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Hall of Mirrors
The year is 1682, and the place is the palace of Versailles, where the Sun King, Louis the Fourteenth, reigns supreme over four thousand resident courtiers. Their social and political lives are intricately intertwined within a rigid hierarchy of etiquette.
Behind the brilliant facade of lavish festivities lies a shadowy world of intrigue, promiscuity, sorcery, and murder.
When human remains and a silver locket are unearthed on the neighboring estate of her husband’s lover, the duchess Elisabeth Charlotte d’Orleans investigates their origin and jeopardizes her own safety when her discoveries lead to the criminal involvement of her most powerful enemies at court.
Behind the brilliant facade of lavish festivities lies a shadowy world of intrigue, promiscuity, sorcery, and murder.
When human remains and a silver locket are unearthed on the neighboring estate of her husband’s lover, the duchess Elisabeth Charlotte d’Orleans investigates their origin and jeopardizes her own safety when her discoveries lead to the criminal involvement of her most powerful enemies at court.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2021
172 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
September 2, 2021
The story is set at Versailles (France) during the reign of Louis XIV, the Sun king.
A lady in waiting (Mathilde) finds a locket that is bound to some horrible events. Mathilde informs her friend Catherine about the find and an investigation is started. The ladies they’re serving also get involved and we get to read about all the intriges at the Royal Court. Vengeance, love, a little spice and that’s the basis for this story!
Enjoyed reading this book & loved that the author used real characters (prominent historical figures) in this story.
A lady in waiting (Mathilde) finds a locket that is bound to some horrible events. Mathilde informs her friend Catherine about the find and an investigation is started. The ladies they’re serving also get involved and we get to read about all the intriges at the Royal Court. Vengeance, love, a little spice and that’s the basis for this story!
Enjoyed reading this book & loved that the author used real characters (prominent historical figures) in this story.
December 8, 2021
The words that come to mind when describing the pre-Revolution era of French royalty/aristocracy are gilded glamour, opulence, decadence and debauchery. Roxanne Lalande manages to bring all these aspects of the French aristocracy to life in this book of suspense set at Versailles in the reign of the Sun King, King Louis XIV. Quite a lot of historical persons and events are brought together with a few fictional characters and events to create the plot of murder and intrigue involving a secret society of men known for their acts of grotesque debauchery. The names of the historical characters and their backgrounds were very complicated to remember and it took me a bit of Googling to get the gist of who was who in history. The secret society mentioned actually existed as well!
The best part about the book was the author's description of the gilded court of King Louis XIV and the obscenely lavish parties/masquerades thrown by him while the lack of a proper conclusion to the investigation into the murders/ intrigue was a let down. It just seemed that all that work put into trying to solve the mystery and demasking the guilty parties was for nothing in the end. The one person I came to really like was the Duchess Elisabeth Charlotte d'Orleans who takes it upon herself to investigate the mystery. A brave, spunky lady indeed.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher The Book Whisperer and the author Roxanne Lalande for providing me with an e-Arc of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫
The best part about the book was the author's description of the gilded court of King Louis XIV and the obscenely lavish parties/masquerades thrown by him while the lack of a proper conclusion to the investigation into the murders/ intrigue was a let down. It just seemed that all that work put into trying to solve the mystery and demasking the guilty parties was for nothing in the end. The one person I came to really like was the Duchess Elisabeth Charlotte d'Orleans who takes it upon herself to investigate the mystery. A brave, spunky lady indeed.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher The Book Whisperer and the author Roxanne Lalande for providing me with an e-Arc of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫
April 7, 2022
dnf @ 55%.
I was expecting so much more from this book. the summary makes it sound like a highly interesting novel.
the characters were boring, and I couldn't connect to them. there wasn't anything that really sparked my interest, neither through the characters or the plot.
I was expecting so much more from this book. the summary makes it sound like a highly interesting novel.
the characters were boring, and I couldn't connect to them. there wasn't anything that really sparked my interest, neither through the characters or the plot.
August 13, 2021
A rambling mess of a story. If you want to read a novel about the dark side of the gliitering court of the Sun King then you are better off reading Judith Merkle Riley's Oracle Glass.
