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The Prisoner of the Castle of Enlightenment

Therese Doucet (Goodreads Author)

4.27 · Rating details · 15 ratings · 16 reviews

A lover in and of the darkness ...
Violaine, a devotee of books and learning, is sold by her father to a mysterious nobleman to become his companion. Fearing herself at the mercy of a monster, Violaine instead succumbs to the seductive spell of her magical new home, and the love of a man she has never seen, who comes to her only in the darkness of night.
The Château de ...more

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Paperback, 266 pages

Published February 4th 2020 by D. X. Varos, Ltd.

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Dec 22, 2019 Dan (The Chaotic Reader) rated it liked it

Shelves: from-authors-and-publishers, fantasy

My rating for this is actually in the 3.5 to 3.75 range. When evaluating that rating, keep in mind that my average rating over almost 900 books is 3.01.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher at the author's request. The scheduled release date is February 4, 2020.

I remember watching Disney's Beauty and the Beast countless times with my kids when they were much younger, so it's not surprising that the beginning of The Prisoner of the Castle of Enlightenment would seem very My rating for this is actually in the 3.5 to 3.75 range. When evaluating that rating, keep in mind that my average rating over almost 900 books is 3.01.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher at the author's request. The scheduled release date is February 4, 2020.

I remember watching Disney's Beauty and the Beast countless times with my kids when they were much younger, so it's not surprising that the beginning of The Prisoner of the Castle of Enlightenment would seem very familiar. It's not an exact retelling of the movie. Just enough of the basics to feel familiar. Even when the story veers from the children's movie themes into decidedly adult themes, the storyline retains the thread of the fairy tale. Those adult themes include Violaine (the book's equivalent of Belle from the movie) readily surrendering to the "Beast's" carnal urges and a group of Enlightenment era aristocrat types gathering for a summer of philosophizing and interacting in ways that would make the Marquis de Sade proud. That's not to say the story becomes as libertine as de Sade's writing. It just borrows from his themes to create an atmosphere that gives an interesting twist to the fairy tale. Toward the end, threads of the myth of Psyche and Cupid are blended seamlessly into the mix. Being a fairy tale, there has to be a happily ever after ending, but this one has a much more realistic turn than do most fairy tales.

The prose here has a lyrical quality that sets the fairy tale feel to the story. The narrative is in first person present and is done so well that it doesn't overpower the story as do most such narratives. This is, in fact, one of the few such narratives that I've actually been able to enjoy. It's a fairly quick read and the plot twists and turns in ways that easily lead the reader along in search of what comes next.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fairy tale or myth retelling with a decided twist to it or even just a good romantic adventure, with the caveat that it may not be suitable for very squeamish or easily offended personalities. ...more

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Jan 27, 2020 Nenia ⚡ Aspiring Evil Overlord ⚡ Campbell marked it as to-read

Is this a Beauty and the Beast retelling?

Also I'm such a sucker for captivity romances LOL

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Nov 14, 2019 Jason Pettus rated it really liked it

Shelves: alt-history, contemporary, erotic, fantasy

Back when I was writing book reviews for a living, I found myself rather charmed by Therese Doucet's 2011 debut novel, the semi-autobiographical "reformed Mormon finally learns about the big wide world" tale A Lost Argument (see my review); so I was pleased a few weeks ago to accept a review copy of her latest, The Prisoner of the Castle of Enlightenment by the brand-new genre small press DX Varos, despite the fact that it's a style of story I usually don't read by choice for pleasure. I was Back when I was writing book reviews for a living, I found myself rather charmed by Therese Doucet's 2011 debut novel, the semi-autobiographical "reformed Mormon finally learns about the big wide world" tale A Lost Argument (see my review); so I was pleased a few weeks ago to accept a review copy of her latest, The Prisoner of the Castle of Enlightenment by the brand-new genre small press DX Varos, despite the fact that it's a style of story I usually don't read by choice for pleasure. I was under the impression at first that it was going to be a "high fantasy" novel in the style of JRR Tolkien, but it turns out to be more like a Medieval Chivalric tale with a touch of magical realism; but the big twist here (not-so-spoiler alert: it's right in the book's title) is that our charming, morally pure, castle-owning hero is actually supposed to be one of the forerunners of the Enlightenment in the early 1700s, and that the wooing he does of our put-upon peasant heroine Violane is based mostly around rationality and respecting her opinion as a strong, independent woman. #MeTooSwoon!

I have to admit, I found the story only so-so when I began, but I grew to like it more and more as the page count continued, mostly because Doucet is great at painting a delightfully diverting fairytale land of intellectual salons and fanciful masquerade balls, cleverly combining all the usual tropes of a cheapie paperback romance novel with the intelligence and sophistication of the Age Of Rationality times her characters are about to grow into. (As she explains in the afterword, most of the people spending the summer in the "Château de Boisaulne" where our story takes place are actually based on real figures from the Enlightenment, such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and the Marquis de Sade.) But that said, Doucet ain't kidding with her heraldic pastiche here, and so you better go into this with an appreciation for tales about fluttering damsels and bosom-heaving nighttime rendezvous if you want any chance of enjoying this at all, a book not exactly for "Wheel Of Time" fans but rather those who enjoy Fleetwood Mac album cover art. It comes specifically recommended to this specific audience, those who enjoy their fantasy tales with a dollop of court intrigue and a couple of motley fools thrown in for good measure, a step higher than the usual chivalric romance novel because of adding such a unique and clever new element to it. ...more

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Jan 02, 2020 Ella rated it liked it

Shelves: mature-or-explicit-scenes, fantasy, feminist-lit, historic, queer-rep, romance, reviewed

This is a retelling of the well-known "Beauty and the Beast" intended for a mature audience. The main character, Violaine, is a widow who is forced to live in a magical castle as the companion of a mysterious Marquis because her father needs the money the Marquis has promised in exchange. The story takes place in France during the age of the enlightenment and is told in first person, from Violaine's point of view.

