Michelle Moran has taken my summer reading by storm. The Second Empress is the 4th Book of hers that I have finished in the last
couple months. I have thoroughly enjoyed using the Kindle app on my devices
mixed with the Whisper Sync feature from Audible.com to help me get through
books at a faster pace. I also find that it makes my commute so much more
enjoyable. I highly recommend Cleopatras Daughter , Nefertiti , and The Heretic Queen as well. The last of her books currently available, Madame Tussaud is on my list of books to round out the summer.
I discovered Michele Moran from a friend posting amazing
pictures of her days spent on a local beach, working on her tan and her love
affair with Egyptian Culture and History. The book covers caught my eye, and captured me
from the first few chapters. I have had opportunities
to learn about the Egyptian Culture and all of its jeweled mysteries, and continue
to have a curiosity about it all. Not to mention my affection for
monster flicks like The Mummy! This author’s
mix of historical fact and fiction is a wonderful way to feed my inquisitiveness.
Her next release in March of 2015, Rebel Queen takes place in India, another culture that I find fascinating. I will be waiting with much anticipation to
open my mind to the adventures in this tale.
On to the Review:
The Second Empress is the story of Marie Louise of Austria
and her marriage to Napoleon the Emperor of France in the 1700’s. The great niece
of Marie Antoinette, Marie Louise was chosen by the Emperor to replace the
infamous Josephine as his wife. The details of the heart break, political
discontent, and social norms were captivating. I found myself empathetic to many of the
characters, and found a strange juxtaposition when attempting to identify a
protagonist and antagonist among the personalities. I enjoyed the references to the Egyptian
Courts that I had read so much about in her previous books, as well as the role
that pets, especially dogs played in the French Court. I am partial to those Puppies! As you finish the
book, there are closing chapters that explore the historical/factual information
that the author used to validate pieces of the fiction. I have learned to
appreciate the honesty found in what she chooses to use, change, or leave out; exposing
these decisions helps to wrap up the story.
Over all this was a wonderful story, leaving me wanting to
learn more about the French Court and the families who ruled! Its good stuff!
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