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The Mistresses of Versailles Trilogy #1
The Sisters of Versailles
A sumptuous and sensual tale of power, romance, family, and betrayal centered around four sisters and one King. Carefully researched and ornately detailed, The Sisters of Versailles is the first book in an exciting new historical fiction trilogy about King Louis XV, France's most "well-beloved" monarch, and the women who shared his heart and his bed.
Goodness, but sisters are a thing to fear.
Set against the lavish backdrop of the French Court in the early years of the 18th century, The Sisters of Versailles is the extraordinary tale of the five Nesle sisters: Louise, Pauline, Diane, Hortense, and Marie-Anne, four of whom became mistresses to King Louis XV. Their scandalous story is stranger than fiction but true in every shocking, amusing, and heartbreaking detail.
Court intriguers are beginning to sense that young King Louis XV, after seven years of marriage, is tiring of his Polish wife. The race is on to find a mistress for the royal bed as various factions put their best foot - and women - forward. The King's scheming ministers push Louise, the eldest of the aristocratic Nesle sisters, into the arms of the King. Over the following decade, the four sisters:sweet, naive Louise; ambitious Pauline; complacent Diane, and cunning Marie Anne, will conspire, betray, suffer, and triumph in a desperate fight for both love and power.
In the tradition of The Other Boleyn Girl, The Sisters of Versailles is a clever, intelligent, and absorbing novel that historical fiction fans will devour. Based on meticulous research on a group of women never before written about in English, Sally Christie's stunning debut is a complex exploration of power and sisterhood; of the admiration, competition, and even hatred that can coexist within a family when the stakes are high enough.
Goodness, but sisters are a thing to fear.
Set against the lavish backdrop of the French Court in the early years of the 18th century, The Sisters of Versailles is the extraordinary tale of the five Nesle sisters: Louise, Pauline, Diane, Hortense, and Marie-Anne, four of whom became mistresses to King Louis XV. Their scandalous story is stranger than fiction but true in every shocking, amusing, and heartbreaking detail.
Court intriguers are beginning to sense that young King Louis XV, after seven years of marriage, is tiring of his Polish wife. The race is on to find a mistress for the royal bed as various factions put their best foot - and women - forward. The King's scheming ministers push Louise, the eldest of the aristocratic Nesle sisters, into the arms of the King. Over the following decade, the four sisters:sweet, naive Louise; ambitious Pauline; complacent Diane, and cunning Marie Anne, will conspire, betray, suffer, and triumph in a desperate fight for both love and power.
In the tradition of The Other Boleyn Girl, The Sisters of Versailles is a clever, intelligent, and absorbing novel that historical fiction fans will devour. Based on meticulous research on a group of women never before written about in English, Sally Christie's stunning debut is a complex exploration of power and sisterhood; of the admiration, competition, and even hatred that can coexist within a family when the stakes are high enough.
432 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2015
379 people are currently reading
8406 people want to read
About the author
Sally Christie
4 books390 followersI’m a life-long history buff and I really wish time travel were a possibility—I’d be off to the eighteenth century in a flash!
Since I can’t travel back in time (yet), I have done plenty of global travel: as a child I lived in England, Canada, Argentina, and Lesotho, and attended eight schools in three languages. I continued my global wanderings with a career in international development, but now I’m settled in Toronto and loving it.
The Sisters of Versailles is my first novel, though I’ve been writing since I could hold a pencil. When I’m not writing I’m reading, reading, reading; disappearing down various rabbit holes of historical research, and playing lots of tennis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 475 reviews
August 6, 2015
There's a lot of juicy drama in the French court during the early years of the 18th century.
"The Sisters of Versailles' is the first book of a trilogy - its a Historical fiction about King Louis XV, France's most well beloved monarch.... and the five Nesle sisters:
Louise, Pauline, Diane, Marie-Anne, and Hortense. Four of the five sisters became mistresses
to King Louis XV.
Hortense is the only sister who was never a mistress to the King. She was married -and the
first sister to have a child. All the sisters marry...
Marie-Anne's first husband has died...a year later she has eyes for a man who is married ...
Louise is the first sister to 'be-with-the' King...(his mistress)...followed by Pauline.
I couldn't help but think.. "that with a sister like Pauline".... Who needs enemies?"
Every sister has different personalities, qualities and characteristics...from physical bodies to
moral thinking.
There is sooo much a reader could pick out to review about this book...but what I most want to share... is I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed the storytelling ... ( many letters are passed back and
forth from sister to sister to sister to sister)...
I was swept away into this world, .....in much in the same way when reading
Ken Follett...,(Pillars of The Earth, World Without End, Fall of Giants, etc.)! Knowing I was reading about 'real' sisters made my jaw drop a few times. In many ways - the sisters were very close---entangled anyway---yet the betrayal to one another could be vicious.
I'm completely hooked. This is a dramatic-family- historical fiction -- page-turning
engaging book...funny at times, hard to believe these things could be true, making for a fascinating 'historical' story.
I also wondered 'why' throughout this story --( and history during this time period), that it was
acceptable for a 'married' woman to have an affair with a King... but never a 'single' one.
This story is so unique...reminding me that sometimes truth & facts are more unbelievably outrageous ...than any story you could make up.
I'm looking forward to book 2.
Sweet, salty, bitter, and deliciously savory!!!
Thank You Atria Publishing, Netgalley, and Sally Christie. (Wonderful new author to discover)
"The Sisters of Versailles' is the first book of a trilogy - its a Historical fiction about King Louis XV, France's most well beloved monarch.... and the five Nesle sisters:
Louise, Pauline, Diane, Marie-Anne, and Hortense. Four of the five sisters became mistresses
to King Louis XV.
Hortense is the only sister who was never a mistress to the King. She was married -and the
first sister to have a child. All the sisters marry...
Marie-Anne's first husband has died...a year later she has eyes for a man who is married ...
Louise is the first sister to 'be-with-the' King...(his mistress)...followed by Pauline.
I couldn't help but think.. "that with a sister like Pauline".... Who needs enemies?"
Every sister has different personalities, qualities and characteristics...from physical bodies to
moral thinking.
There is sooo much a reader could pick out to review about this book...but what I most want to share... is I absolutely loved it. I enjoyed the storytelling ... ( many letters are passed back and
forth from sister to sister to sister to sister)...
I was swept away into this world, .....in much in the same way when reading
Ken Follett...,(Pillars of The Earth, World Without End, Fall of Giants, etc.)! Knowing I was reading about 'real' sisters made my jaw drop a few times. In many ways - the sisters were very close---entangled anyway---yet the betrayal to one another could be vicious.
I'm completely hooked. This is a dramatic-family- historical fiction -- page-turning
engaging book...funny at times, hard to believe these things could be true, making for a fascinating 'historical' story.
I also wondered 'why' throughout this story --( and history during this time period), that it was
acceptable for a 'married' woman to have an affair with a King... but never a 'single' one.
This story is so unique...reminding me that sometimes truth & facts are more unbelievably outrageous ...than any story you could make up.
I'm looking forward to book 2.
Sweet, salty, bitter, and deliciously savory!!!
Thank You Atria Publishing, Netgalley, and Sally Christie. (Wonderful new author to discover)
August 10, 2015
I found myself wondering throughout this novel... ' how in the world could this have really happened?'. Four out of five sisters mistresses to the same king. What? It was brilliantly told through the voices of each of the sisters which I think gave the reader a very solid look into their personalities and the dynamics between them. This story is a true testament to the saying 'reality can be stranger than fiction'.
October 2, 2015
History, love and lust in alternating narratives and letters to each other by five sisters during the reign of France's Louis XV , four of whom become his mistresses. All along I kept thinking how could this be ? Did four of these five sisters really become mistresses of this King ? Of course I had to check into it and it's true ! So much for sisterly love when we encounter Pauline at court , but I guess you don't turn away from the King even if he's sleeping with your sister .
This is a period of history I didn't know anything about so it was interesting from that perspective and a quick diversion . It will certainly be compared to Philippa Gregory and her stories of the Boleyns but it didn't quite hold the edge of the politics , the intensity and intrigue that Gregory's books did for me.
A quick read , a soap opera of sorts in 18th century France with great descriptions of the palace and the people and an insight into the times but felt like historical chick lit . Upped to 3 stars since the author must have done a good bit of research and it held my interest enough to finish it .
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley
November 22, 2015
Yes! This book was marvellous! It was one of those stories that made me fear the end many pages before it actually ended, because I didn't want to part with these characters and this world!
First of all, let me just say that even though I received this book for review, this is my honest opinion. I was blown away with how this was written, and I pretty much devoured its 400 pages in two days.
This story is fiction based on facts. It's about France in the 1700s; more specifically the King Louis XV and his mistresses. That might sound incredibly boring to you, but not only were his four mistresses sisters - this book is written in such a way that makes it anything but boring. It's got wit, it's got charm and it's got great observations on life. Furthermore, it's got the most amazing characters - the five Nesle sisters - and these sisters are definitely what I love the most about this book. The narrative voice shifts so that the story is told from all five's perspectives, and their voices and personalities were impeccable.
