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Julien's Terror
In this chilling psychological tale set in revolutionary France, a young couple confront their darkest fears. Looming above them, between healing and oblivion, lies the French Republic's most shocking secret.
FRANCE, 1794 - The Reign of Terror
Julien d'Aureville, a young boy from a broken home in Paris, meets a fugitive aristocrat who changes his life. As the Terror subsides and Napoleon rises to power, Julien's fortunes improve.
Then he meets the mysterious Marguerite.
Upon her marriage to Julien, Marguerite Lafolye has all a Parisian woman could ever wish. Yet something is not quite right.
Is Marguerite hiding a dark secret?
When she attempts to see into Marguerite, even the celebrated
fortuneteller, Marie Anne Lenormand, cannot read her cards.
From bourgeois Paris to the canals of Napoleon's Venice, Marguerite seems to be living a lie. Who is she really? What drives her obsession with the late Dauphin, Louis-Charles, son of Marie-Antoinette?
Could the answer lie in a memory - in Nantes' orphanage, or in the hidden undergound caves of war-torn Vendée, or else in the secret refuge of Gralas Forest, deep in Western France?
Or could the answer be right here, in Paris, within the forbidding walls of the Temple Prison that Napoleon threatens to destroy, and where the Dauphin tragically perished.
****
From the author of THE MING STORYTELLERS and THE MASCHERARI comes an historical psychological thriller that will defy all you knew of France's revolution.
In this confronting new novel, Laura Rahme paints the tragedies and triumphs of love in tumultuous and deadly times.
JULIEN'S TERROR is a suspenseful mystery where folklore and superstition meet with the horrors of the past.
FRANCE, 1794 - The Reign of Terror
Julien d'Aureville, a young boy from a broken home in Paris, meets a fugitive aristocrat who changes his life. As the Terror subsides and Napoleon rises to power, Julien's fortunes improve.
Then he meets the mysterious Marguerite.
Upon her marriage to Julien, Marguerite Lafolye has all a Parisian woman could ever wish. Yet something is not quite right.
Is Marguerite hiding a dark secret?
When she attempts to see into Marguerite, even the celebrated
fortuneteller, Marie Anne Lenormand, cannot read her cards.
From bourgeois Paris to the canals of Napoleon's Venice, Marguerite seems to be living a lie. Who is she really? What drives her obsession with the late Dauphin, Louis-Charles, son of Marie-Antoinette?
Could the answer lie in a memory - in Nantes' orphanage, or in the hidden undergound caves of war-torn Vendée, or else in the secret refuge of Gralas Forest, deep in Western France?
Or could the answer be right here, in Paris, within the forbidding walls of the Temple Prison that Napoleon threatens to destroy, and where the Dauphin tragically perished.
****
From the author of THE MING STORYTELLERS and THE MASCHERARI comes an historical psychological thriller that will defy all you knew of France's revolution.
In this confronting new novel, Laura Rahme paints the tragedies and triumphs of love in tumultuous and deadly times.
JULIEN'S TERROR is a suspenseful mystery where folklore and superstition meet with the horrors of the past.
426 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2017
About the author
Laura Rahme
8 books162 followersA recipient of the Best International Author prize from the 2023 Biblioteca Suore Montevergine book fair, Laura Rahme is an award-winning French-Australian novelist. Born in Senegal and inspired by her rich family heritage (Lebanese, French and Vietnamese), she writes fiction informed by historical and cultural research.
With Bachelor degrees in Psychology and Aerospace Engineering, she balances a long career in Tech with her great love of telling stories.
She has written,
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓢𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓻𝓼 (2012) - a historical novel set in China's Early Ming Dynasty.
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓻𝓲 (2014) - a historical mystery with supernatural themes set in 15th century Venice.
𝓙𝓾𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓷'𝓼 𝓣𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓸𝓻 (2017) - a French Revolution psychological thriller/mystery which pays homage to her Breton origins.
𝓒𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓪 (2021) - a Victorian gothic horror mystery set in 19th century England and Greece.
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝓮𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵𝔂 (2021) — a real life 19th century fairy tale set in France, featuring first celebrity chef, Antonin Carême (1784 - 1833) and one of France's most mysterious figures, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord.
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓖𝓸𝓻é𝓮 (2024) — a historical mystery set in 1840s Gorée, reprising the French detective Maurice Leroux from the novel, Calista. Where Calista drew on elements of the fantastique, this mystery blends magic realism with Senegalese folklore.
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓾𝓷𝓮 𝓣𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓻 𝓸𝓯 𝓝𝓲𝓬𝓮 - the third Maurice Leroux mystery set in 1854 Nice. Expected publication in late 2027.
In 2020, Laura announced that she was working on a historical crime novel set in her birth country, Senegal. The Silence of the Pirogue will explore 70s and 80s Senegal. The roman à clef will be published in 2027.
With Bachelor degrees in Psychology and Aerospace Engineering, she balances a long career in Tech with her great love of telling stories.
She has written,
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓢𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓻𝓼 (2012) - a historical novel set in China's Early Ming Dynasty.
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓪𝓼𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓻𝓲 (2014) - a historical mystery with supernatural themes set in 15th century Venice.
𝓙𝓾𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓷'𝓼 𝓣𝓮𝓻𝓻𝓸𝓻 (2017) - a French Revolution psychological thriller/mystery which pays homage to her Breton origins.
𝓒𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓪 (2021) - a Victorian gothic horror mystery set in 19th century England and Greece.
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝓮𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵𝔂 (2021) — a real life 19th century fairy tale set in France, featuring first celebrity chef, Antonin Carême (1784 - 1833) and one of France's most mysterious figures, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord.
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓖𝓸𝓻é𝓮 (2024) — a historical mystery set in 1840s Gorée, reprising the French detective Maurice Leroux from the novel, Calista. Where Calista drew on elements of the fantastique, this mystery blends magic realism with Senegalese folklore.
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓾𝓷𝓮 𝓣𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓻 𝓸𝓯 𝓝𝓲𝓬𝓮 - the third Maurice Leroux mystery set in 1854 Nice. Expected publication in late 2027.
In 2020, Laura announced that she was working on a historical crime novel set in her birth country, Senegal. The Silence of the Pirogue will explore 70s and 80s Senegal. The roman à clef will be published in 2027.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 22, 2017
Julien’s Terror is the intertwining story of Julien and Marguerite, a young Parisian couple brought together by a mutually beloved mentor after surviving the horrors of the French Revolution, each in their own unique way. There is a strong, undeniable chemistry between them, at times so overwhelming that it threatens to lead to self-destruction and be the source of their ultimate undoing.
