👑 “Daughter of the Shadows” (Defying the Crown #2) (2023) 👑 – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: Defying the Crown (Book #2)
Paperback: 314 pages
Publisher: Black Rose Writing (March 30, 2023)
Language: English
ISBN: 1685131670
ISBN-13: 978-1685131678
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“1667 Quebec. Committed to a double life to save her fellow Protestants, Isabelle turns spy against her deceitful Catholic husband. When he devises a ruthless plan to imprison and torture her people, Isabelle learns to fight from a brave young Huron woman. Isabelle seizes the opportunity to undermine her husband's efforts by escorting him to France. There, she plays the doting wife while she secretly works to subvert the Catholic Church and plot his demise. But Paris is full of poisons, street gangs, and cruel nobility who threaten to destroy all Isabelle has worked to protect. With her found family on the line, Isabelle must challenge the most powerful man in France-King Louis XIV.
Defying the Crown may seem impossible, but Paris has yet to meet a warrior like her.
In the follow up to the award-winning Daughter of the King, Kerry Chaput takes readers on a historical adventure where fierce, cunning women fight for freedom. Daughter of the Shadows immerses you in the dark world of Paris, where court intrigue and poisonous secrets are no match for the whip-smart heroine who keeps you guessing at every turn. Discover the action-filled saga of this stellar historical fiction series.”
Thank you in advance to the author, Kerry Chaput, for providing a complimentary review copy through Kate Rock Book Tours. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
As someone who is branching out in different sub-genres of historical fiction, there are times I see a story that differs from movies about the same time. There were a few movies about Louis XIV that seemed far different than this story. So, that was one of the draws for me. As a result, Chaput is a new-to-me author.
Very little of this history is taught in schools (at least when I went), so, well-researched books such as this draws me to learn a bit of my own history. As of note, part of my maternal grandmother’s family immigrated to the U.S from Alsace–Lorraine roughly just around or after this story.
The simple, yet elegant cover definitely drew my attention.
Given the content – this does have some graphic (if not disturbing) descriptions of torture. This is a rather “politically-themed” book due to the climate in France. There is also the mention and description of the slave-trade and a reference to a rape (before the story); along with infidelity. These are likely to be disturbing to some readers.
I also have to advise not snacking while reading, some of the descriptions of the conditions in France can be rather nauseating (blood, chamber pots, excrement).
The main characters are:
✝️ Isabelle
🏹 Naira (Huron woman – friend of Isabelle)
👑 James (Isabelle’s husband, tortured, saved her – Catholic)
✝️ Andre (former “love interest” of Isabelle’s – Huguenot)
✝️ Henri (a friend of Isabelle’s – Huguenot)
✝️ Charlotte (one of the Daughters of the King)
👑 Antoinette (LaMarche’s daughter)
👑 LaMarche (man who tortured Isabelle)
Since this is the second book in the series, I VERY STRONGLY recommend reading Daughter of the King. I did not (and it is now on my TBR), but the way this was written, the author recapped a few events from that book.
This apparently picks up after the events of the first book.
Isabelle is in Quebec after marrying James, a soldier who apparently saved her. She is training with a Huron woman (Naira) to learn to fight. Given Naira’s past, she is the best one to train Isabelle. However, Isabelle is struggling. She has converted to Catholicism, but wants to fight to free her people – the Huguenots (Protestants) in Paris. She acts as a spy, using her husband James to get information.
Her friend, Henri, is only interested in bloodshed.
Meanwhile another group of “Daughters of the King” arrive to marry and settle New France (Quebec). Many of them are eager to choose a new mate and begin their lives. Except one – Charlotte. She admired Isabelle, and wants to fight like Isabelle, though now she’s wondering if Isabelle isn’t a traitor.
Isabelle also has to cope with being around Andre, a young man she loved, but he has married another woman. Still, they both love each other.
Isabelle and James cannot stand each other except during intimacy. She cannot be the wife he wants, and he is trying to be the husband she wants – except his greed for money, power, and nobility takes precedence.