August 5, 2021
The Duke of Saint-Simon, the best scandal monger and
genial chronicler of the court of Louis XIV, would have been very proud of Ms Lalande's astonishing and brillant novel about the dangerous world of Versailles at the tail-end of the 17th century and its atmosphere of lust, hate, envy and very poisonous intents, a royal golden trap where undigested slights, underhandness, bitchiness and smoldering jealousies reign supreme.
A cesspool of very devious sycophants and deceitful snakes in the entourage of the king's brother Philippe, the suspicious death of the latter's first wife, the beautiful Henriette Stuart and some malevolent secrets discovered by Liselotte, his second wife are at the center of this magnificent novel build with a plot as twisty as the many corridors of the royal palace and blessed with a cast of unprepossessing and disgusting characters.
I just loved this novel and I must definitely command its author for the amount of research she must have done prior to diving into its writing. Bravo👏👏
A higly recommended historical thriller elegantly written & a boisterous tale of Royal shenanigans.
Hopefully this wonderful novel will be translated into French. I do hope so!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the Book Whisperer for this terrific ARC
,
genial chronicler of the court of Louis XIV, would have been very proud of Ms Lalande's astonishing and brillant novel about the dangerous world of Versailles at the tail-end of the 17th century and its atmosphere of lust, hate, envy and very poisonous intents, a royal golden trap where undigested slights, underhandness, bitchiness and smoldering jealousies reign supreme.
A cesspool of very devious sycophants and deceitful snakes in the entourage of the king's brother Philippe, the suspicious death of the latter's first wife, the beautiful Henriette Stuart and some malevolent secrets discovered by Liselotte, his second wife are at the center of this magnificent novel build with a plot as twisty as the many corridors of the royal palace and blessed with a cast of unprepossessing and disgusting characters.
I just loved this novel and I must definitely command its author for the amount of research she must have done prior to diving into its writing. Bravo👏👏
A higly recommended historical thriller elegantly written & a boisterous tale of Royal shenanigans.
Hopefully this wonderful novel will be translated into French. I do hope so!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the Book Whisperer for this terrific ARC
,
September 1, 2021
The Silver Locket
When Mathilde finds a silver locket while sheltering in an old ruin with her friend Robin she doesn’t know the can of worms she has just opened.
The story is a mystery which four young people try to solve with the help of the girls employers. Caroline and Mathilde are handmaidens to a royal family. Robin is next in line for a title when his Uncle is gone and Chretien is the son of the groundskeeper. Quite an unlikely set of sleuths.
They will discover items and circumstances which will shock and disgust them. They will find out that their families , especially Robins, are hiding dark secrets.
Although they seek to find the secret of the locket and how it is linked to the murders they will never know the real story. The story twists and turns and you will not guess how it ends.
This is a mystery of royal families , hidden secrets, betrayals and jealousies. It is a story of mystery and of intrigue. The book was different than what I usually read, but it was a good book.
Thanks to Roxanne Lalande, The Book Whisperer, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy for my honest review.
When Mathilde finds a silver locket while sheltering in an old ruin with her friend Robin she doesn’t know the can of worms she has just opened.
The story is a mystery which four young people try to solve with the help of the girls employers. Caroline and Mathilde are handmaidens to a royal family. Robin is next in line for a title when his Uncle is gone and Chretien is the son of the groundskeeper. Quite an unlikely set of sleuths.
They will discover items and circumstances which will shock and disgust them. They will find out that their families , especially Robins, are hiding dark secrets.
Although they seek to find the secret of the locket and how it is linked to the murders they will never know the real story. The story twists and turns and you will not guess how it ends.
This is a mystery of royal families , hidden secrets, betrayals and jealousies. It is a story of mystery and of intrigue. The book was different than what I usually read, but it was a good book.
Thanks to Roxanne Lalande, The Book Whisperer, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy for my honest review.
July 22, 2021
Anything with the Sun King and Versailles featured is likely to please me, especially one written as well as this. This novel features the second Madame, the second wife of Monsieur, and of course the Chevalier de Lorraine. I was fortunate in that I received an ARC from netgalley.