I loved everything about this book. It’s billed as a “chilling psychological tale”, but I would call it a modern Gothic thriller. Yes, there are elements of the psychological—all thoroughly researched and accurately portrayed—but the pervasively ominous undercurrent is one of a haunting with subtle hints of possession. In true Gothic style—despite the lively setting—the author deftly lulls the reader into a false sense of security before plunging her into a dark atmosphere, keeping the mystery of who is the more tormented until the very end.
The historical setting is equally fascinating and absorbing, exploring aspects of the French Revolution not typically brought to mind—from the horrifying, heartless mass drownings in Nantes to the hidden caves of refuge in the Vendée and the rebel camps within the sheltering Forest of Gralas. Here the author uses her magical gift of description to bring the characters to life as well as their surroundings. I found myself entranced by the Breton mythology, and I could picture myself amongst the rebels—the former high-ranking ladies adorned in the remnants of their aristocratic lives while brandishing the necessary accoutrements of their burgeoning independence as they fiercely fought alongside their male counterparts to survive the murderous new regime.
With her effortless and expressive writing, Rahme has penned a new classic for history and mystery lovers alike. A tale of love and possession set against the romance and terror of the French Revolution, this book is not to be missed.
I loved everything about this book. It’s billed as a “chilling psychological tale”, but I would call it a modern Gothic thriller. Yes, there are elements of the psychological—all thoroughly researched and accurately portrayed—but the pervasively ominous undercurrent is one of a haunting with subtle hints of possession. In true Gothic style—despite the lively setting—the author deftly lulls the reader into a false sense of security before plunging her into a dark atmosphere, keeping the mystery of who is the more tormented until the very end.
The historical setting is equally fascinating and absorbing, exploring aspects of the French Revolution not typically brought to mind—from the horrifying, heartless mass drownings in Nantes to the hidden caves of refuge in the Vendée and the rebel camps within the sheltering Forest of Gralas. Here the author uses her magical gift of description to bring the characters to life as well as their surroundings. I found myself entranced by the Breton mythology, and I could picture myself amongst the rebels—the former high-ranking ladies adorned in the remnants of their aristocratic lives while brandishing the necessary accoutrements of their burgeoning independence as they fiercely fought alongside their male counterparts to survive the murderous new regime.
With her effortless and expressive writing, Rahme has penned a new classic for history and mystery lovers alike. A tale of love and possession set against the romance and terror of the French Revolution, this book is not to be missed.
June 27, 2020
Julien's terror, us a captivating tale about young Parisian couple Julien and Marguerite. I loved this book and everything about it. It is wonderfully written. Character development is good. Plot is interesting. Everything about it is good.
Novel is set in French Revolution, Rahme gives us perspective about it which was unknown to many of us. It tells us about how people lived in reign of terror, how they picked up pieces.
I loved Rahmes' writing style so much, she lulls us in thinking everything is safe and then when we are not expecting something unexpected happens, but it doesn't sounds way to unrealistic.
It also has a psychological impact on readers, as it has on characters. Both Julien and Marguerite has suffered during revolution. They both have mysterious past and instead of facing it outright, they try to bury it. And it keeps festering up.
I personally loved this book so much. It took me time to actually start reading it but once I found connection it was impossible for me to put down.
It's a must read.
Novel is set in French Revolution, Rahme gives us perspective about it which was unknown to many of us. It tells us about how people lived in reign of terror, how they picked up pieces.
I loved Rahmes' writing style so much, she lulls us in thinking everything is safe and then when we are not expecting something unexpected happens, but it doesn't sounds way to unrealistic.
It also has a psychological impact on readers, as it has on characters. Both Julien and Marguerite has suffered during revolution. They both have mysterious past and instead of facing it outright, they try to bury it. And it keeps festering up.
I personally loved this book so much. It took me time to actually start reading it but once I found connection it was impossible for me to put down.
It's a must read.
April 29, 2018
A novel of compulsion, obsession and fear
I loved reading both historical novels, The Ming Storytellers and The Mascherari, but Julien’s Terror is Laura Rahme’s pièce de résistance! This is a psychological story of gripping terror possessing both main characters in this superb and a tight written tale.
Both Julien and Marguerite d’Aureville have had traumatic and heartbreaking childhoods during and after the French Revolution. They both lost their parents to the revolution and driven to carry on their legacy. Both survived by their sheer capacity to live and their sense of imbued honesty to do what’s right. Julien learns to become an architect and engineer with the goal of erecting bridges, and with the help of his mentor Guillaume. Julien’s greatest wish, as well, is to clean Paris from filth and disease by building a new water sewage system. Marguerite, a reverent royalist, is still pining with a strange fixation over the Dauphin who had died in the Temple dungeon of the Great Tower in Paris. Her visions of Louis XVII, that same poor child of ten guilty by association to his mother Queen Marie Antoinette, drives her to distraction and torment to know how the young boy died.
A third and major character rises to lead Julien to desperate jealousy. At that point in the novel I know where it’s leading and the anticipated dénouement, but the author surprises us by descending to a deeper level, one I had not anticipated. That is truly literature at its best! And a novel to be treasured.
I loved reading both historical novels, The Ming Storytellers and The Mascherari, but Julien’s Terror is Laura Rahme’s pièce de résistance! This is a psychological story of gripping terror possessing both main characters in this superb and a tight written tale.
Both Julien and Marguerite d’Aureville have had traumatic and heartbreaking childhoods during and after the French Revolution. They both lost their parents to the revolution and driven to carry on their legacy. Both survived by their sheer capacity to live and their sense of imbued honesty to do what’s right. Julien learns to become an architect and engineer with the goal of erecting bridges, and with the help of his mentor Guillaume. Julien’s greatest wish, as well, is to clean Paris from filth and disease by building a new water sewage system. Marguerite, a reverent royalist, is still pining with a strange fixation over the Dauphin who had died in the Temple dungeon of the Great Tower in Paris. Her visions of Louis XVII, that same poor child of ten guilty by association to his mother Queen Marie Antoinette, drives her to distraction and torment to know how the young boy died.
A third and major character rises to lead Julien to desperate jealousy. At that point in the novel I know where it’s leading and the anticipated dénouement, but the author surprises us by descending to a deeper level, one I had not anticipated. That is truly literature at its best! And a novel to be treasured.
August 30, 2017
Julien's Terrror is the latest novel by author Laura Rahme. It is a powerful tale that sweeps its reader into the dark atmosphere of the French Revolution. The story centres around two people - Julien and Marguerite - who both survived the reign of terror. They are drawn together inexplicably, powerfully, and with a touch of mystery and danger.
The novel has a touch of the psychological, the paranormal with a Gothic feel and with a good mystery at its core. Most definitely it can be classified as a suspense thriller. Laura Rahme delves deep into the darkest circumstances of the revolution, bringing it to vivid clarity and revealing lesser known facts. Her research was thorough and rich indeed. Of all the novels I've read set during the revolution, this one had more detail than usual. It was the first I had read of the Nantes drownings, the refugees, the women rebels, and more.
