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| Cover from sophieperinot.com |
“’Tis sisters who
shape the world plain and simple.” –Sophie Perinot, The Sister Queens
Hello, and happy Monday! Today, I’m reviewing The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot. I
first discovered Sophie Perinot when Michelle Moran (another favorite
historical fiction author, and the gateway to many of my new discoveries for HF
authors) posted in December 2015 about Sophie Perinot’s new book Medici’s Daughter. I went and read Medici’s Daughter… and was so happy with
it that when Amazon helpfully suggested The
Sister Queens as being by the same author, I bought it. It took me a little
while to get around to reading it because that was about the same time as life
picked up with moving us into our new house, but I have finally read it and am
ready to review. Woot!
The Sister Queens
is a historical fiction novel set in 13th century France and England.
This novel tells us the story of Marguerite and Eleanor of Provence, sisters
who both married kings and became queens. Marguerite married King Louis IX of
France and became Queen of France, while Eleanor married King Henry III of
England and became Queen consort of England. Marguerite and Eleanor
corresponded regularly and maintained a close friendship throughout their
lives. They both lived through some major events and helped influence their
spouses and their countries.
Full of romance, drama, adventure, danger, and political
intrigue, The Sister Queens – based
on a true story - is a fascinating tale of two sisters who had to navigate the
murky waters of growing up, marriage, and politics. The Sister Queens is Perinot’s debut novel, and she did a great
job, bringing us a captivating book. Perinot is a true artisan. She has done
more than just write a novel. Using her words, she has woven a rich tapestry
telling us the story of two women history does not often speak of. We ride with
them the roller coaster of emotions on which life takes them. We feel the joy
of births and triumphs, the fear of loved ones struck deathly ill and of danger
on the Crusades, the heartache when death steals the souls of beloved family
members, the anger of betrayal, the contentment of the security of the love of
a good man, and so much more.
I loved this book. I love reading historical fiction about
women, and I especially love a well-done historical fiction about women I
haven’t heard much about before, and The
Sister Queens definitely fits that bill. Perinot does a good job walking
the line between history and fiction and combining the two while staying true
to the actual people, as well as making the characters come alive, making them
3-dimensional and complex. It all made me want to go learn more about both
Eleanor and Marguerite, which is a win in my book (haha). I also enjoyed the
Author’s Note at the end explaining some of the choices Perinot made in her
story telling, and providing clarifications on things she changed or
fabricated. I always love when a historical fiction author includes that info.
As debut novels go, I’d put this up there at the top of my list of “Hit it out
of the ballpark”.
As far as the question of what to drink, I found that
honeyed mead paired nicely with The
Sister Queens. I’m not sure what the brand is, it’s one we bought from a
vendor at a store, but it was yummy, and drinking mead with a book from 13th
century Europe (while living in Europe, albeit modern day) felt like it lent an
air of authenticity and immersion to the experience, and I am all about reading
being immersive.
You can find info on where to buy The Sister Queens here. Additionally,
check out Sophie Perinot’s website and her Facebook page for some fun
discussions. Last but certainly not least, check out the Facebook event for the
online party celebrating the 6-month anniversary of Perinot’s historical fiction
novel Medici’s Daughter. The party
will be on June 1 but the fun has already started with announcements of special
guests and giveaways. If you like historical fiction, you won’t want to miss
this, she's got some great authors on board. And the week of June 1, check out Drink
Read Love for our contributions to the festivities, including my review of Medici’s Daughter, a special Author
Q&A with Sophie Perinot, and a special surprise post. Thanks for reading!
If you've read The Sister Queens, which character is your favorite?