Isabelle also has to worry about the French people there when the Iroqouis look to attack to make a statement. Isabelle is able to save some of the people, especially with Charlotte’s help. Isabelle also has to confront another battle – an illness – that leaves Andre’s wife dead and an opening for a possible reconciliation later on.
It isn’t until Isabelle learns of her husband’s plan to get into the slave-trade when she has to act. Especially when the main man behind it is the man who tortured her – LaMarche. Isabelle meets up with a woman, a descendant from a member of the royal family – a woman whose secrets could cost her her own life.
Armed with secrets, James and Isabelle head to France. Isabelle is also there to rescue Henri who James had captured.
But, in Paris everything changes. Isabelle learns James has his own secret, she and Andre help other Huguenots escape, and James learns his marriage to Isabelle is in danger.
Isabelle also sees her true purpose – rescue her people, or die trying. She also sees a way out of her marriage and realizes where she belongs. The last part of the book is non-stop action as Charlotte, Henri, Andre, and Isabelle race to rescue a Huguenot family with James and LaMarche chasing them.
The end is a bit “open”, thus possibly leading into a third book. How it ended was a bit predictable given the plot. Nothing really was a surprise there.
Despite the many characters in the book, it is entirely told in first-person POV by Isabelle. To be honest, I would’ve LOVED to have had other POVs to balance it out – especially Charlotte’s.
This was a bit hard to get into, but the short chapters kept me reading. The main plot actually didn’t start until around the 50% mark of the story. But, it was remarkably fast-paced and didn’t linger once the action shifted from Canada to Paris. It definitely gets far darker in tone once there.
There is also mention of witchcraft as one of the King’s mistresses practices the art. I have to admit, at one point it felt like Harry Potter meets the 17th century with the mentions of potions, cauldrons, and dark arts.
Chaput definitely crafts an interesting story with intrigue, suspense, deception, treachery, and lust.
Despite the fact the fight is OVER religious persecution, this is not a religious read in any way. There are very little references to religion except the mention of a particular bible. There is some strong language; no s-bomb or f-bomb variations though. There is the use of b$t@hes, b@s!ard, and damm!t. There is some moderate intimacy that is described, but not explicit or graphic; along with mention of nudity.
Those who’ve read the first book and enjoy 17th Century history are sure to enjoy this read. I am interested in the next book to see what Charlotte, Henri, Isabelle, and Andre are going to do next.
RATING:
4 (3.7) ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
4 (3.7) ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
4 (3.7) ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html;update)
PREVIOUS BOOK IN THE SERIES:
Series: Defying the Crown (Book #1)
Paperback: 247 pages
Publisher: Black Rose Writing (December 26, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN: 1684338379
ISBN-13: 978-1684338375
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“La Rochelle France, 1661. Fierce Protestant Isabelle is desperate to escape persecution by the Catholic King. Isabelle is tortured and harassed, her people forced to convert to the religion that rules the land. She risks her life by helping her fellow Protestants, which is forbidden by the powers of France. She accepts her fate - until she meets a handsome Catholic soldier who makes her question everything.
She fights off an attack by a nobleman, and the only way to save herself is to flee to the colony of Canada as a Daughter of the King. She can have money, protection and a new life - if she adopts the religion she's spent a lifetime fighting. She must leave her homeland and the promises of her past. In the wild land of Canada, Isabelle finds that her search for love and faith has just begun.
Based on the incredible true story of the French orphans who settled Canada, Daughter of the King is a sweeping tale of one young woman's fight for true freedom. Kerry Chaput brings the past to life, expertly weaving a gripping saga with vivid historical details. Jump back in time on a thrilling adventure with an unforgettable heroine.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kerry Chaput is an award-winning historical fiction author. She believes in the power of stories that highlight young women and found families. Born and raised in California, she now lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, where she can be found on hiking trails and coffee shops. Visit her website at https://www.kerrywrites.com/.
You can also find her on the following social media accounts:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KerryChaputAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerrywrites/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChaputKerry
* Post contains an Amazon affiliate link
FOLLOW THE TOUR
Comments
Post a Comment