I've now had the pleasure of reading all of this author's novels - each one equally as enthralling. For certain, this is one author I urge you to follow! Highly recommended!
The novel has a touch of the psychological, the paranormal with a Gothic feel and with a good mystery at its core. Most definitely it can be classified as a suspense thriller. Laura Rahme delves deep into the darkest circumstances of the revolution, bringing it to vivid clarity and revealing lesser known facts. Her research was thorough and rich indeed. Of all the novels I've read set during the revolution, this one had more detail than usual. It was the first I had read of the Nantes drownings, the refugees, the women rebels, and more.
I've now had the pleasure of reading all of this author's novels - each one equally as enthralling. For certain, this is one author I urge you to follow! Highly recommended!
May 2, 2018
Captivating historical novel
Intense account of the Rein of Terror in France and how it impacted the survivors . The story is engrossing, the characters are realistic and the psychological message is timely for today. A must read!
Intense account of the Rein of Terror in France and how it impacted the survivors . The story is engrossing, the characters are realistic and the psychological message is timely for today. A must read!
April 23, 2019
Book Title: Julien's Terror
Author: Laura Rahme
Format: Kindle
Book Title:
The title of the book ' Julien's Terror ' is mysterious and intriguing.
Book Cover:
The cover image of the book is a beautiful vintage oil painting of a young person dated back in the 1700s.
Plot:
The story is about Julien and Marguerite, their dreadful childhood, their encounter and getting into a relationship. It is set up in the years of 1794, the time of the French Revolution. It deals with the aftermath consequences of war and ruined lives. There is trauma, there is terror, there is distress and there is a mystery. At some times the book is hard to read because it switches between characters, timelines, and stories.
To experience an unseen yet known centuries back story, don't miss to read this gripping thriller.
What I like:
1. An awesome storyline which is almost very fresh to read.
2. The hardships common people face after the mayhem of war are explained in detail with not much drama but factual things.
3. Mystery elements of the female protagonist's identity are woven in a very fascinating manner.
4. The setting of the story in the rustic times of war and aftermath creates a dark atmosphere which is apt for a psychological thriller.
5. The fearsome experiences children face because of unpleasant upbringing and the effect on their mental growth did subtly give chills in the spine.
6. The emotions of love, longing, fear, dissent, commitment, and responsible nature are very well illustrated.
What I didn't like:
The story is very engrossing and it was almost impossible to find any errors or drawbacks.
Characters:
Every character is plotted very well and realistic approach made the characters very alluring.
Narration:
An engaging narration with spine chilling sequences is found in the story.
Language & Grammar:
A very fine language with flawless grammar is found in the story.
My Final Verdict:
Experience a love story with a terror backdrop dated back during the vintage times of the French Revolution.
Book Title: 4/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Narration: 4/5
Language & Grammar: 4/5
Final Rating: 4/5
Author: Laura Rahme
Format: Kindle
Book Title:
The title of the book ' Julien's Terror ' is mysterious and intriguing.
Book Cover:
The cover image of the book is a beautiful vintage oil painting of a young person dated back in the 1700s.
Plot:
The story is about Julien and Marguerite, their dreadful childhood, their encounter and getting into a relationship. It is set up in the years of 1794, the time of the French Revolution. It deals with the aftermath consequences of war and ruined lives. There is trauma, there is terror, there is distress and there is a mystery. At some times the book is hard to read because it switches between characters, timelines, and stories.
To experience an unseen yet known centuries back story, don't miss to read this gripping thriller.
What I like:
1. An awesome storyline which is almost very fresh to read.
2. The hardships common people face after the mayhem of war are explained in detail with not much drama but factual things.
3. Mystery elements of the female protagonist's identity are woven in a very fascinating manner.
4. The setting of the story in the rustic times of war and aftermath creates a dark atmosphere which is apt for a psychological thriller.
5. The fearsome experiences children face because of unpleasant upbringing and the effect on their mental growth did subtly give chills in the spine.
6. The emotions of love, longing, fear, dissent, commitment, and responsible nature are very well illustrated.
What I didn't like:
The story is very engrossing and it was almost impossible to find any errors or drawbacks.
Characters:
Every character is plotted very well and realistic approach made the characters very alluring.
Narration:
An engaging narration with spine chilling sequences is found in the story.
Language & Grammar:
A very fine language with flawless grammar is found in the story.
My Final Verdict:
Experience a love story with a terror backdrop dated back during the vintage times of the French Revolution.
Book Title: 4/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Narration: 4/5
Language & Grammar: 4/5
Final Rating: 4/5
July 31, 2018
I am constantly disappointed in books I download for free, but this novel about the period surrounding the French Revolution was, in my opinion, an exception. The book, to say the least, was completely engaging and difficult to stop reading. The writer obviously had done extensive research of the time period in which she wrote, which was probably motivated by her interest in her own ancestors who had lived during that time. The novel was well written, and the characters, were very believable. Ms. Rahme also discusses some subsequent effects that may have resulted due to the suffering and cruelty that occurred during the Revolution and the reign of Napoleon, including both physical and mental ramifications, which I found extremely interesting. At any rate, I found this to be a well crafted novel, which included mystery, romance, adventure, war, and a myriad of other subjects, and I have no reluctance in recommending it.
June 6, 2017
I was fortunate to win an advanced copy of this extremely intriguing novel via Goodreads giveaways.
I'm sure I learned about the Reign of Terror, Napoleon (& Josephine) and the French Revolution in school (maybe a couple of pages in world history). However, as an adult (who is now paying more attention to all atrocities in the world, past and present), this book served as a history lesson as well as a very entertaining read with multiple layers to the story (history, mystery, folklore, psychology). As I was a quarter of the way into the book, I was already thinking what a great mini-series this would be for BBC or another network to create! I look forward to reading other works by Laura Rahme.
I'm sure I learned about the Reign of Terror, Napoleon (& Josephine) and the French Revolution in school (maybe a couple of pages in world history). However, as an adult (who is now paying more attention to all atrocities in the world, past and present), this book served as a history lesson as well as a very entertaining read with multiple layers to the story (history, mystery, folklore, psychology). As I was a quarter of the way into the book, I was already thinking what a great mini-series this would be for BBC or another network to create! I look forward to reading other works by Laura Rahme.
April 29, 2019
The period between 1789-1799 in France is among the most tumultuous times in World History. French government transformed from a monarchy, to a republic, to a dictatorship, to an empire over the course of ten years.
It's understandable that those times would have filled the people with plenty of stress, uncertainty, anxiety, and fear. People wondered if their closest friend during the Revolution would then denounce them to the guillotine during the Reign of Terror. It was hard to trust or rely on anyone.
