Pursuing the family name as the finest silk producer in Lyon, the young Huguenot Rachelle Dushane-Macquinet is thrilled to accompany her famous couturier Grandmere to Paris, there to create a silk trousseau for the Royal Princess Marguerite Valois.The Court is magnificent; its regent, Catherine de Medici, deceptively charming … and the circumstances, darker than Rachelle could possibly imagine. At a time in history when the tortures of the Bastille and the fiery stake are an almost casual consequence in France, a scourge of recrimination is moving fast and furious against the Huguenots—and as the Queen Mother's political intrigues weave a web of deception around her, Rachelle finds herself in imminent danger.Hope rests in warning the handsome Marquis Fabien de Vendome of the wicked plot against his kin. But to do so, Rachelle must follow a perilous course.
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"At first it took some time to became acquainted with the french words, but with reading it became easier to understand. I like the main character Rachelle. I also enjoyed the French history and learning about the people and history of France during such a troubled time."
— Nadine (4 out of 5 stars)
" I liked the French history, the descriptions and such. But the writing was so much like a soap opera, so mushy at times. It started off strong, but ended kinda wimpy. Their was no resolve. "
— Kelli, 12/15/2013" Liked it ok... obviously enough to finish it... lots of french words.. but a good mystery... although I never felt like it really got solved... must be why book 2 must be read:) "
— Lindsey, 11/14/2013" Good Christian historical fiction. Interesting plot, kept me from putting it down. "
— Erin, 12/20/2011" I had to make myself finish this book. "
— Jo, 10/18/2011" Good, good, GOOD! This book is suspenseful in some spots, it keeps your interest, and is historical fiction! Don't read the ending like I did, tho. Then you won't finish it. (Like I haven't) "
— Katie, 8/11/2011" I started this one night and the next day realized I had no wish to pick it up despite the fact I was 100 pages in. I skimmed the rest of the book the next night and though it dealt with interesting material (the persecution of the Huguenots), it did not hold my interest. "
— Liesel, 12/13/2009" It was too much like another one of her books for me. I just didn't like feeling as if I was re-reading a book I had just read.:/ "
— Alissa, 10/23/2009" I enjoyed the history of the book but the writing was choppy. I don't speak any French, so that added a little confusion. By the end, I liked the characters enough that I would like to see what the next book holds. "
— Amy, 3/27/2009" I liked it enough to finish the series, however there are so many names and things going on in the story that I was easily confused. And the constant use of unfamiliar french words made the reading slow. "
— Casey, 1/12/2009Christine Rendel is a British-born award-winning audiobook narrator and producer and actor living in New York. She has narrated over sixty fiction and nonfiction books for major and independent publishers, and maintains a professional home studio on the bucolic north fork of eastern Long Island. She is the SOVAS Voice Arts Award winner 2020 for Classics Narration.