August 6, 2021
Hall of Mirrors by Roxanne Lalalnde is a historical mystery fiction set in Versailles, France. The plot has been drawn incredibly great with keeping in mind the history. It created an environment of thrill right from the start. Romance and thrill has been mixed well. But, I was little disappointed with the climax. I expected it to be more terrifying. But, eventually the revelations just slumped.
The author has tried to provide with a mind blowing twist, but for me it didn't worked out. But, I will give the book 4 stars hoping that the author will surely bring out a sequel for the unanswered questions.
To read full review, please visit bibliophileverse.blogspot.com
The author has tried to provide with a mind blowing twist, but for me it didn't worked out. But, I will give the book 4 stars hoping that the author will surely bring out a sequel for the unanswered questions.
To read full review, please visit bibliophileverse.blogspot.com
November 14, 2021
Wow, this is a gorgeous read. I love the setting and how detailed it is. A very entertaining and enjoyable read.
I just reviewed Hall of Mirrors by Roxanne Lalande. #HallofMirrors #NetGalley
I just reviewed Hall of Mirrors by Roxanne Lalande. #HallofMirrors #NetGalley
October 2, 2021
Roxanne Lalande’s “Hall of Mirrors: A Spellbinding Intrigue Set in the Court of Louis XIV” is an interesting mystery ground in the intrigue of the court.
Set in the Palace of Versailles, Court of Sun King, Louis the XIV. Amidst the lush and opulent surroundings of the Court lies, intrigue, deception, promiscuity, sorcery, a secret society and murder.
Duchess Elizabeth Charlotte d’Orleans, the ostracized second wife of the King’s brother is determined to uncover the secrets and perhaps why her husband‘s first wife died, when human remains and a silver locket are found on the estate next to the palace of Versailles. She and her staff set out to discover the story behind the find.
I loved the authors account of historical figures and the machinations of court life. The premise for the story was excellent, well written and the authors research was impeccable. The mystery was interesting but the reveals lacked something. All in all it’s an intriguing story. I did enjoy reading about the court life.
Thank you so much Ms. Lalande for this story. An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the Palace of Versailles, Court of Sun King, Louis the XIV. Amidst the lush and opulent surroundings of the Court lies, intrigue, deception, promiscuity, sorcery, a secret society and murder.
Duchess Elizabeth Charlotte d’Orleans, the ostracized second wife of the King’s brother is determined to uncover the secrets and perhaps why her husband‘s first wife died, when human remains and a silver locket are found on the estate next to the palace of Versailles. She and her staff set out to discover the story behind the find.
I loved the authors account of historical figures and the machinations of court life. The premise for the story was excellent, well written and the authors research was impeccable. The mystery was interesting but the reveals lacked something. All in all it’s an intriguing story. I did enjoy reading about the court life.
Thank you so much Ms. Lalande for this story. An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2021
Smoldering beneath the glamour of the Sun King's Versailles lurks danger and courtly intrigue. The walls have ears, rumour spreads fast and vile, jealousies, secrets, dead bodies. This novel is full of dark secrets and surprises and, of course, some little romance as well. At its center is Elizabeth Charlotte (Liselotte), second wife of Phillippe d'Orleans, brother of Louis XIV, who wants to find the truth about her predecessor's death: was it murder that killed Henrietta Stuart, as she suspects, or was it caused by illness, as the court physicians maintain? If it was murder, who killed her?
This novel was extremely well researched, down to the many long letters Liselotte wrote in real life. I'm curious, whether some of them are original. I was captivated by the author's descriptions of the OTHER Versailles, of the need to shine, to please the king, to lead a life wholly in service to the king's whims and in defense against so many enemies. Not only was the book well researched and intelligently written, it was also immaculately edited and proofread. Liselotte was alive in these pages, and I could feel her fear, ennui, and disgust. Not so with the other persons: Mathilde and Catherine, Robin and Chrétien appeared somewhat colourless to me. At times, the story also lost momentum, but then picked up again to reach its surprising (and saddening) finale. I felt most sorry for Liselotte at the end.
