December 5, 2017
Another incredibly well done addition to the 1632 universe. Great characters, well researched to create the alternative history, and an entertaining read besides.
December 26, 2017
I don't know why I keep reading this series. The quality varies from book to book. This one was fine just fine; the ending was somewhat abrupt.
January 21, 2018
A novel set in France, with up-timers around but not necessarily the focus of the story. I really enjoyed it, particularly the very end. Has Elvis left the building?
September 27, 2018
An excellent read
Been addicted to this series, on to the next
Story in alternative time. Any one who likes a good fiction, will like this
Been addicted to this series, on to the next
Story in alternative time. Any one who likes a good fiction, will like this
June 1, 2025
Good yarn set in the 1632verse
All action in France and sets stage for future novels which will not be forthcoming unfortunately due to authors demise.
All action in France and sets stage for future novels which will not be forthcoming unfortunately due to authors demise.
September 30, 2025
An excellent addition to the 1632 canon. It introduces several new characters to the mix. Unfortunately, it was left out of the ongoing expansion, and vibrant, interesting characters only have this missive to shine. Perhaps someone will pick up the ball and write a sequel worthy of such excellent work.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews