Day: August 19, 2021

What a welcome break from the multiple WWII-set historical fiction novels I have read recently. Not that I haven’t enjoyed those, but something completely different was a refreshing change.

And 1856 Paris is pretty different.

I’ll be honest and say that the opening scenes of tarot reading drew me in and hooked me. I know of authors who will sanitize certain aspects of an era, so they don’t offend modern sensibilities.

And while I realize this seems strange to say in light of this book, I have seen reviews of others that were totally turned off by any mention of the potential supernatural or “other-world.”

I, for one, enjoy it immensely. So, I knew I would like the book just from that. But then the author did one better for my tastes and made Livia someone who is highly knowledgeable about the healing powers of plants…and the dangers of poison.

(Side note: while I was reading this book, I had conversations with at least half a dozen people about natural and homeopathic remedies for colds and flu. Totally unrelated to the book itself, but it struck me that some treatments have been around for centuries).

Anyway, I liked that about Livia. Sure, she was a 19-year-old thrust into Paris intrigue, but she was smart and had a mind of her own. I particularly liked the friendship between her and Caterina, as well as the one she formed with Elisabetta.

Even without refreshing my instinct about the book by reading the blurb, it was easy to tell where the author was headed with the plot, especially taking Livia’s first meeting with Elisabetta into account.

What was unknown, was how it would all ultimately play out. And that is what made the story just so page-turning.

Any time there is a royal court involved, there is going to be intrigue. And if two countries are trying to forge treaties or have their own interests at the forefront of the empire, there is going to be even more intrigue.

And there is certainly plenty of it in this book. The author did a great job of dropping just enough information that it was difficult to figure out who might be responsible for what, who was trustworthy and who wasn’t, and what the endgame of it all actually was.

Nope, I’m not going to tell you.

Just let yourself get swept away to 1856 Paris, take in the lush descriptions and clever writing, and go with Livia on her journey to find her place in a complicated society.

Oh, and pay attention to the entries from her book at the beginning of each chapter. Not only is there good information, but you might get a hint of what is yet to come.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

Author Bio:
Meghan Masterson graduated from the University of Calgary with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies, and has worked several unrelated jobs while writing on the side. When not writing, Meghan can often be found reading at all hours (even at breakfast), practicing archery and roaming through the woods with her dog.