I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to all those readers who look for veracity in their historical novels. Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Whisperer for an enjoyable ARC; opinions are my own.
This novel was extremely well researched, down to the many long letters Liselotte wrote in real life. I'm curious, whether some of them are original. I was captivated by the author's descriptions of the OTHER Versailles, of the need to shine, to please the king, to lead a life wholly in service to the king's whims and in defense against so many enemies. Not only was the book well researched and intelligently written, it was also immaculately edited and proofread. Liselotte was alive in these pages, and I could feel her fear, ennui, and disgust. Not so with the other persons: Mathilde and Catherine, Robin and Chrétien appeared somewhat colourless to me. At times, the story also lost momentum, but then picked up again to reach its surprising (and saddening) finale. I felt most sorry for Liselotte at the end.
I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to all those readers who look for veracity in their historical novels. Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Whisperer for an enjoyable ARC; opinions are my own.
August 3, 2021
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The description of this book was extremely interesting and exciting, but the actual book fell flat. The intrigue at Versailles was well portrayed, and I enjoyed the insight into the world of the ladies in waiting and the servants. Some of the plot points that should have been shocking and suspenseful were described in very tame, matter-of-fact ways, such as the initial discovery of the charred human remains. I liked the inclusion of letters, but since they were mostly one way, the sense of a correspondence was lost. Also, a scene that I would have anticipated as being the climax was described only in a letter, which led to a very underwhelming sense of closure. The last chapter was probably the most exciting part. Overall, the pacing was fine.
The characters on their own were not too exciting, and some seemed to be mostly caricatures. The dialogue between them sometimes felt exaggerated and overdone. I did appreciate the inclusion of several well-known historical figures, such as Henriette of England Julie d'Aubigny. This book's greatest strength is its portrayal of the atmosphere of backstabbing and shifting alliances in Versailles. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about Versailles, court life in the late 1600s, and tensions between France, Germany, and England. As far as a mystery, suspense, or thriller, this book falls flat, but it is an effective historical depiction.
The description of this book was extremely interesting and exciting, but the actual book fell flat. The intrigue at Versailles was well portrayed, and I enjoyed the insight into the world of the ladies in waiting and the servants. Some of the plot points that should have been shocking and suspenseful were described in very tame, matter-of-fact ways, such as the initial discovery of the charred human remains. I liked the inclusion of letters, but since they were mostly one way, the sense of a correspondence was lost. Also, a scene that I would have anticipated as being the climax was described only in a letter, which led to a very underwhelming sense of closure. The last chapter was probably the most exciting part. Overall, the pacing was fine.
The characters on their own were not too exciting, and some seemed to be mostly caricatures. The dialogue between them sometimes felt exaggerated and overdone. I did appreciate the inclusion of several well-known historical figures, such as Henriette of England Julie d'Aubigny. This book's greatest strength is its portrayal of the atmosphere of backstabbing and shifting alliances in Versailles. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about Versailles, court life in the late 1600s, and tensions between France, Germany, and England. As far as a mystery, suspense, or thriller, this book falls flat, but it is an effective historical depiction.
September 20, 2021
The Hall of Mirrors has a perfectly delicious setting for an intriguing thriller: a murder mystery at the palace of Versailles under Louis XIV. In this setting, the discovery of human remains and a mysterious locket compels Elisabeth Charlotte d’Orleans to investigate and uncover a troubling secret that potentially puts her own life in danger.
While the set-up is fine, the book itself was disappointing for me. There's too much going on and the writing was often confusing in addition to feeling too stilted, which makes the story feel more casual rather than urgent--something needed to propel the story when writing about murders, secrets, and other thrilling topics. Far too often the most shocking or intriguing parts of the story were relegated to letters which described the events to the intended recipient, robbing them of their impact. Unfortunately, this gave the book an overall slow, colorless feeling for me.
I did like the emphasis on the frustrating nature of life at the court of Versailles under Louis XIV, with strict impositions, a constant focus on the desires of Louis XIV, the need to be constantly on your toes, deal with gossip which has the potential to ruin your life, etc. I just wish the book's primary murder mystery had as much life as the sections focusing on the psychological impact of living at Versailles.
