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natashazaleski's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
The book is in a way not written from one POV. Sure Louise de Valliere is the main character for most of it but there is always someone else taking her is his turn to say something, or to think something. It feels not like you follow one person but like you are some sort of ghost jumping around trying to see what is going on.
The book also takes place during a few months in 1661. Lois XIV is madly in love with his sister in law Henriette and they have a relationship. Her husband Phillippe is angry, but then he has former lovers too, male ones. Viscount Nicholas who takes care of the finances is spying on everyone and he will soon be thrown into jail. Louise comes to the court, all innocent and sweet and tries to hide the affair between the king and his sister in law. And then Louise and Louis fall in love. Lots more affairs going on and someone are sending the king notes questioning who his father is. That is what is going on in this book. It is a young court since the king is only 22. Everyone is happy and flirting with each other.
There is also another part of the book. The author takes in the story about the iron mask and makes Louise find out more about this. A nice little plot that goes well with everything. Especially since it brings light on the relationship between the Queen Mother and Mazarin.
I felt sorry for poor Louise when I later had a look at her fate. She loved the king and he just threw her to the side when he was finished with her. The book may end all happily but she was certainly not the last mistress he had. Especially horrible was how she was used as a decoy when he found a new woman. The power of kings. Still in this book he is a young king and in love. You can't fault him for that, and neither Louise who is young and impressionable.
Sometimes I did wonder if it was the way it was written that never made me totalyl fall for the book. I never seemed to get a hold of anyone. They slipped through my fingers.
This is a book for historical fiction fans out there, and especially those who enjoy the period.
The book also takes place during a few months in 1661. Lois XIV is madly in love with his sister in law Henriette and they have a relationship. Her husband Phillippe is angry, but then he has former lovers too, male ones. Viscount Nicholas who takes care of the finances is spying on everyone and he will soon be thrown into jail. Louise comes to the court, all innocent and sweet and tries to hide the affair between the king and his sister in law. And then Louise and Louis fall in love. Lots more affairs going on and someone are sending the king notes questioning who his father is. That is what is going on in this book. It is a young court since the king is only 22. Everyone is happy and flirting with each other.
There is also another part of the book. The author takes in the story about the iron mask and makes Louise find out more about this. A nice little plot that goes well with everything. Especially since it brings light on the relationship between the Queen Mother and Mazarin.
I felt sorry for poor Louise when I later had a look at her fate. She loved the king and he just threw her to the side when he was finished with her. The book may end all happily but she was certainly not the last mistress he had. Especially horrible was how she was used as a decoy when he found a new woman. The power of kings. Still in this book he is a young king and in love. You can't fault him for that, and neither Louise who is young and impressionable.
Sometimes I did wonder if it was the way it was written that never made me totalyl fall for the book. I never seemed to get a hold of anyone. They slipped through my fingers.
This is a book for historical fiction fans out there, and especially those who enjoy the period.
courthughes's review against another edition
3.0
Karleen Koen's "Through A Glass Darkly" is one of my favorite historical fiction novels, so I had high hopes for this one. It was my first read about the Sun King, so I was excited about that, too. I think Koen did a decent job - I was intrigued enough about the characters and their court life to keep reading - but there wasn't a lot of depth, so I was able to read it pretty quickly. As other readers have noted, I would have loved more steamy scenes, or scandals, or action in general, but when taken for what it is, it wasn't a bad read, just not Koen's best.[b:Through a Glass Darkly|79484|Through a Glass Darkly|Karleen Koen|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1272744116s/79484.jpg|1042464][b:Through a Glass Darkly|79484|Through a Glass Darkly|Karleen Koen|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1272744116s/79484.jpg|1042464]
gilmoreguide's review against another edition
4.0
The best kind of historical fiction- draws you in and keeps you reading right up until the last page. Fascinating look at the early days of Louis XIV's reign. Loved this and ready for the next installment.
elizabeththebookwoman's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this novel but the first 150 pages were hard to get through but it did pick up afterwards. Couldn't decide between giving 2 or 3 stars. The idea about the boy in the iron mask was interesting.
