Book Review: Medicis Daughter by Sophie Perinot

MEDICI'S DAUGHTER: A NOVEL OF MARGUERITE DE VALOIS by SOPHIE PERINOT
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Thomas Dunne Books
Hardcover & eBook; 384 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction



Winter, 1564. Beautiful young Princess Margot is summoned to the court of France, where nothing is what it seems and a wrong word can lead to ruin. Known across Europe as Madame la Serpente, Margot’s intimidating mother, Queen Catherine de Médicis, is a powerful force in a country devastated by religious war. Among the crafty nobility of the royal court, Margot learns the intriguing and unspoken rules she must live by to please her poisonous family.

Eager to be an obedient daughter, Margot accepts her role as a marriage pawn, even as she is charmed by the powerful, charismatic Duc de Guise. Though Margot's heart belongs to Guise, her hand will be offered to Henri of Navarre, a Huguenot leader and a notorious heretic looking to seal a tenuous truce. But the promised peace is a mirage: her mother's schemes are endless, and her brothers plot vengeance in the streets of Paris. When Margot's wedding devolves into the bloodshed of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, she will be forced to choose between her family and her soul. 

Médicis Daughter is historical fiction at its finest, weaving a unique coming-of-age story and a forbidden love with one of the most dramatic and violent events in French history.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND
 



Winter, 1564. Beautiful young Princess Margot is summoned to the court of France, where nothing is what it seems and a wrong word can lead to ruin. Known across Europe as Madame la Serpente, Margot’s intimidating mother, Queen Catherine de Médicis, is a powerful force in a country devastated by religious war. Among the crafty nobility of the royal court, Margot learns the intriguing and unspoken rules she must live by to please her poisonous family.

Eager to be an obedient daughter, Margot accepts her role as a marriage pawn, even as she is charmed by the powerful, charismatic Duc de Guise. Though Margot's heart belongs to Guise, her hand will be offered to Henri of Navarre, a Huguenot leader and a notorious heretic looking to seal a tenuous truce. But the promised peace is a mirage: her mother's schemes are endless, and her brothers plot vengeance in the streets of Paris. When Margot's wedding devolves into the bloodshed of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, she will be forced to choose between her family and her soul.


I found this book so detailed and rich in history of a time that isn't often talked about and a person who isn't in hundreds of historical fiction novels. It is always refreshing to me when an author writes about a completely new character to me as it holds my interest most definitely.

There were some parts that seemed to drag but only at the very beginning.. The rest of this novel was steady and flowed nicely.

I hope that Sophie gets the recognition she deserves for this amazingly told story.

Advance Praise

“This is Renaissance France meets Game of Thrones: dark, sumptuous historical fiction that coils religious strife, court intrigue, passionate love, family hatred, and betrayed innocence like a nest of poisonous snakes. Beautiful Princess Margot acts as our guide to the heart of her violent family, as she blossoms from naive court pawn to woman of conscience and renown. A highly recommended coming-of-age tale where the princess learns to slay her own dragons!” --Kate Quinn, Bestselling author of LADY OF THE ETERNAL CITY

"The riveting story of a 16th century French princess caught in the throes of royal intrigue and religious war. From the arms of the charismatic Duke of Guise to the blood-soaked streets of Paris, Princess Marguerite runs a dangerous gauntlet, taking the reader with her. An absolutely gripping read!" --Michelle Moran, bestselling author of THE REBEL QUEEN

"Rising above the chorus of historical drama is Perinot's epic tale of the fascinating, lascivious, ruthless House of Valois, as told through the eyes of the complicated and intelligent Princess Marguerite. Burdened by her unscrupulous family and desperate for meaningful relationships, Margot is forced to navigate her own path in sixteenth century France. Amid wars of nation and heart, Médicis Daughter brilliantly demonstrates how one unique woman beats staggering odds to find the strength and power that is her birthright." --Erika Robuck, bestselling author of HEMINGWAY'S GIRL

About the Author

SOPHIE PERINOT is the author of The Sister Queens and one of six contributing authors of A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii. A former attorney, Perinot is now a full-time writer. She lives in Great Falls, Virginia with her three children, three cats, one dog and one husband.

An active member of the Historical Novel Society, Sophie has attended all of the group’s North American Conferences and served as a panelist multiple times. Find her among the literary twitterati as @Lit_gal or on Facebook.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, November 16 Review at The Mad Reviewer Review at Peeking Between the Pages
Tuesday, November 17 Review at Just One More Chapter
Wednesday, November 18 Review at The Maiden's Court
Thursday, November 19 Review at The Eclectic Reader
Friday, November 20 Review at The True Book Addict
Monday, November 23 Review at Broken Teepee Guest Post at A Literary Vacation
Tuesday, November 24 Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Wednesday, November 25 Review at A Literary Vacation 
Friday, November 27 Spotlight at Historical Fiction Connection
Monday, November 30 Review at leeanna.me
Tuesday, December 1 Review at To Read, Or Not to Read
Wednesday, December 2 Review at Bibliophilia, Please
Thursday, December 3 Review at The Book Binder's Daughter
Friday, December 4 Guest Post at Bibliophilia, Please
Monday, December 7 Review at Flashlight Commentary
Tuesday, December 8 Interview at Flashlight Commentary 
Wednesday, December 9 Review at Curling Up By the Fire 
Thursday, December 10 Review at The Readers Hollow 
Friday, December 11 Review at Reading Lark
Monday, December 14 Review at A Book Geek
Tuesday, December 15 Review at The Lit Bitch
Wednesday, December 16 Review at CelticLady's Reviews
Friday, December 18 Review & Interview at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Monday, December 21 Review at Bookish
Tuesday, December 22 Spotlight at Passages to the Past
Wednesday, December 23 Review & Guest Post at Historical Fiction Obsession
Monday, December 28 Review at Unshelfish
Tuesday, December 29 Interview at Unshelfish
Thursday, December 31 Review at The Reading Queen