[I received a copy of this work from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
While the set-up is fine, the book itself was disappointing for me. There's too much going on and the writing was often confusing in addition to feeling too stilted, which makes the story feel more casual rather than urgent--something needed to propel the story when writing about murders, secrets, and other thrilling topics. Far too often the most shocking or intriguing parts of the story were relegated to letters which described the events to the intended recipient, robbing them of their impact. Unfortunately, this gave the book an overall slow, colorless feeling for me.
I did like the emphasis on the frustrating nature of life at the court of Versailles under Louis XIV, with strict impositions, a constant focus on the desires of Louis XIV, the need to be constantly on your toes, deal with gossip which has the potential to ruin your life, etc. I just wish the book's primary murder mystery had as much life as the sections focusing on the psychological impact of living at Versailles.
[I received a copy of this work from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
April 22, 2022
Hall of Mirrors by Roxanne Lalande has the perfect setting for a murder mystery – the court at Versailles under the rule of the Sun King, Louis XIV. In a place where conspiracies and hidden plots were part of the norm, the discovery of human remains and a mysterious locket compel Elisabeth Charlotte d’Orleans to delve further into the mystery behind them.
My dearest reader, I so wanted to like Hall of Mirrors but unfortunately, it was disappointing. With so many characters it was difficult to keep track of what exactly was going on and to who it was happening. This is especially true since many of the characters have more than one name or title and could be called one or the other. The writing was confusing at times and the dialogue often had a stilted feel to it. Character information was often given in huge chunks of dialogue which I presume is meant to feel like listening to gossip but comes across more like clunky info dumps.
While I did enjoy reading about life at Versailles under Louis XIV and how frustrating it could sometimes be, it would have been nice if the main murder mystery plot had been given the same attention.
October 2, 2021
I am interested in pre-revolutionary France, especially the rule of the Sun King, and have been ever since I read Roasalind Laker’s To Dance with Kings, then there was the interesting Versailles series that aired a couple of years ago, so I was happy to get a copy of Hall of Mirrors.
The story follows Mathilde and Robin as they discover a locket and a burned body at the estate of Robin’s uncle. This starts a mystery that Mathilde is determined to solve with the help of her friends and her Mistress, the second wife of Phillipe Duc D’Orleans, Elizabeth Charlotte, also known as Liselotte. Liselotte does not fit in well at Versailles or as Phillipe’s wife (of course women were not his forte) and she feels that she is always in the shadow of his first wife Henrietta, the sister of Charles the second. Henrietta died young and in mysterious circumstances, some whisper that she was murdered by a jealous lover of Phiilip’s.
I enjoyed the book. I love the time period and the story was engaging. For fan’s of historical fiction, I would recommend giving this book a try.
Thanks to Netgalley, The Book Whisperer and the author Roxanne Lalande for the chance to read and review this book.
The story follows Mathilde and Robin as they discover a locket and a burned body at the estate of Robin’s uncle. This starts a mystery that Mathilde is determined to solve with the help of her friends and her Mistress, the second wife of Phillipe Duc D’Orleans, Elizabeth Charlotte, also known as Liselotte. Liselotte does not fit in well at Versailles or as Phillipe’s wife (of course women were not his forte) and she feels that she is always in the shadow of his first wife Henrietta, the sister of Charles the second. Henrietta died young and in mysterious circumstances, some whisper that she was murdered by a jealous lover of Phiilip’s.
I enjoyed the book. I love the time period and the story was engaging. For fan’s of historical fiction, I would recommend giving this book a try.
Thanks to Netgalley, The Book Whisperer and the author Roxanne Lalande for the chance to read and review this book.
January 21, 2022
Look at this fantastic cover!! It’s so beautiful.
I’m really new to the Historical Fiction and am trying to jump around to different era’s and see which I like the most.
Since I’m not a history buff, I can sometimes get lost if there is assumed information as part of the story, or if there are a lot of historical characters used that the reader is expected to know about.
