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A review by emilyinherhead
The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have a lot of respect for this novel, which, I found out from the historical notes at the end, is even more meticulous and detailed than I initially realized. Alexander Chee pulls abundant true facts from 1800s France and shapes them around the epic story of Lilliet Berne, an opera singer who has lived a hell of a life.
We flash back to Lilliet's youth and follow her all the way up to the present, and the journey includes a circus, time in jail, friendships with prostitutes, music, disguises, war, multiple escapes, and more. Woven throughout is the long and winding romantic journey of Lilliet and her love, battling a curse that might or might not actually exist.
I'd give this one a 3.5 for personal enjoyment (some of the political intrigue and war content lost me a little bit), but a 5 for craft! If you're interested in opera, classical music, mystery, and/or French history, you will probably really love it.
We flash back to Lilliet's youth and follow her all the way up to the present, and the journey includes a circus, time in jail, friendships with prostitutes, music, disguises, war, multiple escapes, and more. Woven throughout is the long and winding romantic journey of Lilliet and her love, battling a curse that might or might not actually exist.
I'd give this one a 3.5 for personal enjoyment (some of the political intrigue and war content lost me a little bit), but a 5 for craft! If you're interested in opera, classical music, mystery, and/or French history, you will probably really love it.