So all in all, with this book you get a great history lesson about the society of France in 1700s, but it comes with one of the most intriguing stories and character descriptions I've encountered for a long time. I loved it! I hope you will as well :)
First of all, let me just say that even though I received this book for review, this is my honest opinion. I was blown away with how this was written, and I pretty much devoured its 400 pages in two days.
This story is fiction based on facts. It's about France in the 1700s; more specifically the King Louis XV and his mistresses. That might sound incredibly boring to you, but not only were his four mistresses sisters - this book is written in such a way that makes it anything but boring. It's got wit, it's got charm and it's got great observations on life. Furthermore, it's got the most amazing characters - the five Nesle sisters - and these sisters are definitely what I love the most about this book. The narrative voice shifts so that the story is told from all five's perspectives, and their voices and personalities were impeccable.
So all in all, with this book you get a great history lesson about the society of France in 1700s, but it comes with one of the most intriguing stories and character descriptions I've encountered for a long time. I loved it! I hope you will as well :)
September 20, 2017
I think the most amazing thing about this book is that is actually based on a true story about 4 out of 5 sisters that all became mistresses to King Louis XV. It sounds incredible, but it's really true, and I had no idea about it. I have never ever heard about these sisters before I read the book. The mistress that came after them, well she is well known, but the sweet Louise, the ambitious Pauline, the happy Diane and shrewd Marie-Anne are not as known as Madame du Pompadour.
Anyway, I felt that Sally Christie really captured both the time and the characters truly well. A historical fiction is truly good when the characters and the setting come to life and it feels like you for a moment also are at Court with the sisters. You live with them, and you feel for them when something bad happens to them. There were several times that I thought “thank God that I didn't live at that time” and also sometimes like when a woman carries her dog in her bag it feels like things haven't changed that much.
I would like to say that I liked a sister or two better than the other, but I liked and disliked them all through the book. They really didn't feel like blood sisters always with all the backstabbing. For some of them, being mistresses to the king was more of a mission than real passion. The one that loved him the most (in my opinion) Louise had to watch how her sisters one by one took over as the mistresses and for most of the time I was annoyed over how placid she was, but in the end, she seems to have finally found her call. It's interesting that Hortense, the one sister that was the most beautiful never ended up as the king's mistresses, but then again she loved her husband and seemed to be the one with the happiest marriage with Diane coming second.
I must admit that the character I found most intriguing in the book was not any of the sisters or the king. It was Richelieu. Alas, his flirting with Marie-Anne let unfortunately nowhere.
It was a good book, I enjoyed reading it. Loved the letters between the sister that glossed over the truth a bit. It was nice to get a history lesson and at the same time being entertained. But I found the narrative, with shifting between sisters not always to my liking, probably because some of them were more interesting than the other and not everything that happened was that interesting, like Pauline and Diane at the convent. Not that the story dragged out or anything, I was just not always engrossed with it. But I loved the ending, the very emotional and sad ending. Just the kind I like!
I received this copy from the Atria Books through Edelweiss in return for an honest review! Thank you!
Anyway, I felt that Sally Christie really captured both the time and the characters truly well. A historical fiction is truly good when the characters and the setting come to life and it feels like you for a moment also are at Court with the sisters. You live with them, and you feel for them when something bad happens to them. There were several times that I thought “thank God that I didn't live at that time” and also sometimes like when a woman carries her dog in her bag it feels like things haven't changed that much.
I would like to say that I liked a sister or two better than the other, but I liked and disliked them all through the book. They really didn't feel like blood sisters always with all the backstabbing. For some of them, being mistresses to the king was more of a mission than real passion. The one that loved him the most (in my opinion) Louise had to watch how her sisters one by one took over as the mistresses and for most of the time I was annoyed over how placid she was, but in the end, she seems to have finally found her call. It's interesting that Hortense, the one sister that was the most beautiful never ended up as the king's mistresses, but then again she loved her husband and seemed to be the one with the happiest marriage with Diane coming second.
I must admit that the character I found most intriguing in the book was not any of the sisters or the king. It was Richelieu. Alas, his flirting with Marie-Anne let unfortunately nowhere.
It was a good book, I enjoyed reading it. Loved the letters between the sister that glossed over the truth a bit. It was nice to get a history lesson and at the same time being entertained. But I found the narrative, with shifting between sisters not always to my liking, probably because some of them were more interesting than the other and not everything that happened was that interesting, like Pauline and Diane at the convent. Not that the story dragged out or anything, I was just not always engrossed with it. But I loved the ending, the very emotional and sad ending. Just the kind I like!
I received this copy from the Atria Books through Edelweiss in return for an honest review! Thank you!
July 23, 2020
I usually enjoy (royal) historical fiction, and this book was no exception. I would often chuckle, raise my eyebrows and/or shake my head while listening to this story of five sisters, four of whom were mistresses of Louis XV at Versailles during the early 18th century. It is obvious that this story was well-researched! The writing was well-crafted, from exquisite setting descriptions to the sexual innuendos - this story had it all! Well-developed protagonists "told" their story in 1st-person narrative, each possessing a unique personality. The narration was very pleasing, and I look forward to listening to the second book in this trilogy, THE RIVALS OF VERSAILLES. I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction!
Want to read
September 26, 2021i started this book because, as many others that are about "mistresses of the kings", people tend to forget that they were women first, moved like pawns to play games of lust, money and power, forgetting that they can feel, putting them ones against each others, and here, they are sisters. so, this is interesting.
this book is screaming "man deserve no fucking rights" and i'm loving it.
you said "the other boleyn girl" and i said "yes, i belong here. i must read it".
this book is screaming "man deserve no fucking rights" and i'm loving it.
you said "the other boleyn girl" and i said "yes, i belong here. i must read it".
November 12, 2017
3.75 stars
"Truth is stranger than fiction" This saying crossed my mind as I followed the story of 5 French sisters who mange to capture the eye of the French King and find their way to being his mistresses from the 1730's- 1740's. Honestly, if "The Other Boelyn Girl" shocked you, then The Sisters of Versailles" might just "knock the wind right out of you."
The sisters-Louise, Pauline, Diane, Marie-Anne, and Hortense all take turns narrating the story which is a mixture of chapters and letters. Sometimes these letters came across as very juvenile and it boggled my mind how immature these women could become. But I suppose if I had an ambitious mother that wanted me to seek the best marriage and outdo my siblings, then I might get a little catty to keep the sovereign of the land for myself.
The book felt so finished and I am a bit surprised this is the first in a series. Maybe I will check it out in the future, but I strongly need to switch to a different era for the time being.
"Truth is stranger than fiction" This saying crossed my mind as I followed the story of 5 French sisters who mange to capture the eye of the French King and find their way to being his mistresses from the 1730's- 1740's. Honestly, if "The Other Boelyn Girl" shocked you, then The Sisters of Versailles" might just "knock the wind right out of you."
The sisters-Louise, Pauline, Diane, Marie-Anne, and Hortense all take turns narrating the story which is a mixture of chapters and letters. Sometimes these letters came across as very juvenile and it boggled my mind how immature these women could become. But I suppose if I had an ambitious mother that wanted me to seek the best marriage and outdo my siblings, then I might get a little catty to keep the sovereign of the land for myself.
The book felt so finished and I am a bit surprised this is the first in a series. Maybe I will check it out in the future, but I strongly need to switch to a different era for the time being.
Read
August 6, 2016Such a tantalizing story. As I turned the pages I felt as if I was a fly on the wall privy to intimate conversations and interactions. Christie’s layout of the book is in such a personal manner it emphasizes the drama along with tension without hesitation. I felt swept away for a moment in time, very well done.
The four sisters varying personalities and of reading their individual experiences matched with perspectives of King Louis XV made for an inside glimpse feel. The letters exchanged between the four detailed the behind the scenes drama of what was happening emotionally, romantically and mentally. As sisters turn competitive, envy, jealousy, hatred, and betrayal divide the sisters, destroying sisterly bonds. Each sisters predicament and motive adds plenty of intrigue and interest. Strain and heartbreak leave their mark, such a shame a family was torn to shreds over one powerful man few would deny.
Can’t say I was a fan of King Louis XV and seeing him through the Nesle sisters eyes made him more loathsome. You learn just enough of him to understand his motives and overindulgent narcissistic behavior. He failed to redeem himself in any way despite the smallest of efforts. A selfish man drunk on his own power and status with no regards to others. Tragic the Nesle sisters were part of his carnal web.
Christie creates an intelligent fascinatingly juicy story historical fiction fans will devour. Extremely well done, anxious for the next installment.
Visit Raven Haired Girl for more reviews and giveaways
The four sisters varying personalities and of reading their individual experiences matched with perspectives of King Louis XV made for an inside glimpse feel. The letters exchanged between the four detailed the behind the scenes drama of what was happening emotionally, romantically and mentally. As sisters turn competitive, envy, jealousy, hatred, and betrayal divide the sisters, destroying sisterly bonds. Each sisters predicament and motive adds plenty of intrigue and interest. Strain and heartbreak leave their mark, such a shame a family was torn to shreds over one powerful man few would deny.