This story takes place in the 1600’s at the palace of Versailles. And I swear, every other character was named Louis! 😂
But what actually drew me in was this mystery about a found locket and charred remains. I thought this would be a great storyline for my brain that loves Thrillers and Mysteries.
Unfortunately, I got lost in the story trying to figure out all the characters and their strange relationships. The mystery slid to the background.
There were some strange editing issues throughout the book as well as descriptions that didn’t stay consistent for characters, which made it more confusing for me overall.
If your like royal court drama and intrigue and understand a bit of French history, I’m guessing this would be a fun read for you.
Thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
I’m really new to the Historical Fiction and am trying to jump around to different era’s and see which I like the most.
Since I’m not a history buff, I can sometimes get lost if there is assumed information as part of the story, or if there are a lot of historical characters used that the reader is expected to know about.
This story takes place in the 1600’s at the palace of Versailles. And I swear, every other character was named Louis! 😂
But what actually drew me in was this mystery about a found locket and charred remains. I thought this would be a great storyline for my brain that loves Thrillers and Mysteries.
Unfortunately, I got lost in the story trying to figure out all the characters and their strange relationships. The mystery slid to the background.
There were some strange editing issues throughout the book as well as descriptions that didn’t stay consistent for characters, which made it more confusing for me overall.
If your like royal court drama and intrigue and understand a bit of French history, I’m guessing this would be a fun read for you.
Thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
August 5, 2021
When you are interested in the Louis the XVI-era or were a fan of the Versailles series on TV and like to read detectives this is the book for you. To me as a layperson who is just a hobby historian it felt historically correct.
One day one lad-in-waiting is about to have her first sexual tryst somewhere in the woods near a ruined cottage when she feels something poking into her back (NOOOOOO not that!). It turns out to be a golden cross. Looking around they also find a human skull. But when the girl and her colleague lady in waiting come back it is gone. With the help of a commoner they discover more gruesome things. Their mistresses, two German princesses now one married to Monsieur the gay brother of the king and the other to the bore that is his son, also join in the search for the culprits.
I am not sure if the fact that I knew quite a bit of the historical figures helped or not when reading this book. I knew the scandals and what happened to whom what eliminates culprits but I guess that for a blank canvas reader it might on the other hand be difficult to grasp who is who while I was like "Oh yes that @sshole"
One day one lad-in-waiting is about to have her first sexual tryst somewhere in the woods near a ruined cottage when she feels something poking into her back (NOOOOOO not that!). It turns out to be a golden cross. Looking around they also find a human skull. But when the girl and her colleague lady in waiting come back it is gone. With the help of a commoner they discover more gruesome things. Their mistresses, two German princesses now one married to Monsieur the gay brother of the king and the other to the bore that is his son, also join in the search for the culprits.
I am not sure if the fact that I knew quite a bit of the historical figures helped or not when reading this book. I knew the scandals and what happened to whom what eliminates culprits but I guess that for a blank canvas reader it might on the other hand be difficult to grasp who is who while I was like "Oh yes that @sshole"
August 17, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Whisperer for providing me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review
CW: This book contains frequent mentions of childhood sexual assult.
It was obvious that a lot of historical research went into this book. The setting of Louis XIV Versalles was so well done that even in this work of fiction I felt like there were things to learn.I agree with the reviews that say this is a gripping story. Especially in the beginning I was quite taken with it and drawn in.
However, I did not love the author's frequent use of idioms and other common phrases. I looked up a few of them and found that they were in fact old enough to have been used at the time (ex. "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush") but all of these common phrases kept pulling me out of the story. My other dislike was that I thought a few too many big reviels happened off-stage and were later retold for us readers. That's why I rated it three stars, an average book, and not more. I can see why some people have really liked it though. I would suggest giving this book a try if you have any particuliar interest in the reign of Louis XIV.
CW: This book contains frequent mentions of childhood sexual assult.
It was obvious that a lot of historical research went into this book. The setting of Louis XIV Versalles was so well done that even in this work of fiction I felt like there were things to learn.I agree with the reviews that say this is a gripping story. Especially in the beginning I was quite taken with it and drawn in.
