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The Book Review Bulletin, a monthly link-up for review posts, is open and I'd like to invite you to stop by and share a review or two. Find it here: Book Review Bulletin for July
And now for some First Lines: I recently won a Proof copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway and it just arrived a few days ago. I'm looking forward to reading it, but to be honest, I can't start right away. I have at least four review titles that I need to make sure I'm on top of, and since I started working I have less time for reading too. (Also why I'm posting late in the day instead of in the morning!)
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1821 London, England
Dumping the contents of my last trunk onto the floor, I wanted to shriek. I checked again and again, ripping at petticoats, throwing gowns into the air in my suite at the Osborne Hotel.
Nothing.
~From the beginning of Queen of Exiles by Vanessa Riley
Acclaimed historical novelist Vanessa Riley is back with another novel based on the life of an extraordinary Black woman from history: Haiti's Queen Marie-Louise Coidavid, who escaped a coup in Haiti to set up her own royal court in Italy during the Regency era, where she became a popular member of royal European society.
The Queen of Exiles is Marie-Louise Christophe, wife and then widow of Henry I, who ruled over the newly liberated Kingom of Hayti in the wake of the brutal Haitian Revolution.
In 1810 Louise is crowned queen as her husband begins his reign over the first and only free Black nation in the Western Hemisphere. But despite their newfound freedom, Haitians still struggle under mountains of debt to France and indifference from former allies in Britain and the new United States. Louise desperately tries to steer the country's political course as King Henry descends into a mire of mental illness.
In 1820, King Henry is overthrown and dies by his own hand. Louise and her daughters manage to flee to Europe with their smuggled jewels. In exile, the resilient Louise redefines her role, recovering the fortune that Henry had lost and establishing herself as an equal to the kings of European nations. With newspapers and gossip tracking their every movement, Louis and her daughters tour Europe like other royals, complete with glittering balls and princes with marriage proposals. As they find their footing―and acceptance―they discover more about themselves, their Blackness, and the opportunities they can grasp in a European and male-dominated world.
Queen of Exiles is the tale of a remarkable Black woman of history―a canny and bold survivor who choose the fire and ideals of political struggle, and then is forced to rebuild her life on her own terms, forever a queen.
Book Beginnings on Fridays is hosted by Rose City Reader.
*It's Book Beginnings on Fridays! Time to gather with our fellow book lovers and share the opening sentence (or so) of the books we are reading this week. Or share from a book that is on your mind right now -- whatever catches your fancy.
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First Line Fridays is hosted at Reading is My SuperPower
*Share the first line or two of the book closest to you, then visit other FLF participants.
*Please keep posts family friendly or clean reads.
*Link back to Reading is My SuperPower within your post or grab a button.
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"The swine of the south are already plotting my demise." Henry ground his teeth. "He and all of his brown followers, all the murderers of our late emperor, can come at me, and I'll cut them to pieces."
~from page 56 of Queen of Exiles by Vanessa Riley
The Friday 56 is hosted at Freda's Voice
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to Page 56 or 56% on your e-reader.
*Find a snippet, short and sweet.
*Post it, and share in the Linky.
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And here is the weekly bookish question in the Book Blogger Hop, hosted by Billy at Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer.
This Week's Question: Which plot twist is your favorite?
My Answer: Hmmm. One that comes to mind is when a supporting character that seems annoying or hostile to the goals of the lead character turns out to be an ally in some way. Not necessarily in an enemies-to-lovers plot, but perhaps a rival of some kind who teams up with the lead partway through the story to solve a mystery when they realize that they are actually working towards the same thing. Sometimes it's a character that initially was a suspect or in cooperation with the villain, but somehow changes course to help the good guys.
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I don't usually read historicals, but this sounds really good. I like that excerpt.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun read, for sure! Happy weekend!
ReplyDelete