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vanities's review
1.0
I really hated this book. I was very interested at first but then the book sped up before slowing down and I was forcing myself to read it. Jeanne is almost likable until you notice she doesn't give a shit about her daughter. All that matters is Louis. Why she didn't leave when she realized he was making her physically sick is beyond me. I don't understand how she could get a 13-15 year old girl to be his personal bedmate and then be surprised when he has a real liking for molesting children. This book like the last makes references to Richelieu's sexual experience but he only engages in sex with a child before making her the King's lover. Jeanne is basically the king's pimp because it's a way to control him and stay in his life but she speaks as if she's still in love with him. How. Where is this love. At one point she's disgusted by him raising a little girl so he can later have sex with her. I was hoping she would hide the girl. No she buys her dolls so he can play with her before raping her when she's 12-13. Or maybe 11 like Morphese. All of the women who tried to rival Jeanne did the same exact thing to be banished. I know it's history but come the fuck on how boring can you be. I hope the next book is better. This was confusing and too long. The only positive is the wrap up was done nicely. Bringing Jeanne full circle, saying the queen approved of her in the end is interesting - I guess. I'm glad this book was free.
javafenn's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like this book but found myself wishing it would get better. If it had just focused of Madame Pompadour I would have loved it but the middle was about other mistresses and it was utterly repetitive. The middle portion was about vapid, self serving, hateful girls. Each girl came from crude beginnings. Each girl slept with the king. Each girl demanded Pompadour leave. Each girl was banished. Same thing over and over again until the duchesse was introduced again for her later life. It just seemed like a not so great sequel to the incredible first book! I am looking forward to the last book.
taniabotes's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. First of all I have to say that I loved the audio, Elizabeth Wiley is a very talented narrator. A light and easy read it does still provide a feeling for the times, especially the opulence and vapidness of Versailles, as well as the poverty of the rest of the nation. I came to respect and really admire the Marquise de Pompadour, she was an intelligent and gentle woman. I felt very sad for Morphise, one of the rivals - but her life truly allows us a look at how sad life outside the court was. Marie Anne de Mailly-Rubempré and Diane brought some much needed comic relief. I will be listening to the last in the series.
The Story: The Rivals of Versailles continues the story of King Louis XV and his lady loves, this time focusing on the fabulous Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, the Marquise de Pompadour, a little girl from the middle classes who rose to become the virtual Queen of France. Jeanne's voice and story are balanced against a few of her many rivals. Pompadour remained by Louis' side for almost two decades, and as the king continued his descent into pure libertinage, she was along for the ride....
The Story: The Rivals of Versailles continues the story of King Louis XV and his lady loves, this time focusing on the fabulous Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, the Marquise de Pompadour, a little girl from the middle classes who rose to become the virtual Queen of France. Jeanne's voice and story are balanced against a few of her many rivals. Pompadour remained by Louis' side for almost two decades, and as the king continued his descent into pure libertinage, she was along for the ride....
allyriadayne's review against another edition
1.0
Why one star:
- The way Sally Christie writes makes me think she's the kind of person that would be welcome at CW's Reign writing room.
- One of the most interesting mistress of Louis XV rendered boring, vapid and dumb.
- Only 30% of the actual book it's about her. Think of that.
I cannot think why would I read this book when the first one ([b:The Sisters of Versailles|25111020|The Sisters of Versailles (The Mistresses of Versailles Trilogy #1)|Sally Christie|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1442882342s/25111020.jpg|44804743]) was very annoying, maybe the Madame de Pompadour theme made me do it but now I regret it.
I love the covers of this trilogy, though, that's the only good thing I can say. I feel sorry now for the Comtesse du Barry in the next book.
- The way Sally Christie writes makes me think she's the kind of person that would be welcome at CW's Reign writing room.
- One of the most interesting mistress of Louis XV rendered boring, vapid and dumb.
- Only 30% of the actual book it's about her. Think of that.
I cannot think why would I read this book when the first one ([b:The Sisters of Versailles|25111020|The Sisters of Versailles (The Mistresses of Versailles Trilogy #1)|Sally Christie|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1442882342s/25111020.jpg|44804743]) was very annoying, maybe the Madame de Pompadour theme made me do it but now I regret it.
I love the covers of this trilogy, though, that's the only good thing I can say. I feel sorry now for the Comtesse du Barry in the next book.
kimmerp's review against another edition
3.0
Well....what do I say. I really liked the Sisters of Versailles (first book in the trilogy), but this book made me feel pretty icky with how women prostituted themselves to be a king's mistress. It was interesting, but I still wanted to "look away" as it just grossed me out. (And I am not particularly squeamish.) In today's "me too" movement culture, it was especially repugnant how women gained entry to the halls of power through their bodies. That said, I will very likely read the last book because it is just SO interesting!
ceesaw's review against another edition
4.0
My favorite so far. The Marquise de Pompadour is, as Louis himself says, more interesting than Louise, kinder than Paulette, and more attentive than Marie-Anne. I could have done without the addition of Marie-Anne de Mailly, Marquise de Coislin's part of the novel--too silly to read for so long, though I enjoyed Rosalie's and Morphise's parts.
readingqueen's review against another edition
5.0
The Rivals of Versailles once again sweeps readers into the enchanting palace of Versailles where life is never dull and intrigue is merely second nature. First, there was The Sisters of Versailles. The talented, but infamous Nesle sisters who ruled Louis XV’s heart have come and gone, leaving the position of official mistress open. The Rivals of Versailles introduces us to the woman who later becomes one of the most influential women in France. Never before had a mistress, especially of the bourgeois, reigned as though a queen’s crown was placed upon her head. Marquise de Pompadour was called many things within her life and even her death, but none can deny what she accomplished.