However, I did not love the author's frequent use of idioms and other common phrases. I looked up a few of them and found that they were in fact old enough to have been used at the time (ex. "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush") but all of these common phrases kept pulling me out of the story. My other dislike was that I thought a few too many big reviels happened off-stage and were later retold for us readers. That's why I rated it three stars, an average book, and not more. I can see why some people have really liked it though. I would suggest giving this book a try if you have any particuliar interest in the reign of Louis XIV.
October 4, 2021
Fans of good historical fiction … this is your book.
A well written well designed plot that accurately reflect the dangerous intrigues of Louis XIV court.
A mystery around a silver locket peppered with lust power and jealousies. I was transported.
I have bathed in the royal French history and felt that the life at the palace was correctly portrayed. The historical facts were solid (which unfortunately is not always the case for historical fiction) and the suspense kept my interest. There wasn’t a mind blowing big reveal but it was adequate.
I would definitively recommend this novel.
Thank you to The Book Whisperer and to Roxanne Lalande and for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. It was my true pleasure.
A well written well designed plot that accurately reflect the dangerous intrigues of Louis XIV court.
A mystery around a silver locket peppered with lust power and jealousies. I was transported.
I have bathed in the royal French history and felt that the life at the palace was correctly portrayed. The historical facts were solid (which unfortunately is not always the case for historical fiction) and the suspense kept my interest. There wasn’t a mind blowing big reveal but it was adequate.
I would definitively recommend this novel.
Thank you to The Book Whisperer and to Roxanne Lalande and for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review. It was my true pleasure.
November 10, 2021
The synopsis for Hall of Mirrors was very intriguing and the cover is beautiful and fitting. Unfortunately, the book didn't live up to my expectations. Having so many characters quickly introduced in the first few chapters made it difficult to remember who they were. The constant switching of how some characters were referred to made it unnecessarily confusing. The backstories were executed well, but I never felt connected to any of the characters and they lacked depth.
I think Hall of Mirrors would be a good TV show, but unfortunately the book fell short.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I think Hall of Mirrors would be a good TV show, but unfortunately the book fell short.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 11, 2021
1682. Versailles When bones and a locket are discovered by her lady-in-waiting Elisabeth Charlotte d'Orleans investigates will the help of various staff. She puts herself in danger by wanting to discover the truth behind the death of her husband's first wife.
Interesting to read aabout life in and around Versailles, which I would have preferred to have read as a separate story, but there was not enough of a mystery for me.
Overall an interesting and well-written enjoyable read.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Interesting to read aabout life in and around Versailles, which I would have preferred to have read as a separate story, but there was not enough of a mystery for me.
Overall an interesting and well-written enjoyable read.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2021
A historical murder mystery set in the court of King Louis XIV in Versaille, the seat of opulence itself. Clues to murder are found by duchess Elisabeth Charlotte d’Orleans staff member and she will find the answers. The Dutchess and four others of her staff set off to the darker side of the Sun Kings court.
*Historical
*Romance with ++ spice
*Thriller
*Murder
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This review was completely mine and written in my words based on my opinion.
*Historical
*Romance with ++ spice
*Thriller
*Murder
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This review was completely mine and written in my words based on my opinion.
September 30, 2021
When human remains and a silver locket are found on the estate next to the palace of Versailles, Duchess Elizabeth Charlotte d’Orleans is determined to find out who they belong to even putting her own safety at risk.
The bare bones of this story were fantastic, a typical who done it murder mystery, set in the Palace of Versailles with Louis the XIV. But for me that was the only good thing about the story. There were to many characters to keep them straight in my head and the writing was sometimes confusing and did not make sense. I also felt that it lacked the suspense to keep me turning the pages.
This book was well researched and I did love how the author used real life historical figures to flesh out the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
The bare bones of this story were fantastic, a typical who done it murder mystery, set in the Palace of Versailles with Louis the XIV. But for me that was the only good thing about the story. There were to many characters to keep them straight in my head and the writing was sometimes confusing and did not make sense. I also felt that it lacked the suspense to keep me turning the pages.