Laura Rahme's novel Julien's Terror explores that stressful frightening time. Like good historical fiction, she fills her book with plenty of details about the time from clothing and activities to key players like Maximilian Robespierre, the Dauphin Louis-Charles, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Francois de Charette. Rahme however does not give us a dry history. She gives us an interesting story with fascinating characters to go with this exciting detailed history.
The most intriguing characters are Julien and Marguerite D'Aureville, the protagonists. They are a married couple who are on opposite sides of the political spectrum and it doesn't take long for them to be at odds with each other.
Julien is the son of former Revolutionaries who protested the French monarchy and got swept up in the subsequent Reign of Terror. However, Julien's father also brings terror to his own home. He is an alcoholic who physically and mentally abuses his wife and son. He is so reprehensible that it is actually a relief when Julien uses some stolen anti-Revolutionary pamphlets placed in the right positions to have his father arrested. What saves this from being a completely reprehensible is Julien's age 9, that he is protecting himself and his mother, and that he only intended for his father to be arrested and removed from the family. When his father is guillotined, Julien is sickened with the carnage and filled with remorse.
Marguerite is also a victim of these brutal times. She is the daughter of Royalist sympathizers who are imprisoned then killed in the opening chapter. She is adopted by her uncle and sees battlefields up front as she and other Royalists march with Charette but many are wiped out. She is filled with such trauma from these times that she is troubled well into her adulthood.
When Julien and Marguerite marry, things try to become normal. Julien develops an engineering career. Marguerite adjusts to becoming a middle class wife and bickers with her domineering mother-in-law. The troubles from their childhood seem to be behind them. Then Napoleon takes power and things get worse.
Julian becomes obsessive and paranoid with Marguerite. While he is not physically abusive, Julien is verbally abusive towards her. He is highly suspicious of her former aristocratic life and her relationships with other men particularly Max Von Hauser, an Austrian man. Marguerite also has her own mysterious behavior as well. Julien's admiration of Napoleon Bonaparte causes her to avoid speaking with him about politics while keeping her former allegiances with Royalists. She also meets Max at a cafe in private who provides an understanding ear and more. Julien and Marguerite's marriage is an example of a self-fulfilled prophecy. Julien's coldness and jealous suspicions that Marguerite is having an affair causes her to confide in friendship with Max and that friendship develops into a potential romance.
Julien's Terror explores how the times shaped Julien and Marguerite and their marriage. Since, they were on opposite sides during the war of the Revolution, they cannot fully trust each other when there appears to be peace. While the Terror of the old days is still in their subconscious, it infiltrates into their lives giving them their own terrors.
What starts out as a straight forward historical fiction about the French Revolution, takes a very bizarre turn halfway through giving the novel a supernatural tone. Julien visits a fortune teller whose predictions are right on the nose. There is a creepy apparition of a young boy who frightens Julian that may be a ghost or may be a hallucination. Then there is Marguerite whose behavior gets progressively stranger. She takes on different voices, acts like she doesn't know Julien or anyone else, and sings vulgar songs she didn't know before. She also disappears for several weeks with no memory of where she went. Is she lying? Does she have Dissociative Identity Disorder or has she been possessed by spirits?
The supernatural aspects turn Julien's Terror into a different kind of book than it was before. At first glance, it appears abrupt but the more the Reader thinks about it the more it makes sense. The magical aspects are given more realistic possibilities like they could be products of their insanity or repressed guilt and memories of what had gone on before.
The bigger possibility is that in the world of Julian's Terror, the disruption in the political and social world of the Revolution and Reign of Terror brought the disruptions in the spiritual world. The ghosts and possessions are brought symbols of the horror that happened before and still occurs within a country that has not recovered and whose people continue to suffer.
Laura Rahme's book focuses on the terror that comes from a country in great political strife and from the people who lived during it and afterwards.
It's understandable that those times would have filled the people with plenty of stress, uncertainty, anxiety, and fear. People wondered if their closest friend during the Revolution would then denounce them to the guillotine during the Reign of Terror. It was hard to trust or rely on anyone.
Laura Rahme's novel Julien's Terror explores that stressful frightening time. Like good historical fiction, she fills her book with plenty of details about the time from clothing and activities to key players like Maximilian Robespierre, the Dauphin Louis-Charles, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Francois de Charette. Rahme however does not give us a dry history. She gives us an interesting story with fascinating characters to go with this exciting detailed history.
The most intriguing characters are Julien and Marguerite D'Aureville, the protagonists. They are a married couple who are on opposite sides of the political spectrum and it doesn't take long for them to be at odds with each other.
Julien is the son of former Revolutionaries who protested the French monarchy and got swept up in the subsequent Reign of Terror. However, Julien's father also brings terror to his own home. He is an alcoholic who physically and mentally abuses his wife and son. He is so reprehensible that it is actually a relief when Julien uses some stolen anti-Revolutionary pamphlets placed in the right positions to have his father arrested. What saves this from being a completely reprehensible is Julien's age 9, that he is protecting himself and his mother, and that he only intended for his father to be arrested and removed from the family. When his father is guillotined, Julien is sickened with the carnage and filled with remorse.
Marguerite is also a victim of these brutal times. She is the daughter of Royalist sympathizers who are imprisoned then killed in the opening chapter. She is adopted by her uncle and sees battlefields up front as she and other Royalists march with Charette but many are wiped out. She is filled with such trauma from these times that she is troubled well into her adulthood.
When Julien and Marguerite marry, things try to become normal. Julien develops an engineering career. Marguerite adjusts to becoming a middle class wife and bickers with her domineering mother-in-law. The troubles from their childhood seem to be behind them. Then Napoleon takes power and things get worse.
Julian becomes obsessive and paranoid with Marguerite. While he is not physically abusive, Julien is verbally abusive towards her. He is highly suspicious of her former aristocratic life and her relationships with other men particularly Max Von Hauser, an Austrian man. Marguerite also has her own mysterious behavior as well. Julien's admiration of Napoleon Bonaparte causes her to avoid speaking with him about politics while keeping her former allegiances with Royalists. She also meets Max at a cafe in private who provides an understanding ear and more. Julien and Marguerite's marriage is an example of a self-fulfilled prophecy. Julien's coldness and jealous suspicions that Marguerite is having an affair causes her to confide in friendship with Max and that friendship develops into a potential romance.
Julien's Terror explores how the times shaped Julien and Marguerite and their marriage. Since, they were on opposite sides during the war of the Revolution, they cannot fully trust each other when there appears to be peace. While the Terror of the old days is still in their subconscious, it infiltrates into their lives giving them their own terrors.
