Scan barcode
mmenuit's review
dark
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
laileanah's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I liked this but the audiobook narrator had a grating voice.
This was kinda slow and detailed.
I'm very familiar with this time in history and enjoyed this framing of Maria Carolina, Queen of Naples.
I honestly think this would've gotten a higher rating from me but the narrator.
This was kinda slow and detailed.
I'm very familiar with this time in history and enjoyed this framing of Maria Carolina, Queen of Naples.
I honestly think this would've gotten a higher rating from me but the narrator.
_bookally_'s review
4.0
After being obsessed with the movie Marie Antoinette as a young adult I have always had a fascination about her. I am honestly surprised it has taken me this long to read books on/based around her and her family.
I loved this one. The politics, the scandal and betrayals it was so so good. I did lose interest a little maybe 80% in but once I got back into it I was loving it again.
It was such beautiful and whimsical writing and I was just hooked from the get go. 100% would recommend for anyone who is a fan of historical fiction.
I loved this one. The politics, the scandal and betrayals it was so so good. I did lose interest a little maybe 80% in but once I got back into it I was loving it again.
It was such beautiful and whimsical writing and I was just hooked from the get go. 100% would recommend for anyone who is a fan of historical fiction.
saralynnburnett's review
5.0
What can I say except that I thoroughly loved this? It's sweeping and intriguing and shows a woman in power, taking the reins and falling in love with a place she wasn't born to. It's filled with palaces, political maneuvering, marriages, sisters, intrigue, Naples, Italy, Mount Vesuvius, mothers, and daughters. I had no prior knowledge on Marie Antoinette's sister, Maria Carolina Charlotte, and she came to life between these pages—in the shadow of but also reflective of her imposing mother, Maria Teresa, the Hapsburg Holy Roman Empress. Not only did I learn a ton from this novel, but it was such fun to read! Running across other historical figures such as Mozart, Alexander Hamilton, Napoleon, Admiral Nelson, George Washington, and of course the infamous Marie Antoinette was delightful.
In the author's note, Giovinazzo writes, "We have a fascination and love for tragic historical figures. Maria Carolina Charlotte is one such figure who has been lost to the folds of history, misrepresented, and stripped of the acclaim that she is due. It is my hope that this story will help to reestablish her, even just a little, as the bold, fearless visionary she was, unafraid to raise her voice for her country, her family, and her sister."
In the author's note, Giovinazzo writes, "We have a fascination and love for tragic historical figures. Maria Carolina Charlotte is one such figure who has been lost to the folds of history, misrepresented, and stripped of the acclaim that she is due. It is my hope that this story will help to reestablish her, even just a little, as the bold, fearless visionary she was, unafraid to raise her voice for her country, her family, and her sister."
overlookingcovers's review
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this book from Grand Central Publishing for free in exchange for a review.
Wow. I finished this book just a little over a week ago and I cannot stop thinking about it. This book pulled me out of a serious reading slump and somehow is putting me back into one because I just cannot find a book to compare to it. Thank you Grand Central Publishing for gifting me this amazing book!
I’m a lover of history, so to dive into the life of Maria Carolina Charlotte, Queen of Naples and sister of Marie Antoinette was so intriguing. Charlotte was such a head strong woman that knew that her duty was to her people. Even though she ruled with an iron fist, she was passionate and fiercely loving to her family. The fight we see in Charlotte attempting to free Antoinette from the French was heartbreaking because of the inevitability of Antoinette’s future that we all know about.
The author’s note mentioned some creative license used throughout the book, but three events I noticed were not mentioned, so I am unsure if it was creative license. 1. The author had Charlotte’s daughter, Anna, die two years before she should have. 2. When Charlotte was told, on October 25th, Antoinette was killed on the 16th, Charlotte told her kids Antoinette was killed “yesterday”, meaning the 24th. 3. While not mentioned in the book, but on the timeline- Maria Amalia did not die in 1886, but rather 1866. Even though these events could hurt a reader’s rating of the book, I enjoyed the story far too much to let it impact my rating.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a historical novel to read, but especially to those who want to learn something new.