This book was well researched and I did love how the author used real life historical figures to flesh out the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
November 19, 2021
Taking place at Versailles during the reign of King Louis, Lalande fills this novel with glamorous descriptions of the opulence during this time. However, the celebratory atmosphere is dampened by when a lady-in-waiting, Mathilde, and her lover find a dead body with a mysterious pendant.
As personal and political relationships get more tangled with mistresses, lovers, and plots to take opponents down, the web gets ever more tangled.
Although I didn't think Lalande's writing was that engaging, I think she has promise in creating future stories about those at the court of the Sun King.
As personal and political relationships get more tangled with mistresses, lovers, and plots to take opponents down, the web gets ever more tangled.
Although I didn't think Lalande's writing was that engaging, I think she has promise in creating future stories about those at the court of the Sun King.
July 29, 2021
I love anything related to Versailles and the Sun King so I was immediately drawn to this book. I actually find it highly appropriate to be given an ARC of this book see an I came from an island which was named after it's protagonist. Hall of Mirrors is just really good historical fiction and I'm grateful that I was given the chance to read it. Thanks Netgalley and The Book Whisperer for the opportunity to read this!
August 15, 2021
The book is based on a historical event which is a mystery to all but two youngsters found out the traces which their elders have hidden for they-don’t-know how long.
People were missing every now and then but nobody dared to talk about it.
The book provides you with the proper amount of suspense to keep you hooked. However, I found some bits confusing (e.g. the names of who’s who from the past) but overall the story is quite gripping.
People were missing every now and then but nobody dared to talk about it.
The book provides you with the proper amount of suspense to keep you hooked. However, I found some bits confusing (e.g. the names of who’s who from the past) but overall the story is quite gripping.
September 3, 2021
If you love the current trend in historical murder mysteries this is for you. A well written, very historically researched novel that reads like an HBO series, lots of graphic scenes and some shock value sequences.
This isn’t my type of thing. I love the time period but I avoided the Versaille series because I like things more subtle and my characters more likeable. I think lots of things can be more artfully suggested. And people can be both interesting AND likeable.
This isn’t my type of thing. I love the time period but I avoided the Versaille series because I like things more subtle and my characters more likeable. I think lots of things can be more artfully suggested. And people can be both interesting AND likeable.
October 3, 2021
Beneath the glamour and opulence of the court of the Sun King in Versailles lurks a secret, danger and court intrigues are abound.
This is a very well historical researched book with compelling characters, by combining historical characters and real events with a fascinating court mystery it brings to life the reign of Louis XIV and will keep you reading until you finish the story, you want to know what happens.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction.
This is a very well historical researched book with compelling characters, by combining historical characters and real events with a fascinating court mystery it brings to life the reign of Louis XIV and will keep you reading until you finish the story, you want to know what happens.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction.
December 26, 2021
Themes of debauchery, scandal, exuberance, social classes, hierarchy, and murder are all present in this novel.
This took me an incredibly long time to read partly due to life happenings but partly because I found it difficult to grab my attention. Once it did, I enjoyed it.
Get your rulers and some notebook pages ready because there are a lot of characters to keep track of… family tree style and otherwise.
Three stars
This took me an incredibly long time to read partly due to life happenings but partly because I found it difficult to grab my attention. Once it did, I enjoyed it.
Get your rulers and some notebook pages ready because there are a lot of characters to keep track of… family tree style and otherwise.
Three stars
June 23, 2022
A big thank you to the author Roxanne Lalande the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my candid review.
This is a dark, sinister story that is set in the palace of Verseilles and the Court of Louis the 14th, the Sun King. It delves deep into the intrigue and machinations that went on behind the scenes at the palace. Everyone has secrets and intrigues and who can be trusted????
It is a great yarn and a look into the reign of Louis 14th.
This is a dark, sinister story that is set in the palace of Verseilles and the Court of Louis the 14th, the Sun King. It delves deep into the intrigue and machinations that went on behind the scenes at the palace. Everyone has secrets and intrigues and who can be trusted????
It is a great yarn and a look into the reign of Louis 14th.
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