What starts out as a straight forward historical fiction about the French Revolution, takes a very bizarre turn halfway through giving the novel a supernatural tone. Julien visits a fortune teller whose predictions are right on the nose. There is a creepy apparition of a young boy who frightens Julian that may be a ghost or may be a hallucination. Then there is Marguerite whose behavior gets progressively stranger. She takes on different voices, acts like she doesn't know Julien or anyone else, and sings vulgar songs she didn't know before. She also disappears for several weeks with no memory of where she went. Is she lying? Does she have Dissociative Identity Disorder or has she been possessed by spirits?
The supernatural aspects turn Julien's Terror into a different kind of book than it was before. At first glance, it appears abrupt but the more the Reader thinks about it the more it makes sense. The magical aspects are given more realistic possibilities like they could be products of their insanity or repressed guilt and memories of what had gone on before.
The bigger possibility is that in the world of Julian's Terror, the disruption in the political and social world of the Revolution and Reign of Terror brought the disruptions in the spiritual world. The ghosts and possessions are brought symbols of the horror that happened before and still occurs within a country that has not recovered and whose people continue to suffer.
Laura Rahme's book focuses on the terror that comes from a country in great political strife and from the people who lived during it and afterwards.
March 7, 2018
‘The guillotine is not enough for Carrier.’
Australian French author Laura Rahme, born in Dakar, Senegal, is o f Lebanese, French and Vietnamese origins. Her degrees are in Engineering and Psychology and she has served as a web developer, analyst programmer and business analyst. Her published works include THE MING STORYTELLERS, THE MASCHERARI: A NOVEL OF VENICE and now JULIEN’S TERROR – stories that blend history and culture. She lives in Sydney, Australia.
Setting the tone for a novel based on historical fact succeeds best when the author recalls a timeframe with information about the period before launching into the story. Laura does precisely that – and does it well: ‘Nantes, November 1793 - Nantes on a silent November night. Nantes the crown of Brittany, more Breton than French, provincial at heart, worldly of mind – a giant of commerce, a proud maritime port. Now asleep. Nantes and her chateau, once the seat of a young queen, ruler of both France and Brittany. Nantes and her dark prestige, with her fleet of slave ships destined for continents of Africa and America. For over forty years, a leader among her sisters - Lorient, La Rochelle, and Bordeaux, in the sinister trade of black ebony. It was not too long ago that the Romans conquered her, dressed her in stone, paved her roads, and transformed her Loire River into a burgeoning trade channel. Nantes- and her river. In later centuries, the city saw the invading Vikings. They spread terror. They desecrated her monasteries. Their ships filled the Loire. Nantes, and her river. Now four years since the fall of the Bastille, a new terror has settled here, a terror dispatched from Paris. The events of this November night unfold during France’s Terror. A span of barely a year. Short, but it marks the Loire forever. Since October, the scourge of Nantes is that ex-lawyer, that monster, Jean-Baptiste Carrier. It is a name he has himself carved into the annals of crime through his violent nature and endless atrocities. But he is not alone. He receives orders from Paris, where the Committee of Public Safety urges him to purge Nantes. Purge Nantes. Nantes, and her river.’ The terror begins.
Laura condenses her long story in a brief synopsis – ‘FRANCE, 1794 - The Reign of Terror - Julien d'Aureville, a young boy from a broken home in Paris, meets a fugitive aristocrat who changes his life. As the Terror subsides and Napoleon rises to power, Julien's fortunes improve. Then he meets the mysterious Marguerite. Upon her marriage to Julien, Marguerite Lafolye has all a Parisian woman could ever wish. Yet something is not quite right. Is Marguerite hiding a dark secret? When she attempts to see into Marguerite, even the celebrated fortuneteller, Marie Anne Lenormand, cannot read her cards. From bourgeois Paris to the canals of Napoleon's Venice, Marguerite seems to be living a lie. Who is she really? What drives her obsession with the late Dauphin, Louis-Charles, son of Marie-Antoinette? Could the answer lie in a memory - in Nantes' orphanage, or in the hidden underground caves of war-torn Vendée, or else in the secret refuge of Gralas Forest, deep in Western France? Or could the answer be right here, in Paris, within the forbidding walls of the Temple Prison that Napoleon threatens to destroy, and where the Dauphin tragically perished. In this chilling psychological tale set in revolutionary France, a young couple confront their darkest fears. Looming above them, between healing and oblivion, lies the French Republic's most shocking secret.’
Immerse yourself in the well-scribed page of this intriguing novel. Laura Rahme ends her book with an Afterword that brings light into the French Revolution atrocities – a wise decision on her part to make the visit to that period even more memorable.
Australian French author Laura Rahme, born in Dakar, Senegal, is o f Lebanese, French and Vietnamese origins. Her degrees are in Engineering and Psychology and she has served as a web developer, analyst programmer and business analyst. Her published works include THE MING STORYTELLERS, THE MASCHERARI: A NOVEL OF VENICE and now JULIEN’S TERROR – stories that blend history and culture. She lives in Sydney, Australia.
Setting the tone for a novel based on historical fact succeeds best when the author recalls a timeframe with information about the period before launching into the story. Laura does precisely that – and does it well: ‘Nantes, November 1793 - Nantes on a silent November night. Nantes the crown of Brittany, more Breton than French, provincial at heart, worldly of mind – a giant of commerce, a proud maritime port. Now asleep. Nantes and her chateau, once the seat of a young queen, ruler of both France and Brittany. Nantes and her dark prestige, with her fleet of slave ships destined for continents of Africa and America. For over forty years, a leader among her sisters - Lorient, La Rochelle, and Bordeaux, in the sinister trade of black ebony. It was not too long ago that the Romans conquered her, dressed her in stone, paved her roads, and transformed her Loire River into a burgeoning trade channel. Nantes- and her river. In later centuries, the city saw the invading Vikings. They spread terror. They desecrated her monasteries. Their ships filled the Loire. Nantes, and her river. Now four years since the fall of the Bastille, a new terror has settled here, a terror dispatched from Paris. The events of this November night unfold during France’s Terror. A span of barely a year. Short, but it marks the Loire forever. Since October, the scourge of Nantes is that ex-lawyer, that monster, Jean-Baptiste Carrier. It is a name he has himself carved into the annals of crime through his violent nature and endless atrocities. But he is not alone. He receives orders from Paris, where the Committee of Public Safety urges him to purge Nantes. Purge Nantes. Nantes, and her river.’ The terror begins.