Wow. I finished this book just a little over a week ago and I cannot stop thinking about it. This book pulled me out of a serious reading slump and somehow is putting me back into one because I just cannot find a book to compare to it. Thank you Grand Central Publishing for gifting me this amazing book!
I’m a lover of history, so to dive into the life of Maria Carolina Charlotte, Queen of Naples and sister of Marie Antoinette was so intriguing. Charlotte was such a head strong woman that knew that her duty was to her people. Even though she ruled with an iron fist, she was passionate and fiercely loving to her family. The fight we see in Charlotte attempting to free Antoinette from the French was heartbreaking because of the inevitability of Antoinette’s future that we all know about.
The author’s note mentioned some creative license used throughout the book, but three events I noticed were not mentioned, so I am unsure if it was creative license. 1. The author had Charlotte’s daughter, Anna, die two years before she should have. 2. When Charlotte was told, on October 25th, Antoinette was killed on the 16th, Charlotte told her kids Antoinette was killed “yesterday”, meaning the 24th. 3. While not mentioned in the book, but on the timeline- Maria Amalia did not die in 1886, but rather 1866. Even though these events could hurt a reader’s rating of the book, I enjoyed the story far too much to let it impact my rating.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a historical novel to read, but especially to those who want to learn something new.
alexandra_medley1995's review
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
kmvan's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
bullockae's review
adventurous
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
alex_rieflin's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
5.0
bigskybooks's review
4.0
—Book Review—
Title: Antoinette’s Sister
Author: Diana Giovinazzo
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
@grandcentralpub
Genre: Historical Fiction
Historical Fiction fans do I have the most stunning book to share with you! Thank you @grandcentralpub for sending this one my way.
At just the age of fifteen, in the year of 1767, Maria Carolina Charlotte the sixteenth child of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria finds herself forced to leave her home, family and beloved country to an arranged marriage to King Ferdinand IV of Naples to become queen. All because her sister Josepha contracts smallpox and dies. This also means her closest sister, Antionette, who is next in line will now be married off to become Queen Marie Antionette of France.
Charlotte and Antionette are close and all throughout the book exchange letters to each other keeping informed on births of children, politics and family affairs. These letters are precious to Charlotte and she keeps them in a special wooden box. I really liked the addition of letters in the book as a way to tell this story. Overall I found the author’s writing to be very easy to read and vivid & detailed. The story jumps off the page. Or maybe I jumped into the pages. I felt like I was right there.
As the story goes on we reach the point in history where France uprises, Antoinette goes into hiding, tries to escape, is captured, and later killed. This devastates Charlotte and gives France a chance to take advantage of her not being at her best and her usual shrewd self.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title: Antoinette’s Sister
Author: Diana Giovinazzo
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
@grandcentralpub
Genre: Historical Fiction
Historical Fiction fans do I have the most stunning book to share with you! Thank you @grandcentralpub for sending this one my way.
At just the age of fifteen, in the year of 1767, Maria Carolina Charlotte the sixteenth child of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria finds herself forced to leave her home, family and beloved country to an arranged marriage to King Ferdinand IV of Naples to become queen. All because her sister Josepha contracts smallpox and dies. This also means her closest sister, Antionette, who is next in line will now be married off to become Queen Marie Antionette of France.
Charlotte and Antionette are close and all throughout the book exchange letters to each other keeping informed on births of children, politics and family affairs. These letters are precious to Charlotte and she keeps them in a special wooden box. I really liked the addition of letters in the book as a way to tell this story. Overall I found the author’s writing to be very easy to read and vivid & detailed. The story jumps off the page. Or maybe I jumped into the pages. I felt like I was right there.
As the story goes on we reach the point in history where France uprises, Antoinette goes into hiding, tries to escape, is captured, and later killed. This devastates Charlotte and gives France a chance to take advantage of her not being at her best and her usual shrewd self.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️