Can’t say I was a fan of King Louis XV and seeing him through the Nesle sisters eyes made him more loathsome. You learn just enough of him to understand his motives and overindulgent narcissistic behavior. He failed to redeem himself in any way despite the smallest of efforts. A selfish man drunk on his own power and status with no regards to others. Tragic the Nesle sisters were part of his carnal web.
Christie creates an intelligent fascinatingly juicy story historical fiction fans will devour. Extremely well done, anxious for the next installment.
Visit Raven Haired Girl for more reviews and giveaways
November 12, 2017
...everyone knows the most important thing is to have the child, not who the father is.
It seems I've developed a taste for historical fiction lately. The Sisters of Versailles is a nice, lovely book about the infamous five Mailly-Nesle sisters (Louise, Pauline, Diane, Hortense and Marie-Anne), four of whom were mistresses to King Louis XV. And it can be quite funny at times, too.
Louise was the first Mailly-Nesle mistress (Louis XV had been a faithful husband until her). She is depicted as kind, but less experienced in the art of seduction and court intrigue. At first she is Louis's secret lover, but once she becomes the official mistress, the pressure at court is too great and she invites her sister Pauline to stay with her for a while.
Pauline appears driven only by ambition and she is determined to steal the king from her sister. As she succeeds, she tolerates Louise at court. But the king develops his taste for adultery and he soon dreams about a menage-a-trois with them (and why not, even more?).
The king raises his goblet. "To my favorite sisters. All so different, yet all so charming. Would that we could be together like this, every evening."
But Pauline is harmless next to the cunning Marie-Anne, who, in a scene remembering of Philippa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl, has the king banish Louise from Versailles before coming to his bed.
The ever cheerful Diane is the fourth sister to visit Louis's bed. She is also the most funny of the five: I lie on the bed and cry and wait for God to strike me down. Then I realize He cannot strike me down if I am already lying down, so I stand up, but my knees are too weak and I end up on the floor, terrified.
I really enjoyed The Sisters of Versailles and can't wait for the other two books in the Versailles trilogy.
It seems I've developed a taste for historical fiction lately. The Sisters of Versailles is a nice, lovely book about the infamous five Mailly-Nesle sisters (Louise, Pauline, Diane, Hortense and Marie-Anne), four of whom were mistresses to King Louis XV. And it can be quite funny at times, too.
Louise was the first Mailly-Nesle mistress (Louis XV had been a faithful husband until her). She is depicted as kind, but less experienced in the art of seduction and court intrigue. At first she is Louis's secret lover, but once she becomes the official mistress, the pressure at court is too great and she invites her sister Pauline to stay with her for a while.
Pauline appears driven only by ambition and she is determined to steal the king from her sister. As she succeeds, she tolerates Louise at court. But the king develops his taste for adultery and he soon dreams about a menage-a-trois with them (and why not, even more?).
The king raises his goblet. "To my favorite sisters. All so different, yet all so charming. Would that we could be together like this, every evening."
But Pauline is harmless next to the cunning Marie-Anne, who, in a scene remembering of Philippa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl, has the king banish Louise from Versailles before coming to his bed.
The ever cheerful Diane is the fourth sister to visit Louis's bed. She is also the most funny of the five: I lie on the bed and cry and wait for God to strike me down. Then I realize He cannot strike me down if I am already lying down, so I stand up, but my knees are too weak and I end up on the floor, terrified.
I really enjoyed The Sisters of Versailles and can't wait for the other two books in the Versailles trilogy.
October 30, 2019
I enjoyed this first book in the series of 3. It was a fast read full of drama in Versailles, France circa mid to late 18th century. I LOVE historical fiction and really enjoyed reading this mostly true story account on the four sisters that ended up sleeping with King Louis XV. Not one, not three but FOUR out of five! Imagine all the diseases and immorality floating around in court... Yuck.
Louise, the eldest and first to grab the King's attention away from his Polish wife. Pauline, ambitious and strategic yet the ugliest. Diane, happy-go-lucky and optimistic. Marie-Anne, the horrible wretched one that banishes her own sister. And Hortense, the pious and the most beautiful one that won't let herself be seduced. The King is enamored with all the Mailly-Nesly sisters as he gets bored of each and every one of them. He is a cunning man-child slut. I can just imagine the #METOO campaign surrounding this time. SOOO much utter chaos.
The chapters are each of the sisters speaking their point of view. It did have lots of characters so I had to remind myself who was who. I learned a lot of this time time period, like the woman must be married first before she can start an affair and having a male heir is the only way to keep a house and possessions such as a dowry if the husband were to die suddenly.
Very fun read. Felt like I was reading a rag mag on the Royal French Court.
Louise, the eldest and first to grab the King's attention away from his Polish wife. Pauline, ambitious and strategic yet the ugliest. Diane, happy-go-lucky and optimistic. Marie-Anne, the horrible wretched one that banishes her own sister. And Hortense, the pious and the most beautiful one that won't let herself be seduced. The King is enamored with all the Mailly-Nesly sisters as he gets bored of each and every one of them. He is a cunning man-child slut. I can just imagine the #METOO campaign surrounding this time. SOOO much utter chaos.
The chapters are each of the sisters speaking their point of view. It did have lots of characters so I had to remind myself who was who. I learned a lot of this time time period, like the woman must be married first before she can start an affair and having a male heir is the only way to keep a house and possessions such as a dowry if the husband were to die suddenly.
Very fun read. Felt like I was reading a rag mag on the Royal French Court.
February 29, 2016
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever seen the movie Mean Girls? Did you find yourself wondering what would happen if Mean girls were set in 18th century France? Wonder know more! The Nesle sisters are here to answers all your questions! Seriously, this novel read just like Mean Girls set at the French court in the 18th century. The biggest difference between Mean Girls and The Sisters of Versailles? I liked Mean Girls. I still like Mean Girls.
The story begins with Louise, who much like Mean Girls', Cady Heron, is horribly naive when it comes to the ways of the French aristocracy, as well as the world. Louise is dull. She has no voice of her own and is perfectly content being pushed around by people with their own agendas. Catty princesses and courtiers are constantly calling her names behind her back and to her face. Her own sisters are constantly scheming against her. The whole time she just accepts it as the way the world works. I'm not saying that people like Louise don't really exist. It's just that people like Louise make poor heroines.
Pauline is Versailles' Regina George, without the amazing hair. She is in charge and does not care who she has to step on (including her sisters) to get to the top. I could not stand Pauline. It took incredible amounts of willpower for me not to throw things or skip anything from Pauline's point of view. The letters from Pauline at the start of the novel were unbearable. It's not that I don't love a good villain (like Kate Quinn's Lepida in Mistress of Rome) but Pauline was just too much. Pauline's story arch by itself took two stars away from this review.
Sister Diane provided Versailles with its own Karen Smith. There were points where Diane made Karen Smith look like Einstein. I was hopeful Diane might develop some brains after spending sometime at court. Not so much. There were points where I felt Diane was actually growing dumber as the novel progressed.
Hortense, much like Gretchen Wieners, was just there to be another pretty face. Hortense just sort of sat there and watched everything going on around her. She thought her opinions were more important than they actually were. Much like Gretchen Wieners, nobody really listened to Hortense. I hardly even listened to Hortense.
To round out the sisters, Marie-Anne filled a Janis Ian type role. Her past made her bitter. Marie-Anne felt scorned and her sole purpose was revenge. By the time Marie-Anne's story became the center of the novel, I was so fed up with reading, I hardly paid attention. As hard as she tried not to be like Pauline, Marie-Anne ended up being a more destructive version of Pauline.
I was leery of this book from chapter one. At the start of the novel, the reader is presented with five teenage girls. I was a teenage girl once. I have no desire as an adult to read books told from the perspective of a teenage girl. I pushed through the first few chapters of the book hoping the girls would develop and mature as they aged. Nope. Never happened. At several points, it was painfully obvious this novel was being told by girls aged 15-18 years of age. There was little development. Much like Peter Pan, these girls never grew up.
Have you ever seen the movie Mean Girls? Did you find yourself wondering what would happen if Mean girls were set in 18th century France? Wonder know more! The Nesle sisters are here to answers all your questions! Seriously, this novel read just like Mean Girls set at the French court in the 18th century. The biggest difference between Mean Girls and The Sisters of Versailles? I liked Mean Girls. I still like Mean Girls.
The story begins with Louise, who much like Mean Girls', Cady Heron, is horribly naive when it comes to the ways of the French aristocracy, as well as the world. Louise is dull. She has no voice of her own and is perfectly content being pushed around by people with their own agendas. Catty princesses and courtiers are constantly calling her names behind her back and to her face. Her own sisters are constantly scheming against her. The whole time she just accepts it as the way the world works. I'm not saying that people like Louise don't really exist. It's just that people like Louise make poor heroines.