Laura condenses her long story in a brief synopsis – ‘FRANCE, 1794 - The Reign of Terror - Julien d'Aureville, a young boy from a broken home in Paris, meets a fugitive aristocrat who changes his life. As the Terror subsides and Napoleon rises to power, Julien's fortunes improve. Then he meets the mysterious Marguerite. Upon her marriage to Julien, Marguerite Lafolye has all a Parisian woman could ever wish. Yet something is not quite right. Is Marguerite hiding a dark secret? When she attempts to see into Marguerite, even the celebrated fortuneteller, Marie Anne Lenormand, cannot read her cards. From bourgeois Paris to the canals of Napoleon's Venice, Marguerite seems to be living a lie. Who is she really? What drives her obsession with the late Dauphin, Louis-Charles, son of Marie-Antoinette? Could the answer lie in a memory - in Nantes' orphanage, or in the hidden underground caves of war-torn Vendée, or else in the secret refuge of Gralas Forest, deep in Western France? Or could the answer be right here, in Paris, within the forbidding walls of the Temple Prison that Napoleon threatens to destroy, and where the Dauphin tragically perished. In this chilling psychological tale set in revolutionary France, a young couple confront their darkest fears. Looming above them, between healing and oblivion, lies the French Republic's most shocking secret.’
Immerse yourself in the well-scribed page of this intriguing novel. Laura Rahme ends her book with an Afterword that brings light into the French Revolution atrocities – a wise decision on her part to make the visit to that period even more memorable.
March 11, 2018
It isn’t often that you run into a book that takes place after the French Revolution. Many authors I guess feel they would have more fun writing about the turmoil, but I feel as if this is a crucial period that is great for author’s that love to dive into psychological stories. This is exactly what Rahme has done with this amazing novel. She certainly has a way with words that brings this time period to life in an impressive story that any historical fan will love. I admired the romance element of the storyline too, but really got into the way the character’s lived their lives based on the way they had to live during the Revolution. This book is exciting and will have you wanting to learn more about the French Revolution and the period just after it. You are certainly in for a treat with this book.
March 2, 2018
Heartbreaking and riveting tale
Julien’s Terror by Laura Rahm, is based in 1794 France and follows Julien d’Aureville and his wife Marguerite as they start their lives together. The story goes deep into the psychological effects of the French Revolution and the trauma both Julien and Marguerite suffered during their childhoods. Neither Julien or Marguerite want to face their past so they both try to bury it, until it festers and grows into a force that threatens to destroy everything they are.
The story brings to light a whole new side of the period in time, aside from what we were taught in the history books. It shows the true damage done to the people who lived through the terror and trauma, and were left to pick up the pieces and try to live their lives. The story has underlying mysteries that surround both Julien and Marguerite that keep you rivet. There are times it can be hard to read because it jumps between character narratives and goes back to both of their childhood then back to where they are in adulthood. But overall it’s a great book and well worth reading!
Julien’s Terror by Laura Rahm, is based in 1794 France and follows Julien d’Aureville and his wife Marguerite as they start their lives together. The story goes deep into the psychological effects of the French Revolution and the trauma both Julien and Marguerite suffered during their childhoods. Neither Julien or Marguerite want to face their past so they both try to bury it, until it festers and grows into a force that threatens to destroy everything they are.
The story brings to light a whole new side of the period in time, aside from what we were taught in the history books. It shows the true damage done to the people who lived through the terror and trauma, and were left to pick up the pieces and try to live their lives. The story has underlying mysteries that surround both Julien and Marguerite that keep you rivet. There are times it can be hard to read because it jumps between character narratives and goes back to both of their childhood then back to where they are in adulthood. But overall it’s a great book and well worth reading!
January 1, 2020
An excellent historical novel, perfect for any Francophile. I liked the history, mystery and bit of paranormal elements.
February 27, 2019
I came by this book through Bookatasters, in exchange for an honest review.
Julien's Terror got me from the very start, providing a gripping description of the events following the start of the French revolution and the inhumane treatment to which aristocrats were subjected to; with complex, strong and rather mysterious characters, as an audience you get invested in their lives, see through their eyes and care for everything they do. Definitely worth reading and discussing, Laura Rahme delivers a masterful historical portrait of a convoluted era, mystery and obsession surrounding the story, to the point of supernatural events ocurring.
Will for sure read other books by this author.
Julien's Terror got me from the very start, providing a gripping description of the events following the start of the French revolution and the inhumane treatment to which aristocrats were subjected to; with complex, strong and rather mysterious characters, as an audience you get invested in their lives, see through their eyes and care for everything they do. Definitely worth reading and discussing, Laura Rahme delivers a masterful historical portrait of a convoluted era, mystery and obsession surrounding the story, to the point of supernatural events ocurring.
Will for sure read other books by this author.
March 10, 2020
I don’t doubt that this is well written and impeccably researched, as are all of the author’s books, but I had the most difficult time remotely connecting with any of it. And it was only my love of her other works that gave me strength to push through.
February 12, 2026
In “Julien’s Terror”, Laura Rahme has written a novel that does far more than explore fear—it examines its origins and its consequences. Set against the moral collapse of Revolutionary France, this is a psychological historical novel that understands terror not as a single moment of violence, but as something slow, corrosive, and enduring. It is a book concerned with what history leaves behind, and with the quiet devastation borne by those who survive it.
From the opening pages, the prose establishes a grave and measured tone. The cities and landscapes of France are rendered with care and precision. Nantes is not merely a setting but a presence in its own right, its streets heavy with memory and complicity. The Loire, in particular, functions as a silent witness—absorbing what human voices cannot contain. This is historical fiction that treats place with seriousness, recognising that geography itself can carry moral weight.
The Terror is depicted with notable restraint. There is no reliance on spectacle or excess. Instead, violence unfolds through routine and authority: orders issued, bodies processed, dignity systematically stripped away. Rahme conveys with chilling clarity how cruelty becomes acceptable when ideology overrides conscience and obedience is rewarded. The effect is deeply unsettling precisely because it feels so plausible.
Especially powerful are the scenes involving Louis-Charles, the lost Dauphin. Rahme resists turning him into a political symbol or sentimental figure. He is presented, simply and devastatingly, as a neglected child whose physical and emotional decline occurs in isolation and silence. His fear of light, his inability to endure the outside world, and his gradual withdrawal from life are rendered without embellishment. These passages are among the novel’s most affecting, reminding the reader that some of the Revolution’s worst crimes took place away from crowds and guillotines, hidden behind locked doors.
The novel draws an illuminating parallel between the suffering of Louis-Charles and that of Marguerite Lafolye. Marguerite’s ordeal is defined by movement—flight, concealment, survival—while the Dauphin’s is marked by stillness and confinement. Marguerite is repeatedly told that his fate is worse, and this knowledge becomes an additional burden rather than a consolation. The comparison does not diminish her trauma; it deepens it. In doing so, the novel avoids simplistic hierarchies of suffering and instead demonstrates how deprivation and abandonment can be as destructive as overt violence.