sabregirl's review against another edition
5.0
I was really excited to start reading this book because I had just read a semi-biography on Louis IV's supposed secret wife and the book had mentioned Louise but only really in passing. I enjoyed how focused this book was. Normally books that tackle a king's era as so scattered and hard to keep track of, but by keeping it in a fourth month span was a brilliant idea. This way it was much easier to keep track of characters as well as plot development and what was going on in the novel. I wasn't aware that Louis had a thing for his brothers wife in the beginning of his reign, the book I mentioned before only calls attention to her for her spite towards him for not getting his attention so it was interesting to find out that he did try to pursue her. I had always known of the Man in the Iron Mask myth but didn't realize that it was associated with this King, so that was a nice mystery to the plot and how it all ended. Over all, I'm very pleased with this book and happy that I had won it in a party at a Goodreads group. This book fits along nicely with anyone who is interested in France before Louis VI and the fall of a great kingdom because it's within those four months that [a:Karleen Koen|45191|Karleen Koen|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1305819991p2/45191.jpg] shows how Louis IV became a great king.
cher_n_books's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars - It was alright, an average book.
Had a very slow start, but the novel picked up in the later half. The author switches POVs too frequently which can make certain chapter transitions feel disjointed. As always, the author’s note at the end that explained what is known for sure vs what was fictional liberty, was appreciated.
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First Sentence: A young woman galloped headlong and recklessly down half-wild trails in the immense forest of Fontainebleau.
Had a very slow start, but the novel picked up in the later half. The author switches POVs too frequently which can make certain chapter transitions feel disjointed. As always, the author’s note at the end that explained what is known for sure vs what was fictional liberty, was appreciated.
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First Sentence: A young woman galloped headlong and recklessly down half-wild trails in the immense forest of Fontainebleau.
daemonad's review against another edition
2.0
There were glimpses and whole views into the 17th century court life and courtiers, that seemed accurate and drew me into this flamboyant world. However, Koen's characterization fell flat when it came to Louise de La Valiere, and d'Artagnan. She was so desperate to make Louise into a perfect, innocent gentle flower, yet courageous, caring, and god knows every fucking good thing that one could puke out, that well I was feeling quite sick of her. I couldn't help but smile happily when de Guise called her a whore. I loved de Guise. If the book was about him, it would get 4 stars. Though, Koen would probably chicken out, and turn him into a Gary Sue.
halkid2's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book originally two years ago and just listened to it again, this time as a book on tape. It's wonderful historical fiction and probably paints the best picture of court intrigue during the time of Louis XIV of any book I've read.
The book covers four pivotal months in Louis's reign, when he is 22 and eager to assume complete power after growing up under the shadow of his mother and Cardinal Mazarin, who has recently died when the book begins. Louis's queen is expecting their first child, he becomes infatuated with his brother's new wife, Henriette, and the mystery of the man in the iron mask is about to unfold. The book also covers the early days of Louis's love affair with Louise de la Valliere, who is the clear heroine of the book in my mind.
But what's wonderfully described is the environment of deceit that surrounds the King, as people try to gain royal favor. Friends, relatives, even confessors -- very few can be trusted. The side stories of the building of Vaux-le-Vicomte and the fall of finance minister Nicolas Fouquet are both delicious. The reader gets the clear sense of how lonely it truly is to be a king.
The book covers four pivotal months in Louis's reign, when he is 22 and eager to assume complete power after growing up under the shadow of his mother and Cardinal Mazarin, who has recently died when the book begins. Louis's queen is expecting their first child, he becomes infatuated with his brother's new wife, Henriette, and the mystery of the man in the iron mask is about to unfold. The book also covers the early days of Louis's love affair with Louise de la Valliere, who is the clear heroine of the book in my mind.
But what's wonderfully described is the environment of deceit that surrounds the King, as people try to gain royal favor. Friends, relatives, even confessors -- very few can be trusted. The side stories of the building of Vaux-le-Vicomte and the fall of finance minister Nicolas Fouquet are both delicious. The reader gets the clear sense of how lonely it truly is to be a king.
autumnrdreads's review against another edition
4.0
This book was everything that you would expect in a novel about the French court...suspense, intrique, flirting, dueling; it was a fantastic read. The characters were lifelike and interesting, the plot so suspenseful it was difficult to put down. My one complaint is that it ended so abruptly, I think it could've gone for a couple hundred more pages.