Pauline is Versailles' Regina George, without the amazing hair. She is in charge and does not care who she has to step on (including her sisters) to get to the top. I could not stand Pauline. It took incredible amounts of willpower for me not to throw things or skip anything from Pauline's point of view. The letters from Pauline at the start of the novel were unbearable. It's not that I don't love a good villain (like Kate Quinn's Lepida in Mistress of Rome) but Pauline was just too much. Pauline's story arch by itself took two stars away from this review.
Sister Diane provided Versailles with its own Karen Smith. There were points where Diane made Karen Smith look like Einstein. I was hopeful Diane might develop some brains after spending sometime at court. Not so much. There were points where I felt Diane was actually growing dumber as the novel progressed.
Hortense, much like Gretchen Wieners, was just there to be another pretty face. Hortense just sort of sat there and watched everything going on around her. She thought her opinions were more important than they actually were. Much like Gretchen Wieners, nobody really listened to Hortense. I hardly even listened to Hortense.
To round out the sisters, Marie-Anne filled a Janis Ian type role. Her past made her bitter. Marie-Anne felt scorned and her sole purpose was revenge. By the time Marie-Anne's story became the center of the novel, I was so fed up with reading, I hardly paid attention. As hard as she tried not to be like Pauline, Marie-Anne ended up being a more destructive version of Pauline.
I was leery of this book from chapter one. At the start of the novel, the reader is presented with five teenage girls. I was a teenage girl once. I have no desire as an adult to read books told from the perspective of a teenage girl. I pushed through the first few chapters of the book hoping the girls would develop and mature as they aged. Nope. Never happened. At several points, it was painfully obvious this novel was being told by girls aged 15-18 years of age. There was little development. Much like Peter Pan, these girls never grew up.
September 28, 2015
The Sisters of Versailles by Sally Christie is a 2015 Atria publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have grown to love historical fiction more and more over time and have been looking forward to reading this one.
I didn't know a lot about the Nesle sisters and, of course, found it interesting, to say the least, that four of the five sisters wound up being the mistress to King Louis the XV. Talk about sibling rivalry!
The time period was also a draw as well as the setting. I desperately need a break from British history and recently I have found France to be a compelling historical backdrop.
The story got off to a very slow start and I really struggled to stay interested. Once Louise ensconces herself into the king's life as his first mistress, the story did start to improve, but Louise was a tepid character and it wasn't until Pauline arrived in Versailles that the power struggle began between the sisters.
The author is forthcoming about the lack of materials available on the sisters, with Marie-Anne being a possible exception.
However, she managed to form a portrait of each sister, allowing us to spy on their personal musings, which created an intimate portrait of them by giving each her own platform, allowing each of them to tell the story from their own unique perspective, by using first person narrative in most cases, but also via personal letters the sisters wrote to one another.
This is not a bad idea, but the lack of dialogue killed it. There is some speech between characters, but it is minimal, making the story rather dry and dull for extended periods of time. Without some kind of sharp, witty, sinister, ominous or humorous banter between the characters, the story was missing the link that could have made it great.
The reader is given a very in depth look at each sister, is privy to her private thoughts, witnesses her deeds, and watches as she either sinks or swims. But, the author also ties the ladies together showing their bond as sisters. Despite their back stabbing and jockeying for position, they still feel pain and sympathy for one another, showing how firmly rooted family ties can be.
There were deep valleys, such as with Louise, who was the nurturer among them, a lady with very little ambition, and not at all interesting to be honest. But then there is all the intrigue surrounding Marie-Anne which of course is where the story peaked.
Writing a fictionalized account of the Nesle sisters is quite an ambitious undertaking and I think the author did an admirable job of creating the atmosphere at court, the political climate in France, and the fragile place each woman found herself in, suffering from disappointments in love, craving power and influence, and paying the ultimate price.
Only one sister, Hortense, was wise enough to pass on the opportunity to be the king's confidante and lover. Although her life wasn't a bowl of cherries, she lived by her own standards and in the end, she lived to tell the tale. It's her voice that starts this sordid tale and her voice is the last we hear as she summarizes the ambition of her sisters, or lack of it, of tragedies, of triumphs and the long lasting effects these sisters had on a king, his politics and France.
Overall the book was uneven and rocky, but has some moments of brilliance. It wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, or expecting, but it was still worth my time and gave me a lot of food for thought. 3 stars.
I have grown to love historical fiction more and more over time and have been looking forward to reading this one.
I didn't know a lot about the Nesle sisters and, of course, found it interesting, to say the least, that four of the five sisters wound up being the mistress to King Louis the XV. Talk about sibling rivalry!
The time period was also a draw as well as the setting. I desperately need a break from British history and recently I have found France to be a compelling historical backdrop.
The story got off to a very slow start and I really struggled to stay interested. Once Louise ensconces herself into the king's life as his first mistress, the story did start to improve, but Louise was a tepid character and it wasn't until Pauline arrived in Versailles that the power struggle began between the sisters.
The author is forthcoming about the lack of materials available on the sisters, with Marie-Anne being a possible exception.
However, she managed to form a portrait of each sister, allowing us to spy on their personal musings, which created an intimate portrait of them by giving each her own platform, allowing each of them to tell the story from their own unique perspective, by using first person narrative in most cases, but also via personal letters the sisters wrote to one another.
This is not a bad idea, but the lack of dialogue killed it. There is some speech between characters, but it is minimal, making the story rather dry and dull for extended periods of time. Without some kind of sharp, witty, sinister, ominous or humorous banter between the characters, the story was missing the link that could have made it great.
The reader is given a very in depth look at each sister, is privy to her private thoughts, witnesses her deeds, and watches as she either sinks or swims. But, the author also ties the ladies together showing their bond as sisters. Despite their back stabbing and jockeying for position, they still feel pain and sympathy for one another, showing how firmly rooted family ties can be.
There were deep valleys, such as with Louise, who was the nurturer among them, a lady with very little ambition, and not at all interesting to be honest. But then there is all the intrigue surrounding Marie-Anne which of course is where the story peaked.
Writing a fictionalized account of the Nesle sisters is quite an ambitious undertaking and I think the author did an admirable job of creating the atmosphere at court, the political climate in France, and the fragile place each woman found herself in, suffering from disappointments in love, craving power and influence, and paying the ultimate price.
Only one sister, Hortense, was wise enough to pass on the opportunity to be the king's confidante and lover. Although her life wasn't a bowl of cherries, she lived by her own standards and in the end, she lived to tell the tale. It's her voice that starts this sordid tale and her voice is the last we hear as she summarizes the ambition of her sisters, or lack of it, of tragedies, of triumphs and the long lasting effects these sisters had on a king, his politics and France.
Overall the book was uneven and rocky, but has some moments of brilliance. It wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, or expecting, but it was still worth my time and gave me a lot of food for thought. 3 stars.
January 30, 2019
Louis XV of France (1710-1774) is known as Louis the Beloved by the people, but historians generally give his reign low marks as wars drained the treasury and set the stage for government collapse and French Revolution.
This book brings his love liaisons with Nesle sisters, followed by the famous Madame de Pompadour (Book II).
It all began in 1729. Louise is the eldest sister. She marries her cousin Louis-Alexandre. While he fulfills his duties with his regiment, she moves to a house belonging to her husband in a village outside Paris. The old house is unwelcoming as people serving in it.
Her mother passes suddenly. Her sorrow is also her fortune. The death of her mother means her position at Court is secured upon her.
Two older sisters, Pauline and Diane enter a convent on the outskirts of Paris. And two youngest sisters, Hortense and Marie-Anne are sent to live with Tante Mazarian.
The life at Court is very insightful and colorful. Louise learns things about her mother and father she was unaware of during her innocent life. But it’s not all about gossip, the fashion is as important. “If one wears a dress too often, friends will remind you that you are not in the provinces and they claim that seeing the same garment too often affronts their eyes and may even cause blindness.”
At first, she insists on remaining chaste, but not able to resist her friends’ urgings, she caves in to the most handsome man at Court.
The King’s interest in his pious wife is fading. Cardinal Fleury is on a search for the king’s next mistress. Someone he can trust and someone who has no political interest to meddle with his power.
Meanwhile, Pauline has been writing to Louise to invite her to Versailles. Now, seeing it to her advantage, Louise invites Pauline. But what she doesn’t know is that Pauline vowed a revenge on her sister.
Through this story we don’t get to know the King himself that well or his politics, but what the story offers are richly imagined characters of five sisters, each unique; vividly presented Court and its people and their ignorance and oblivion to the suffering of the poor.
Written with entertaining prose, making it an engrossing read. When Diane is told not to mind people at Versailles as they don’t know how to be kind since “something happens to them when they pass through the golden gates and enter the mirrored halls.”
@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
This book brings his love liaisons with Nesle sisters, followed by the famous Madame de Pompadour (Book II).
It all began in 1729. Louise is the eldest sister. She marries her cousin Louis-Alexandre. While he fulfills his duties with his regiment, she moves to a house belonging to her husband in a village outside Paris. The old house is unwelcoming as people serving in it.
Her mother passes suddenly. Her sorrow is also her fortune. The death of her mother means her position at Court is secured upon her.