The sections set in the underground caves of the Vendée are among the most quietly effective in the novel. Beneath a country in turmoil, the earth becomes a place of refuge. These hidden chambers, cold and with only a sliver of light, offer a fragile form of safety where silence is essential, and existence itself feels provisional. Life persists underground while destruction unfolds above it. Rahme handles these passages with restraint, allowing the physical conditions to speak for themselves and reinforcing the sense of a population forced to erase itself to endure.
Although the novel bears Julien’s name, its narrative scope extends well beyond a single viewpoint. Julien’s journey—from a troubled childhood in Paris to relative stability under Napoleon—provides an important structural thread, but the novel resists a narrow, protagonist-centred focus. Instead, it unfolds as a broader examination of shared trauma. Marguerite, in particular, emerges as a central moral presence. Her silences, memories, and unresolved past shape the emotional heart of the book, transforming it into a meditation on survival, identity, and inherited pain.
What distinguishes "Julien’s Terror" is its psychological acuity. Rahme understands that trauma does not end when danger recedes. It reappears in memory, in sound, and in obsession. The recurring motif of a crying child heard at night is used sparingly yet effectively, underscoring how the past continues to intrude upon the present. Terror, in this novel, is not confined to prisons or battlefields; it persists in domestic spaces and private thought.
The integration of Breton folklore adds an additional layer without undermining the novel’s historical grounding. These elements function less as supernatural interventions than as expressions of belief and fear when rational explanation fails. They enrich the atmosphere while remaining subordinate to emotional truth.
Rahme also demonstrates notable moral restraint. There are no easy villains and no reassuring resolutions. Revolutionaries and royalists alike are capable of cruelty, and ideals are shown to be dangerously malleable when separated from compassion. Yet the novel never descends into cynicism. Acts of loyalty and protection are given their due weight, even when history itself offers no reward.
“Julien’s Terror” is not an easy or hurried read. It demands attention and emotional engagement, but those willing to give it both will find a novel of depth, seriousness, and quiet power—one that treats its subject with respect and lingers in the mind long after the final page.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde
Yarde Book Promotions
From the opening pages, the prose establishes a grave and measured tone. The cities and landscapes of France are rendered with care and precision. Nantes is not merely a setting but a presence in its own right, its streets heavy with memory and complicity. The Loire, in particular, functions as a silent witness—absorbing what human voices cannot contain. This is historical fiction that treats place with seriousness, recognising that geography itself can carry moral weight.
The Terror is depicted with notable restraint. There is no reliance on spectacle or excess. Instead, violence unfolds through routine and authority: orders issued, bodies processed, dignity systematically stripped away. Rahme conveys with chilling clarity how cruelty becomes acceptable when ideology overrides conscience and obedience is rewarded. The effect is deeply unsettling precisely because it feels so plausible.
Especially powerful are the scenes involving Louis-Charles, the lost Dauphin. Rahme resists turning him into a political symbol or sentimental figure. He is presented, simply and devastatingly, as a neglected child whose physical and emotional decline occurs in isolation and silence. His fear of light, his inability to endure the outside world, and his gradual withdrawal from life are rendered without embellishment. These passages are among the novel’s most affecting, reminding the reader that some of the Revolution’s worst crimes took place away from crowds and guillotines, hidden behind locked doors.
The novel draws an illuminating parallel between the suffering of Louis-Charles and that of Marguerite Lafolye. Marguerite’s ordeal is defined by movement—flight, concealment, survival—while the Dauphin’s is marked by stillness and confinement. Marguerite is repeatedly told that his fate is worse, and this knowledge becomes an additional burden rather than a consolation. The comparison does not diminish her trauma; it deepens it. In doing so, the novel avoids simplistic hierarchies of suffering and instead demonstrates how deprivation and abandonment can be as destructive as overt violence.
The sections set in the underground caves of the Vendée are among the most quietly effective in the novel. Beneath a country in turmoil, the earth becomes a place of refuge. These hidden chambers, cold and with only a sliver of light, offer a fragile form of safety where silence is essential, and existence itself feels provisional. Life persists underground while destruction unfolds above it. Rahme handles these passages with restraint, allowing the physical conditions to speak for themselves and reinforcing the sense of a population forced to erase itself to endure.
Although the novel bears Julien’s name, its narrative scope extends well beyond a single viewpoint. Julien’s journey—from a troubled childhood in Paris to relative stability under Napoleon—provides an important structural thread, but the novel resists a narrow, protagonist-centred focus. Instead, it unfolds as a broader examination of shared trauma. Marguerite, in particular, emerges as a central moral presence. Her silences, memories, and unresolved past shape the emotional heart of the book, transforming it into a meditation on survival, identity, and inherited pain.
What distinguishes "Julien’s Terror" is its psychological acuity. Rahme understands that trauma does not end when danger recedes. It reappears in memory, in sound, and in obsession. The recurring motif of a crying child heard at night is used sparingly yet effectively, underscoring how the past continues to intrude upon the present. Terror, in this novel, is not confined to prisons or battlefields; it persists in domestic spaces and private thought.
The integration of Breton folklore adds an additional layer without undermining the novel’s historical grounding. These elements function less as supernatural interventions than as expressions of belief and fear when rational explanation fails. They enrich the atmosphere while remaining subordinate to emotional truth.
Rahme also demonstrates notable moral restraint. There are no easy villains and no reassuring resolutions. Revolutionaries and royalists alike are capable of cruelty, and ideals are shown to be dangerously malleable when separated from compassion. Yet the novel never descends into cynicism. Acts of loyalty and protection are given their due weight, even when history itself offers no reward.
“Julien’s Terror” is not an easy or hurried read. It demands attention and emotional engagement, but those willing to give it both will find a novel of depth, seriousness, and quiet power—one that treats its subject with respect and lingers in the mind long after the final page.
Review by Mary Anne Yarde
Yarde Book Promotions
August 30, 2018
Great book
May 10, 2019
Julien's Terror is an amazingly detailed historical context into the travesties, insane inhumane ways of the elitist pompous attitude of the French bourgeois. The book takes you through the melting pot of Europe in the late 1700's, early 1800's, which is amazingly accurate for today's world and the issues that are created through mass refugees and mass immigration which many countries are facing today, including myself in Canada. This also reflects the by-products of high masses, for example, unsanitary conditions, lack of jobs, lack of justice which also reflects the injustices people face than and now. This novel truly reflects the great lengths people than and sadly, again now are going through just to survive; today like eloquently pointed out in the French society during pre-revolution and revolution people went through extreme poverty, unemployment, starvation and so the rich get richer due to their sense of entitlement at the hands of the poor is a testament to harsh conditions than which again are reflected in today's society.
