The Sister Queens

by Sophie Perinot

Overview

Patient, perfect, and used to being first, Marguerite becomes Queen of France. But Louis IX is a religious zealot who denies himself the love and companionship his wife craves. Can she borrow enough of her sister's boldness to grasp her chance for happiness in a forbidden love?

Passionate, strong-willed, and stubborn, Eleanor becomes Queen of England. Henry III is a good man, but not a good king. Can Eleanor stop competing with her sister and value what she has, or will she let it slip away?

The Sister Queens is historical fiction at its most compelling, and is an unforgettable first novel.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780451235701
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	03/06/2012
Pages:	528
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Sophie Perinot received her BA in History from the College of Wooster and her law degree from Northwestern University. She is an active member of the Historical Novel Society and lives in Virginia.

Editorial Reviews

Marguerite and Eleanor of Provence, 13th-century sister queens, exchange frequent letters of friendship and encouragement as they both attempt to make successes of their politically motivated marriages. Marguerite struggles to gain and hold the attention of the fanatically religious King Louis IX of France, first as a competitor with his strong-willed mother and then sharing with her husband the hardships of life on crusade. Eleanor enters into a passionate but tempestuous relationship with Henry III of England and must learn to control her emotions so she can protect the interests of her children. Perinot focuses primarily on the evolution of the sisters' romantic relationships with their husbands rather than on their political or social roles within the royal courts. She depicts each sibling using the other's marriage as a source of inspiration while they ultimately travel very different paths in search of happiness. VERDICT Perinot does not interweave the sisters' stories as seamlessly as she could have—the two plotlines feel largely disconnected at times. Still, her debut novel should please Philippa Gregory fans and other readers who enjoy historical fiction with a strong emphasis on romance.—Mara Bandy, Champaign P.L., IL

Library Journal