Two older sisters, Pauline and Diane enter a convent on the outskirts of Paris. And two youngest sisters, Hortense and Marie-Anne are sent to live with Tante Mazarian.
The life at Court is very insightful and colorful. Louise learns things about her mother and father she was unaware of during her innocent life. But it’s not all about gossip, the fashion is as important. “If one wears a dress too often, friends will remind you that you are not in the provinces and they claim that seeing the same garment too often affronts their eyes and may even cause blindness.”
At first, she insists on remaining chaste, but not able to resist her friends’ urgings, she caves in to the most handsome man at Court.
The King’s interest in his pious wife is fading. Cardinal Fleury is on a search for the king’s next mistress. Someone he can trust and someone who has no political interest to meddle with his power.
Meanwhile, Pauline has been writing to Louise to invite her to Versailles. Now, seeing it to her advantage, Louise invites Pauline. But what she doesn’t know is that Pauline vowed a revenge on her sister.
Through this story we don’t get to know the King himself that well or his politics, but what the story offers are richly imagined characters of five sisters, each unique; vividly presented Court and its people and their ignorance and oblivion to the suffering of the poor.
Written with entertaining prose, making it an engrossing read. When Diane is told not to mind people at Versailles as they don’t know how to be kind since “something happens to them when they pass through the golden gates and enter the mirrored halls.”
@FB/BestHistoricalFiction
November 14, 2015
I am not familiar with French history because, frankly, I have a hard time keeping the rulers straight. There seems to a hundred King Louis. This book is about King Louis XV and his love affair with not one, not two but four sisters. Where is the girl code in that?
It's a fun read. The sisters each tell their own story and they are very different people. They all tell what led up to them being the King's lover and, believe me, the rewards each got are vastly different. Hortense, the only one not to bed the King, tells why she didn't. Did I mention Hortense lived the longest?
I really enjoyed the story and the characters are well written. I was really drawn into the story and could barely put down the improbable, but real, story. This is a fictionalized version of their tale.
If you like historical fiction, you'll really enjoy this.
It's a fun read. The sisters each tell their own story and they are very different people. They all tell what led up to them being the King's lover and, believe me, the rewards each got are vastly different. Hortense, the only one not to bed the King, tells why she didn't. Did I mention Hortense lived the longest?
I really enjoyed the story and the characters are well written. I was really drawn into the story and could barely put down the improbable, but real, story. This is a fictionalized version of their tale.
If you like historical fiction, you'll really enjoy this.
May 1, 2016
“When a man takes a mistress, he doesn't turn around and divorce his wife.”
----Arthur Golden
Sally Christie, an England-born Canadian author, has penned her enthralling debut historical fiction, The Sisters of Versailles that narrates the story of the five infamous Nesle sisters among whom four of them became the mistresses of King Louis XV of France. This story marks as the first book in The Mistresses of Versailles Trilogy and the story accounts the life of each and every sister till their death.
Synopsis:
A sumptuous and sensual tale of power, romance, family, and betrayal centered around four sisters and one King. Carefully researched and ornately detailed, The Sisters of Versailles is the first book in an exciting new historical fiction trilogy about King Louis XV, France's most "well-beloved" monarch, and the women who shared his heart and his bed.
Goodness, but sisters are a thing to fear.
Set against the lavish backdrop of the French Court in the early years of the 18th century, The Sisters of Versailles is the extraordinary tale of the five Nesle sisters: Louise, Pauline, Diane, Hortense, and Marie-Anne, four of whom became mistresses to King Louis XV. Their scandalous story is stranger than fiction but true in every shocking, amusing, and heartbreaking detail.
Court intriguers are beginning to sense that young King Louis XV, after seven years of marriage, is tiring of his Polish wife. The race is on to find a mistress for the royal bed as various factions put their best foot - and women - forward. The King's scheming ministers push Louise, the eldest of the aristocratic Nesle sisters, into the arms of the King. Over the following decade, the four sisters:sweet, naive Louise; ambitious Pauline; complacent Diane, and cunning Marie Anne, will conspire, betray, suffer, and triumph in a desperate fight for both love and power.
In the tradition of The Other Boleyn Girl, The Sisters of Versailles is a clever, intelligent, and absorbing novel that historical fiction fans will devour. Based on meticulous research on a group of women never before written about in English, Sally Christie's stunning debut is a complex exploration of power and sisterhood; of the admiration, competition, and even hatred that can coexist within a family when the stakes are high enough.
The story is set against a stunning backdrop of 18th century France, especially in the royal palace of King Louis XV in Versailles, where the life of four famous Nesle sisters courted the king by heating up his bed as his royal mistresses. The story begins with the most beautiful sister, Hortense, who is the only sister who did not become a mistress to the king. The eldest and the most innocent sister, Louise, became the first royal mistress to the king, but after a few years, the determined sister, Pauline, asks her Louise to invite her to the palace of the kings and upon her arrival, immediately seduces the king but their whirlwind love affair comes to an abrupt end, when she dies while giving birth to the king's son. Soon the position to fulfill king's carnal desire were satisfied by Louise's clever sister, Marie Anne, who with her power threw her elder sister out of the court. Moreover, she claimed to political power with the king's help. Later, the smug sister, Diane, started sleeping with the king by involving in a threesome act with the king and her sister, Marie Anne, and after Marie Anne's sudden death, Diane took her place as the official mistress of the king.
This is the whole journey of the four sisters which is very much real and shocking to believe it. The author has done a thorough research on the lives of the five sisters and thus giving them life for the very first time in the literary fictional world. The author's writing style is itself a beauty laced with elegance, grace and emotions. The narrative is equally enchanting and evocative that will keep the readers constantly rooting for the five sisters, despite of their betrayal to one another. The pacing is moderate as the end of some of the chapters are greeted with letters shared among the sisters.
The backdrop of Versailles is vividly arrested by the author that is bound to make the readers feel like they are transported to the fascinating and elegant landscape of France. The author not only paints the picturesque background, but also captures the time-period along with its then culture, social norms, politics and fashion. And it is very obvious if this book is made into movie, the readers will be mesmerized by the style of the 18th century trends.
The characters are brought alive straight from the pages of history. The author creates them with so much detailing and vividness, that it will feel like the readers know the sisters at a personal level. Each and every sister has a myriad characteristic and ultimately their greed to power let them betray one another yet some held onto one another no matter what. From the very first pages, the author paints the bond among the five sisters with enough love and care but later after their position as mistresses, they defect.
The supporting cast, especially the male of this story are quite well-developed and the author have projected how their domination over these four sisters destroyed their relationship ultimately. This book is suitable for mature audience as the author pens the romance scenes with lots of raw passion and with heart-felt deep emotions.
In a nutshell, this is a passionate, honest and poignant historical fiction that is based on the lives of the five Nesle sisters.
Verdict: A compelling historical fiction.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Sally Christie, for giving me an opportunity to read and review her book.
----Arthur Golden
Sally Christie, an England-born Canadian author, has penned her enthralling debut historical fiction, The Sisters of Versailles that narrates the story of the five infamous Nesle sisters among whom four of them became the mistresses of King Louis XV of France. This story marks as the first book in The Mistresses of Versailles Trilogy and the story accounts the life of each and every sister till their death.
Synopsis:
A sumptuous and sensual tale of power, romance, family, and betrayal centered around four sisters and one King. Carefully researched and ornately detailed, The Sisters of Versailles is the first book in an exciting new historical fiction trilogy about King Louis XV, France's most "well-beloved" monarch, and the women who shared his heart and his bed.
Goodness, but sisters are a thing to fear.
Set against the lavish backdrop of the French Court in the early years of the 18th century, The Sisters of Versailles is the extraordinary tale of the five Nesle sisters: Louise, Pauline, Diane, Hortense, and Marie-Anne, four of whom became mistresses to King Louis XV. Their scandalous story is stranger than fiction but true in every shocking, amusing, and heartbreaking detail.
Court intriguers are beginning to sense that young King Louis XV, after seven years of marriage, is tiring of his Polish wife. The race is on to find a mistress for the royal bed as various factions put their best foot - and women - forward. The King's scheming ministers push Louise, the eldest of the aristocratic Nesle sisters, into the arms of the King. Over the following decade, the four sisters:sweet, naive Louise; ambitious Pauline; complacent Diane, and cunning Marie Anne, will conspire, betray, suffer, and triumph in a desperate fight for both love and power.
In the tradition of The Other Boleyn Girl, The Sisters of Versailles is a clever, intelligent, and absorbing novel that historical fiction fans will devour. Based on meticulous research on a group of women never before written about in English, Sally Christie's stunning debut is a complex exploration of power and sisterhood; of the admiration, competition, and even hatred that can coexist within a family when the stakes are high enough.