If your looking for a read that amazingly reflects the hard times of today's society at the hands of the rich, Julien's Terror and his ability to survive at times by his mere existent that parallels life for many in today's melting pot society this your book.
Julien takes us with him down a road that allows us to reflect on our own society and how things really have not changed that much in the sense of surviving the globalists, capitalistic demands of the rich.
If your looking for a read that amazingly reflects the hard times of today's society at the hands of the rich, Julien's Terror and his ability to survive at times by his mere existent that parallels life for many in today's melting pot society this your book.
Julien takes us with him down a road that allows us to reflect on our own society and how things really have not changed that much in the sense of surviving the globalists, capitalistic demands of the rich.
May 4, 2019
It took me a little while to get into this novel, but once I did, it quickly became a page-turner. The book is filled with romance, war, fear, psychological struggles, the challenges faced by people who lived during the French revolution, and so much more.
At first, the relationship between Julien and Marguerite seems a bit superficial. He seems interested in her beauty, but not much else. As the story unfolds, you begin to unravel their stories, see how many difficulties they faced growing up and understand how their past is affecting their present.
One character I really loved was Guillaume, Marguerite's uncle. He was a steadfast character who played in an important role in both Julien and Marguerites life. I love that he took a risk to help young Julien and feed him. I wish we got to see even more of his character development throughout the novel. I appreciated the addition of female warriors during one of the later scenes, as it shows the women are bold and can take action to support local people.
The book really picked up for me when the characters' stories are finally beginning to unfold for the reader. Overall, I enjoyed the novel and appreciated the rich, heavily-researched storylines in the book.
**I received this book from Book Tasters in exchange for an honest review.**
At first, the relationship between Julien and Marguerite seems a bit superficial. He seems interested in her beauty, but not much else. As the story unfolds, you begin to unravel their stories, see how many difficulties they faced growing up and understand how their past is affecting their present.
One character I really loved was Guillaume, Marguerite's uncle. He was a steadfast character who played in an important role in both Julien and Marguerites life. I love that he took a risk to help young Julien and feed him. I wish we got to see even more of his character development throughout the novel. I appreciated the addition of female warriors during one of the later scenes, as it shows the women are bold and can take action to support local people.
The book really picked up for me when the characters' stories are finally beginning to unfold for the reader. Overall, I enjoyed the novel and appreciated the rich, heavily-researched storylines in the book.
**I received this book from Book Tasters in exchange for an honest review.**
March 9, 2019
This novel is not for everyone. A certain amount of intelligence and education is required by the reader. Dubbed a work of psychological thriller and mystery, I found it to be more akin to literary fiction and historical drama. The language and description are on par with classical western European literature.
The work feels like a book you would find in a boutique bookstore with a dark cover, gold lettering, and gilded pages. It is full bodied and unapologetically stoic. The depiction of the time speaks heavy with grit, realism, and goosebump chilling horror. Grotesque imagery portrays the terrors of the period with authenticity and poise.
Of note is the disjointed nature of the chapters. Transitions of the flow of time are jutted and abrasive. While the book centers on Julien and Marguerite, the vastness of characters mentioned detracts from the beautiful darkness and grit of the book.
The work is well researched and the author’s knowledge and authority is evident.
Overall, intrigue and gothic imagery create a novel of worth, leaving the reader with a glimpse into the lugubrious time of French history.
The work feels like a book you would find in a boutique bookstore with a dark cover, gold lettering, and gilded pages. It is full bodied and unapologetically stoic. The depiction of the time speaks heavy with grit, realism, and goosebump chilling horror. Grotesque imagery portrays the terrors of the period with authenticity and poise.
Of note is the disjointed nature of the chapters. Transitions of the flow of time are jutted and abrasive. While the book centers on Julien and Marguerite, the vastness of characters mentioned detracts from the beautiful darkness and grit of the book.
The work is well researched and the author’s knowledge and authority is evident.
Overall, intrigue and gothic imagery create a novel of worth, leaving the reader with a glimpse into the lugubrious time of French history.
March 17, 2019
Gripping from start to finish
As this is the first book I’ve read about this region and time, I was delighted to learn more about the French Revolution and the First Republic, but what I did not expect was to read such a compelling story of two people traumatized by the terrors of that time. Beginning with young Julien, desperately trying to survive and help his mother Charlotte on the violent streets of Paris during the reign of terror, and snapshots of Nantes, where a young Marguerite would suffer her parents’ death and her displacement, Laura Rohme takes us on a journey through hardship, love, and forgiveness. Over the span of just over a lives of Julien and Marguerite will join, but not without revisiting the past and their own terror of their childhoods. The history is rich and well documented, and the storytelling is captivating. I could hardly put the book down.
As this is the first book I’ve read about this region and time, I was delighted to learn more about the French Revolution and the First Republic, but what I did not expect was to read such a compelling story of two people traumatized by the terrors of that time. Beginning with young Julien, desperately trying to survive and help his mother Charlotte on the violent streets of Paris during the reign of terror, and snapshots of Nantes, where a young Marguerite would suffer her parents’ death and her displacement, Laura Rohme takes us on a journey through hardship, love, and forgiveness. Over the span of just over a lives of Julien and Marguerite will join, but not without revisiting the past and their own terror of their childhoods. The history is rich and well documented, and the storytelling is captivating. I could hardly put the book down.
June 8, 2020
I liked all the details of life in France during and after the Revolution. I particularly liked the details about life for the Bretons. However, things dragged on longer than they needed to and I lost interest after a while. I also had a hard time really liking any of the main characters.
May 27, 2023
Such a good read, read only on the basis of a recent trip to Nantes otherwise would never have found it, and glad I did
November 15, 2024
What a good read! French Revolution and psychological thriller!
February 15, 2018
A story that holds a special place in my heart and is tied to a deep love for France. Make no mistake, France itself is a character - like the main character, it has its flaws, it makes mistakes, it is troubled and in this story, it is fragile and on a journey to growth.
I wrote Julien's Terror after quitting a full time job with no publisher in sight. It took courage. This book compelled me like no other. It wanted to exist. It was born of long walks by the sea in my then home in Coogee. It is sprinkled with elements I personally enjoy in a story: depth, mystery, psychological twists, wit, historical insights, intrigue and a touch of the mystical.
I have been told it is my best novel so perhaps something worked...
I wrote Julien's Terror after quitting a full time job with no publisher in sight. It took courage. This book compelled me like no other. It wanted to exist. It was born of long walks by the sea in my then home in Coogee. It is sprinkled with elements I personally enjoy in a story: depth, mystery, psychological twists, wit, historical insights, intrigue and a touch of the mystical.
I have been told it is my best novel so perhaps something worked...
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April 19, 2018Awful
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