The Marquise was an interesting woman to read about and even though the book is a sizeable one, the end comes much too soon. Pompadour is a name that has remained recognizable beyond her time, marking that her life, her achievements, and how important she truly was to the king, as a friend and an advisor, still captivate people. To come from seemingly nowhere and to then rule France for nearly twenty years, while young, beautiful rivals sprang up like dandelions was not a small achievement.
I’m eagerly awaiting The Enemies of Versailles. Sally Christie knows how to write historical fiction that are like candies, delicious to the very last taste.
The Marquise was an interesting woman to read about and even though the book is a sizeable one, the end comes much too soon. Pompadour is a name that has remained recognizable beyond her time, marking that her life, her achievements, and how important she truly was to the king, as a friend and an advisor, still captivate people. To come from seemingly nowhere and to then rule France for nearly twenty years, while young, beautiful rivals sprang up like dandelions was not a small achievement.
I’m eagerly awaiting The Enemies of Versailles. Sally Christie knows how to write historical fiction that are like candies, delicious to the very last taste.
abookishaffair's review
4.0
"The Rivals of Versailles" is the second book in Sally Christie's The Mistress of Versailles series. In this book, we meet Jeanne Poisson who will become yet another mistress for France's King Louis XV. Stunningly beautiful, Jeanne, called Reinette, throughout the book is told from a young age that she will become the King's mistress. Rising to fame as the Marquise de Pompadour, Jeanne is a force to be reckoned with. Others we are introduced to throughout the book will try to unseat her but there's a good reason she is still so well-remembered throughout history.
This book works nicely as a standalone as the book really focuses on a new set of characters. There is Reinette as well as Rosalie de Romanet-Choiseul, Morphise, and Marie-Anne de Mailly de Coislin. Most of the narrative belongs to Reinette but we do get a chance to hear from each of these other women in the latter half of the book. They definitely have much smaller sections so we don't get to know them quite as well as we get to know Reinette, which was just fine with me - she is fascinating! I really liked how the author chose to divide up the narratives - it was almost as if she was leading the reader to pay the most attention to Reinette while relegating the other women to mere dalliances for the King.
I liked this book much better than the first book. Reinette is such a great character. The author makes her feel very accessible. It was so interesting to see how she is able to captivate the King and keep his attention for so long. Her narrative is from her point of view, which made me feel even closer to her!
This book works nicely as a standalone as the book really focuses on a new set of characters. There is Reinette as well as Rosalie de Romanet-Choiseul, Morphise, and Marie-Anne de Mailly de Coislin. Most of the narrative belongs to Reinette but we do get a chance to hear from each of these other women in the latter half of the book. They definitely have much smaller sections so we don't get to know them quite as well as we get to know Reinette, which was just fine with me - she is fascinating! I really liked how the author chose to divide up the narratives - it was almost as if she was leading the reader to pay the most attention to Reinette while relegating the other women to mere dalliances for the King.
I liked this book much better than the first book. Reinette is such a great character. The author makes her feel very accessible. It was so interesting to see how she is able to captivate the King and keep his attention for so long. Her narrative is from her point of view, which made me feel even closer to her!
elysianfield's review
4.0
When Jeanne Poisson is a young child, a fortuneteller tells her that one day she will be the king’s mistress. From that time her whole life strives for her to become the mistress of king Louis XV’s mistress and her mother calls her Reinette from now on. She does fulfill that prediction and falls in love with the king but soon learns that her position won’t bring her friends in the court. She learns the ways of the court and is elevated to the title Marquise de Pompadour.
Like with the last book, The Sisters of Versailles, I hated all of the characters but I liked the book. That surely takes some talent.
I didn’t really warm to Pompadour who at first was too naïve and sometimes I wondered how she could keep her position. I can’t say exactly why she annoyed me but se did. But you have to admire her for rising from nowhere, becoming the confidante to the king and managing to stay there despite not sharing the kings bed. She’s practical enough allowing the king other mistresses and becoming more like a mother figure for him.
I didn’t like Louis in the first book and I liked him even less here. I just wanted to shake him so many times. He’s come far from the man who had doubts about straying from his wife’s bed. He really started the path to the Revolution and it’s a shame he’s not the one to pay for it. I wondered how Pompadour could put up with him so long because he really wasn’t easy man to be with.
The first part was from Pompadour’s view point but in the later it shifts between her and some of the girls trying to get in her place. Through their eyes you can see how Pompadour has learnt her lessons in shrewdness.
I really enjoyed this and I can’t wait for the next and final book.
Like with the last book, The Sisters of Versailles, I hated all of the characters but I liked the book. That surely takes some talent.
I didn’t really warm to Pompadour who at first was too naïve and sometimes I wondered how she could keep her position. I can’t say exactly why she annoyed me but se did. But you have to admire her for rising from nowhere, becoming the confidante to the king and managing to stay there despite not sharing the kings bed. She’s practical enough allowing the king other mistresses and becoming more like a mother figure for him.
I didn’t like Louis in the first book and I liked him even less here. I just wanted to shake him so many times. He’s come far from the man who had doubts about straying from his wife’s bed. He really started the path to the Revolution and it’s a shame he’s not the one to pay for it. I wondered how Pompadour could put up with him so long because he really wasn’t easy man to be with.
The first part was from Pompadour’s view point but in the later it shifts between her and some of the girls trying to get in her place. Through their eyes you can see how Pompadour has learnt her lessons in shrewdness.
I really enjoyed this and I can’t wait for the next and final book.
krista7's review
5.0
This review is based on an ARC provided by NetGalley:
I had some issues with Christie's first novel about Louis XV's Versailles, but "Rivals of Versailles" was just pure fun. The historical details were great, the characterization made sense, and the story moved along at a rapid pace. After having read a few grim nonfiction books lately, this was a great palate-refresher.
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