The story is set against a stunning backdrop of 18th century France, especially in the royal palace of King Louis XV in Versailles, where the life of four famous Nesle sisters courted the king by heating up his bed as his royal mistresses. The story begins with the most beautiful sister, Hortense, who is the only sister who did not become a mistress to the king. The eldest and the most innocent sister, Louise, became the first royal mistress to the king, but after a few years, the determined sister, Pauline, asks her Louise to invite her to the palace of the kings and upon her arrival, immediately seduces the king but their whirlwind love affair comes to an abrupt end, when she dies while giving birth to the king's son. Soon the position to fulfill king's carnal desire were satisfied by Louise's clever sister, Marie Anne, who with her power threw her elder sister out of the court. Moreover, she claimed to political power with the king's help. Later, the smug sister, Diane, started sleeping with the king by involving in a threesome act with the king and her sister, Marie Anne, and after Marie Anne's sudden death, Diane took her place as the official mistress of the king.
This is the whole journey of the four sisters which is very much real and shocking to believe it. The author has done a thorough research on the lives of the five sisters and thus giving them life for the very first time in the literary fictional world. The author's writing style is itself a beauty laced with elegance, grace and emotions. The narrative is equally enchanting and evocative that will keep the readers constantly rooting for the five sisters, despite of their betrayal to one another. The pacing is moderate as the end of some of the chapters are greeted with letters shared among the sisters.
The backdrop of Versailles is vividly arrested by the author that is bound to make the readers feel like they are transported to the fascinating and elegant landscape of France. The author not only paints the picturesque background, but also captures the time-period along with its then culture, social norms, politics and fashion. And it is very obvious if this book is made into movie, the readers will be mesmerized by the style of the 18th century trends.
The characters are brought alive straight from the pages of history. The author creates them with so much detailing and vividness, that it will feel like the readers know the sisters at a personal level. Each and every sister has a myriad characteristic and ultimately their greed to power let them betray one another yet some held onto one another no matter what. From the very first pages, the author paints the bond among the five sisters with enough love and care but later after their position as mistresses, they defect.
The supporting cast, especially the male of this story are quite well-developed and the author have projected how their domination over these four sisters destroyed their relationship ultimately. This book is suitable for mature audience as the author pens the romance scenes with lots of raw passion and with heart-felt deep emotions.
In a nutshell, this is a passionate, honest and poignant historical fiction that is based on the lives of the five Nesle sisters.
Verdict: A compelling historical fiction.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Sally Christie, for giving me an opportunity to read and review her book.
April 22, 2016
This was a great audio book. There were enough characters to keep you interested, but not too many, so it was never confusing. It was not too heavy on dates and details and thus easy to follow. The narrator did a brilliant job with the voices. The story was light and entertaining, but also informative and sometimes sad. I liked that the five sisters were so different, and it definitely allows for many discussions on who you liked/disliked and why. Although their characters were a bit stereotypical, it was still great fun getting to know them all:
Diane - fun-loving and sincere (my favorite)
Louise - compassionate and undemanding (another favorite)
Pauline - pushy and self-absorbed
Hortense - pious and judgemental
Marie-Anne - intelligent and power-hungry
I also loved the descriptions of Versailles, which was all about excess, gossip, scandal and intrigue. I can't wait to listen to the two books still to come in the series. If you like like Philippa Gregory, I think you'll enjoy this.
The story: Set against the lavish backdrop of the French Court in the early years of the 18th century, The Sisters of Versailles is the extraordinary tale of the five Nesle sisters—Louise, Pauline, Diane, Hortense, and Marie-Anne—four of whom became mistresses to King Louis XV. Their scandalous story is stranger than fiction but true in every shocking, amusing, and heartbreaking detail.
Diane - fun-loving and sincere (my favorite)
Louise - compassionate and undemanding (another favorite)
Pauline - pushy and self-absorbed
Hortense - pious and judgemental
Marie-Anne - intelligent and power-hungry
I also loved the descriptions of Versailles, which was all about excess, gossip, scandal and intrigue. I can't wait to listen to the two books still to come in the series. If you like like Philippa Gregory, I think you'll enjoy this.
The story: Set against the lavish backdrop of the French Court in the early years of the 18th century, The Sisters of Versailles is the extraordinary tale of the five Nesle sisters—Louise, Pauline, Diane, Hortense, and Marie-Anne—four of whom became mistresses to King Louis XV. Their scandalous story is stranger than fiction but true in every shocking, amusing, and heartbreaking detail.
March 21, 2018
The passive-aggressive behavior is thick. And no one likes her mother-in-law.
This is a slow-building book. I e been reading here and there and it’s just recently taken my interest. I’m about a third in.
This is a slow-building book. I e been reading here and there and it’s just recently taken my interest. I’m about a third in.
October 8, 2015
Four sisters all sharing one king….really?! How does that happen? Well that’s exactly what I wanted to know and that’s why I picked up THE SISTERS OF VERSAILLES. King Louis XV tends to get skipped over in popular literature because there are just so many other King Louis’ that are way more memorable than him….but come on? Four sisters and you make them all your mistress? That sounds like memorable to me!
This story is stranger than fiction! Which is why this book was so fun to read! While it was a ‘historical fiction’ novel, there was a lot of research done at a non fictional level too and Christie blended the two together flawlessly.
The novel is told basically in the third person through the use of letters/diary entries from multiple POVs. I was kind of lukewarm about this approach. It almost made me feel like a casual observer rather than really being able to connect with a single character. Personally I would rather have it been told from one singular POV….it wasn’t poorly done by any means, for me personally I just wanted to identify with one character for a story like this. It was an interesting approach but for me it was a little bland.
The story started and ended with Hortense who was the only sister who doesn’t become one of the King’s mistresses. I thought this was an interesting touch and personally would have liked to have had her narrate the entire tale.
The research and attention to historical details was spot on! I was blown away by the details of the French court and I really loved Christie’s descriptions throughout the novel! This book is a must read simply for the amount of research and details that Christie put into her work!
I think one of the things that worked really well in this novel, besides the historic details, was the relationship dynamics between the sisters. While they all came from the same family, they were vastly different. Because they were so different from one another…..cut throat, innocent, romantic…..it made the story move along in unexpected ways!
See my full review here
This story is stranger than fiction! Which is why this book was so fun to read! While it was a ‘historical fiction’ novel, there was a lot of research done at a non fictional level too and Christie blended the two together flawlessly.
The novel is told basically in the third person through the use of letters/diary entries from multiple POVs. I was kind of lukewarm about this approach. It almost made me feel like a casual observer rather than really being able to connect with a single character. Personally I would rather have it been told from one singular POV….it wasn’t poorly done by any means, for me personally I just wanted to identify with one character for a story like this. It was an interesting approach but for me it was a little bland.
The story started and ended with Hortense who was the only sister who doesn’t become one of the King’s mistresses. I thought this was an interesting touch and personally would have liked to have had her narrate the entire tale.
The research and attention to historical details was spot on! I was blown away by the details of the French court and I really loved Christie’s descriptions throughout the novel! This book is a must read simply for the amount of research and details that Christie put into her work!
I think one of the things that worked really well in this novel, besides the historic details, was the relationship dynamics between the sisters. While they all came from the same family, they were vastly different. Because they were so different from one another…..cut throat, innocent, romantic…..it made the story move along in unexpected ways!
See my full review here
July 31, 2015
This book set in the magnificient court of Louis XV is a wonderfully detailed, descriptive story.
On the one side it deals with the actual happenings of the life and times of Louis XV in all its glory. This includes not just the history and happenings of the Court but the personality and character of Louis XV as a man. On the other side we have the saga of the Nesle family - starting with the children as infants and ending with them as women.
It is hard to imagine the story of the Nesle sisters being true but it is! that one man, could manage to inveigle four out of five sisters to his bed, keep them as mistresses for a very long period of time, managing two of them at one time and that the sisters themselves were agreeable with such an arrangement naturally led to a very unusual story.
The book deals with human nature in all its forms - avarice, pleasure, lust, envy and the necessary heartbreak that would follow. The manner in which each sister handles her emotions is different, Louise pretends to all and sundry that everything including her marriage is fine, Marie Anne wants to flaunt her power and obtain as much as possible in contrast to Louise, then there is Diane who is a wee bit simple one feels in some ways and very clever in others, and Pauline who was very ambitious and disliked even by the sisters for her over riding ways. Each brings their own story to the party so that the whole becomes an unbelievable work of historical fiction.
We also see how Louis XV as a King was someone who was influenced by the courtiers around him mainly Fleury and Richelieu. How decision making was never one of his strong points, a rather weak man who was led by the nose almost to do exactly what his advisors felt was best. Someone who was passionate about hunting above all else and was very indifferent to the needs of the common man. This was a striking feature of the time and the attitude of the aristocracy to the common peasant was unbelievable. That people could cocoon themselves so much into their own little world and not be aware of the needs and feelings of others was something that had to be read to be believed. That this would lead to a revolution was not unimaginable at all. That it happened later rather than sooner is the thing I found difficult to understand.
I understand that this is the first in a trilogy and if one likes history, this has to be one of those must reads.
The author has brought the court of Louis XV so much to life that reading this book was an absolute treat.
On the one side it deals with the actual happenings of the life and times of Louis XV in all its glory. This includes not just the history and happenings of the Court but the personality and character of Louis XV as a man. On the other side we have the saga of the Nesle family - starting with the children as infants and ending with them as women.
It is hard to imagine the story of the Nesle sisters being true but it is! that one man, could manage to inveigle four out of five sisters to his bed, keep them as mistresses for a very long period of time, managing two of them at one time and that the sisters themselves were agreeable with such an arrangement naturally led to a very unusual story.
The book deals with human nature in all its forms - avarice, pleasure, lust, envy and the necessary heartbreak that would follow. The manner in which each sister handles her emotions is different, Louise pretends to all and sundry that everything including her marriage is fine, Marie Anne wants to flaunt her power and obtain as much as possible in contrast to Louise, then there is Diane who is a wee bit simple one feels in some ways and very clever in others, and Pauline who was very ambitious and disliked even by the sisters for her over riding ways. Each brings their own story to the party so that the whole becomes an unbelievable work of historical fiction.
We also see how Louis XV as a King was someone who was influenced by the courtiers around him mainly Fleury and Richelieu. How decision making was never one of his strong points, a rather weak man who was led by the nose almost to do exactly what his advisors felt was best. Someone who was passionate about hunting above all else and was very indifferent to the needs of the common man. This was a striking feature of the time and the attitude of the aristocracy to the common peasant was unbelievable. That people could cocoon themselves so much into their own little world and not be aware of the needs and feelings of others was something that had to be read to be believed. That this would lead to a revolution was not unimaginable at all. That it happened later rather than sooner is the thing I found difficult to understand.
I understand that this is the first in a trilogy and if one likes history, this has to be one of those must reads.
The author has brought the court of Louis XV so much to life that reading this book was an absolute treat.
July 31, 2015
If you're a fan of Phillipa Gregory's or Alison Weir's novels, then you will love The Sisters of Versailles.
Set in the time of Louis XV of France, we follow the story of the de Nesle sisters. Out of the five of them, four became mistresses to the king before the infamous Madame de Pompadour's time.
Little is known about these sisters, at least in English, it's nice to hear a different story of this time.
I felt the author really got each sister as they were:
Louise - poor Louise, boring and naive. I felt that she was the only one who truly loved the king, even if he never knew it. By far my favourite sister, only because of her redeeming qualities at the end of her life.
Pauline - ambitious and a bit of a bitch. Wanted to rule the country and probably would've had she lived.
Diane - sweet and lovely, if a bit dumb.
Hortense - pious and faithful, the only one who never succumbed to the king's charms.
Marie-Anne - ambitious and self-centered. Honestly, my most hated person in the book. She had no regard for anyone but herself, even her family meant nothing to her!
I thank goodness I have no sisters because if they behaved like a fraction of what these sisters did to each other, I think I'm better off with my sole brother.
I loved how the author did extensive research into their lives, enough that I'm positive their voices in the book were pretty close to how they actually behaved.
The book itself was very well written. I felt like I was actually there in Versailles and knew these people. Of course, that made me hate them all the more while secretely devouring every move they made.
The excess of these people though, not just the sisters but any of the nobility... no wonder the common people, who were starving, revolted against them. They really did deserve it (although in my opinion, they didn't deserve to die, just to have all their stuff taken away so they lived like everyone else).
I don't think I've been able to show my enthusiasm for the book in this review. Perhaps I'm a little sad that I finished it, I really didn't want it to end. But regardless, this has definitely been my favourite new book of 2015. I loved it so much that when my friend wanted to borrow it, I told her no and I'd buy her a copy when it was released (my copy was also signed by the author to me so I'd rather not lose it!)
Do you think the author would mind if I stalked her until the next one came out? (of course, I am kidding.. really)
Set in the time of Louis XV of France, we follow the story of the de Nesle sisters. Out of the five of them, four became mistresses to the king before the infamous Madame de Pompadour's time.
Little is known about these sisters, at least in English, it's nice to hear a different story of this time.
I felt the author really got each sister as they were:
Louise - poor Louise, boring and naive. I felt that she was the only one who truly loved the king, even if he never knew it. By far my favourite sister, only because of her redeeming qualities at the end of her life.
Pauline - ambitious and a bit of a bitch. Wanted to rule the country and probably would've had she lived.
Diane - sweet and lovely, if a bit dumb.
Hortense - pious and faithful, the only one who never succumbed to the king's charms.
Marie-Anne - ambitious and self-centered. Honestly, my most hated person in the book. She had no regard for anyone but herself, even her family meant nothing to her!
I thank goodness I have no sisters because if they behaved like a fraction of what these sisters did to each other, I think I'm better off with my sole brother.
I loved how the author did extensive research into their lives, enough that I'm positive their voices in the book were pretty close to how they actually behaved.
The book itself was very well written. I felt like I was actually there in Versailles and knew these people. Of course, that made me hate them all the more while secretely devouring every move they made.
The excess of these people though, not just the sisters but any of the nobility... no wonder the common people, who were starving, revolted against them. They really did deserve it (although in my opinion, they didn't deserve to die, just to have all their stuff taken away so they lived like everyone else).
I don't think I've been able to show my enthusiasm for the book in this review. Perhaps I'm a little sad that I finished it, I really didn't want it to end. But regardless, this has definitely been my favourite new book of 2015. I loved it so much that when my friend wanted to borrow it, I told her no and I'd buy her a copy when it was released (my copy was also signed by the author to me so I'd rather not lose it!)
Do you think the author would mind if I stalked her until the next one came out? (of course, I am kidding.. really)
January 21, 2016
3/1 stars
The story begins with Hortense, the ONLY one of five sisters who did not become mistress to King Louis XV, and who frankly didn’t get a lot of mention in the overall story. Well perhaps because she didn’t really contribute to the juicy scandal upon juicy scandal that her sisters caused. Other than Hortense we have:
Louise is the first at court and the first lover to the King. She is pretty, obedient and easily dominated by almost everyone. An easy mistress to push aside once you are done with her.
Pauline is the ugly but extremely ambitious one, who through the sheer force of will became the King’s second lover to the horror of her sisters as well as the entire court.
Diane is the innocent, completely oblivious of court intrigues, alliances and the snippy comments made about her. Her world revolves around food and kittens. She is almost a bit simple in her naivety.
Anna Marie is the youngest and most intellectual sister who only comes to court after becoming a widow but soon falls under the spell of being the King’s mistress and the power that comes with this.
All of them had an immensely sheltered upbringing and as grownups found it difficult to form the sisterly alliances they so easily started as children.
I know not many readers will like Pauline but what I appreciated about her is her determination to form her own path, choose her own destiny and not like most other women in this time, just sit back and wait to be told what to do.
This tale is full of rich descriptions of the decadence of the French court with only brief glimpses of the common people's hardship and suffering, when the sisters travel from palace to palace.
Initially I struggled to distinguish between the audio narrations of the 5 sisters. Granted it’s a difficult thing for even an experienced audio narrator to get this right. The sisters with the most unique voices were Pauline, Dianne and Louise.
What I enjoyed about the audio version is the pronunciation of all the French words, because when I read this type of thing I just make up words in my own mind, discarding correct pronunciation for the luxury of immersing myself in the story.
Recommended if you like court intrigues and French period novels.
The story begins with Hortense, the ONLY one of five sisters who did not become mistress to King Louis XV, and who frankly didn’t get a lot of mention in the overall story. Well perhaps because she didn’t really contribute to the juicy scandal upon juicy scandal that her sisters caused. Other than Hortense we have:
Louise is the first at court and the first lover to the King. She is pretty, obedient and easily dominated by almost everyone. An easy mistress to push aside once you are done with her.
Pauline is the ugly but extremely ambitious one, who through the sheer force of will became the King’s second lover to the horror of her sisters as well as the entire court.
Diane is the innocent, completely oblivious of court intrigues, alliances and the snippy comments made about her. Her world revolves around food and kittens. She is almost a bit simple in her naivety.
Anna Marie is the youngest and most intellectual sister who only comes to court after becoming a widow but soon falls under the spell of being the King’s mistress and the power that comes with this.
All of them had an immensely sheltered upbringing and as grownups found it difficult to form the sisterly alliances they so easily started as children.
I know not many readers will like Pauline but what I appreciated about her is her determination to form her own path, choose her own destiny and not like most other women in this time, just sit back and wait to be told what to do.
This tale is full of rich descriptions of the decadence of the French court with only brief glimpses of the common people's hardship and suffering, when the sisters travel from palace to palace.
Initially I struggled to distinguish between the audio narrations of the 5 sisters. Granted it’s a difficult thing for even an experienced audio narrator to get this right. The sisters with the most unique voices were Pauline, Dianne and Louise.
What I enjoyed about the audio version is the pronunciation of all the French words, because when I read this type of thing I just make up words in my own mind, discarding correct pronunciation for the luxury of immersing myself in the story.
Recommended if you like court intrigues and French period novels.
October 28, 2018
Meh, somewhat interesting. The subject matter is endlessly fascinating, it's disappointing that a fictional account fell short of the actual history.
I'll probably read the next installment as Madame Pompadour is one of my favorite of the French mistresses.
I'll probably read the next installment as Madame Pompadour is one of my favorite of the French mistresses.
September 7, 2015
3.5 stars. "The Sisters of Versailles" takes place during the reign of France's King Louis XV. As much as I read about French and French royalty I really don't know too much about this Louis. Usually, it seems that Louis XIV and Louis XVI seem to be favored subjects for historical fiction. This book talks about a set of sisters where four out of the five sisters become mistresses to Louis XV. The book is told through the perspective of all five of the sisters as well as letters that they write back and forth to each other. There also some letters from their aunt who kind of takes care of them. This book is the first in the new trilogy on these five sisters.
I like that this book was able to capture the personalities and the relationships in between all of the sisters so that we can understand their motivations and how they feel about each other. Obviously, because they have relationships with the king, there is a lot of tension with the sisters and a good dose of competitiveness. I did think that some parts of the book could be slimmed down a little bit in order to get this story to go a little bit faster. There were places in the book that got a little too bogged down in details for me.
The beginning and end of the book are told from the perspective of Hortense, the only sister who doesn't become one of the King's mistresses. I thought this was an interesting touch. Overall, I really liked reading about this little nugget of history and I'm interested to see where this trilogy goes.
I like that this book was able to capture the personalities and the relationships in between all of the sisters so that we can understand their motivations and how they feel about each other. Obviously, because they have relationships with the king, there is a lot of tension with the sisters and a good dose of competitiveness. I did think that some parts of the book could be slimmed down a little bit in order to get this story to go a little bit faster. There were places in the book that got a little too bogged down in details for me.
The beginning and end of the book are told from the perspective of Hortense, the only sister who doesn't become one of the King's mistresses. I thought this was an interesting touch. Overall, I really liked reading about this little nugget of history and I'm interested to see where this trilogy goes.
June 19, 2017
Apparently this author likes to troll reviews which are not in her favor.
December 9, 2015
Thank you Mysteries & Crime Thrillers & Atria Books for providing me a copy for review.
"One is almost forgotten,
Another almost dust,
The third is on her way,
While the fourth is waiting
To make way for the fifth.
Loving an entire family
Is that faithlessness or fidelity?"
Set in early 18th century French court, The Sisters of Versailles is centered around four of the five Nesle sisters that become mistresses to King Louis XV over a span of 15 years. These sisters experience love, lust, betrayal, death and heartbreak. Each of the five sisters recount and tell the story of King Louis, court, and how he won each of their hearts.
I was wonderfully surprised by this book. Each sisters brings something different to the story, even Hortense who was never King Louis mistress but she lived through the backlash from each sisters affair. These sisters remind me of how united a family can be but how much betrayal they could bring as well. I couldn't help not falling in love with the different sisters in different ways.
Louise the faithful, oh how faithful you were to Louis and your family. You never saw what was coming to you and by the hands of your own sisters. I didn't like how weak and naive you could be but you were ever so faithful to Louis. You did was you were told, gave the king what he needed and stood by his side till the next sister pushed you away. UGH, there were times that I wanted you to stand up for yourself and you did...sometimes....but by then it was a little too late. Louise the faithful, you will always be the sweetest of all the sisters.
"He calls me his little Bijou. Jewel. Isn't that heavenly? I'd sooner have that endearment than all the real jewels in the world."
Pauline the fierce, you scared me. You were ambitious and out for blood. You didn't care who got in your way but you fought for what you wanted and got it and so much more. King Louis was blinded by you but I think you loved him just as much. Your reign was short but the lasting impact on the king was felt for years. I hated you and I loved you and your tenacity was nothing like I've ever seen before.
"You can never give a man, even a king, everything he wants. If you do he will only grow complacent and I am determined that Louis never grow complacent."
Diane, you crazy cat lady, you had me laughing through all the horrible things your sisters were doing. I think you didn't care about any gain, you were just happy with wine, food and cats! I think you were loving life at court, having fun with the king, and perks of your marriage to a Duke. Sometimes I cringed at the things you said and laughed out loud. You, my friend, were my favorite of them all!
"Why should I think before I talk? Why would I want to do things twice: First think something, then say it? Surely it's easier to do just one or the other?"
Marie-Anne the Conquer. I don't know where to start with you. In the beginning you were my favorite, you turned a bad situation into your advantage, you taught yourself, read amazing books and had an amazing library...then you set your eyes on Louis. I'm still trying to figure out if I like you more than Pauline, or hated you for the things you ended up changing. Remember, blood is thicker than water and you will need your sisters in the end.
"Madame is exiled, all in tears
Goodness, but sisters are a thing to fear!
Once one was all beloved
But now something new
Looks like a coup
From one so beautiful
Goodness, but sisters are a thing to fear!
Goodness, but sisters are a thing to fear."
The one thing I didn't like about this book is Louis, now, I only get to know him through the sisters and he seemed to be a weak king but I'm not so sure that is true. The writing was great, the story was engaging and I really want to know more of his mistresses. I know I will read book two and hope to start it soon.
November 19, 2015
Siblings can be tough sometimes. Who am I kidding? ALL THE TIME. LOL. Sisters of Versailles dressed a beautiful portrait of five sisters who will have to fight for a place in the court of Versailles. Temptation, cheating, gossip, backstabbing, pretentious dialogues, lies, you will find it all in this book. I think one of the biggest forte of this book, is Sally Christie’s writing. The Versailles descriptions are simply beautiful, great vocabulary and a great style with grace. I can feel that she put a lot of research and work in order to write this book. The historical facts are well-put, subtle and help lift up the story to a more interesting level. It makes a great historical fiction. On a more personal note, I have always loved that period in time, with glorious dresses, cute bows, fancy places where ball happens and cupcakes all day, everyday (Marie-Antoinette vibe). So reading about it is even more captivating and intriguing.
But why not a 5 stars ? For those of you familiar with my reviews, I’m really picky with my 5-stars books hahah . First, the book got a little bit boring towards the end when you realize the pattern of the story and where it’s going. The action scenes in between are great but it was kind of slow to my liking. It lacks that spark for a 5 star rating since the plot didn’t stand out that much and didn’t make me emotionally connected to the sisters.
It is still a good story, I really enjoyed it and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good drama combined with history fiction. It reminds me of Mean Girls with that Parisian twist. Toxic relations and devious intentions ;)
Big Thank You to the author for the free signed copy !
February 5, 2016
I just read a very serious and emotional book. It wasn't Sisters of Versailles...but the one I read right before it. I'm guessing that is a pre-requisite for reading this because after such a serious, hard hitting emotional ride...I didn't mind the shallow, scheming, Melrose Place-ness of the Mailly-Nesle sisters. As much.
That said...Gads! Louise is a doormat, Pauline is a unfeeling Bitch , Hortense needs the stick removed from her arse, Diane is literally the stupidest character I've ever encountered and Marie-Anne...I've already used Bitch so I guess I have to one up and say Marie-Anne is an uber-c*&^. As I read along, people who had read this before me were curious as to who I liked the most out of the sisters and who was the most reprehensible. I can't answer that really. At various times I hated each for their strengths and their weaknesses. I will say that they were all more mellow and likeable in their older ages and those that didn't make it there? Well they kind of deserved what they got.
If you don't take your historical fiction too seriously and you just want a light read with lot's of teenage-like angst and pettiness then feel free to give this a go. :D
That said...Gads! Louise is a doormat, Pauline is a unfeeling Bitch , Hortense needs the stick removed from her arse, Diane is literally the stupidest character I've ever encountered and Marie-Anne...I've already used Bitch so I guess I have to one up and say Marie-Anne is an uber-c*&^. As I read along, people who had read this before me were curious as to who I liked the most out of the sisters and who was the most reprehensible. I can't answer that really. At various times I hated each for their strengths and their weaknesses. I will say that they were all more mellow and likeable in their older ages and those that didn't make it there? Well they kind of deserved what they got.
If you don't take your historical fiction too seriously and you just want a light read with lot's of teenage-like angst and pettiness then feel free to give this a go. :D
February 27, 2017
Very much in the vein of Philippa Gregory's type of historical fiction but I liked this. I didn't really care for most of the characters themselves, but I was totally involved in their stories! Review to come.
August 25, 2015
*** I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review ***
I love historical fiction, especially when it involves France in the 18th century. From the first page to the last, I was whisked away to court. I put on my best dress and tightened my corset, as I read this book. Sally Christie is historically accurate and weaves a complicated story filled with many intriguing characters.
I loved it and I can't wait to read the next installment!
If you love historical fiction in the same vein as Phillipa Gregory, you'll gobble up this debut from Sally Christie.
I love historical fiction, especially when it involves France in the 18th century. From the first page to the last, I was whisked away to court. I put on my best dress and tightened my corset, as I read this book. Sally Christie is historically accurate and weaves a complicated story filled with many intriguing characters.
I loved it and I can't wait to read the next installment!
If you love historical fiction in the same vein as Phillipa Gregory, you'll gobble up this debut from Sally Christie.
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