Violaine is a feminist of her own time, a free thinker like the friends she make This is a retelling of the well-known "Beauty and the Beast" intended for a mature audience. The main character, Violaine, is a widow who is forced to live in a magical castle as the companion of a mysterious Marquis because her father needs the money the Marquis has promised in exchange. The story takes place in France during the age of the enlightenment and is told in first person, from Violaine's point of view.

Violaine is a feminist of her own time, a free thinker like the friends she make during her stay at the Castle of Enlightenment and sexually experimental. None of the sex scenes are explicit, but I'd still class this as a thematically pretty sexual story. The love that grows between Violaine and her beast is not the most romantic of sorts, so if you're hoping for a fairy tale-like love story, this isn't that retelling. It explores different types of relationships and friendships though. I enjoyed the magical elements, like the king of the forest and the castle, though toward the end of the story the main antagonist's reaction to the magic went completely unmentioned, as if it had stopped existing.

There were a few points in the story where I thought the chapter breaks were oddly placed and at some point in the dialogue the characters underlined the fact that they were European in an unnatural way (I suppose the target audience is American so maybe the reminder is needed). Apart from that, some words were written in French. The story is obviously English, but the characters are speaking French, and therefore it seems odd to leave some words untranslated, especially when there's no pressing reason not to translate them. Also, for example Hades, the god's name, was spelled in a French rather than English for no apparent reason. These untranslated French words in the middle of the story ranged from excessive to pretentious in my opinion.

Trigger warnings for sexual assault and a big minus for how the minor antagonists were punished by becoming disabled thanks to karma, or something of the sort. Disability in itself should not be seen as something "bad people deserve". That left a bad taste in my mouth when I finished this novel, especially since it happened to both of the minor antagonists and that was that for them.

I'd rate this novel something between 3 and 4 stars out of 5. Due the aforementioned bad taste I think I'll go with 3, but I still mostly enjoyed this story and found it to be an entertaining read.

I received a free physical ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. The novel will be published in February 2020. If you're interested in seeing pictures of the large paperback I got, I've uploaded a few on my Instagram. I found the book to be of good quality, it didn't tear or fall apart like some paperbacks do after just one read-through. ...more

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Jan 02, 2020 Sara Snarr rated it liked it

Doucet is a gifted story teller. She pulls the reader swiftly along on this retelling of Beauty and the Beast, especially in the second half as things start to unravel. She sets her tale in 17th century Savoy among attendees of the Parisian philosophical salons which introduces interesting new twists to an old tale. I wanted to give this new novelist's book four stars--she is clearly an amazing writer and her creativity provided much to think about. I particularly enjoyed her setting--the hidden Doucet is a gifted story teller. She pulls the reader swiftly along on this retelling of Beauty and the Beast, especially in the second half as things start to unravel. She sets her tale in 17th century Savoy among attendees of the Parisian philosophical salons which introduces interesting new twists to an old tale. I wanted to give this new novelist's book four stars--she is clearly an amazing writer and her creativity provided much to think about. I particularly enjoyed her setting--the hidden estate in the Savoyard countryside enhanced by magic. And Doucet has clearly done her research on the location, culture, and great thinkers of the time. The philosophical conversations among visitors to the estate add a fascinating element to the story.

My hesitation comes less from her writing than from the original fairy tale itself. I have yet to come across a version of Beauty and the Beast that overcomes the unfortunate Stockholm-Syndrome-like central idea of a woman who is held against her will falling for her captor. Doucet presented a well-thought-out premise for her Belle-substitute Violaine and her change of heart toward her captor. I can't imagine anything more plausible. But I still just couldn't buy it. Without offering spoilers, the Marquis (the Beast) offered his reasons for keeping Violaine in the dark and ignorant of his motives and intentions, but it still felt condescending to me. In this MeToo age, I keep hoping for a version of this story that gives Belle voice and equal power. But Disney or not, it seems like Beauty and the Beast boils down to a woman held isolated until she gives in. Despite all that Violaine is required to sacrifice, and it is so very much, she falls passionately in love with her captor (sensitive readers should know this is NOT a children's story). Violaine is presented as an intelligent and independent woman yet she is enthralled with this mystery man and gives her heart and body to him, a man essentially holding her hostage, whom she has never seen in daylight, and with whom she has only held nighttime conversations in the dark. Come on girl, hold out for that equal relationship and not one based on a power play!

But expect great things from Doucet. Can't wait to see what else she puts her hand to. Her first two books have suggested good things to come from a very talented author.

*I received an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a review. ...more

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Jan 26, 2020 ♕ rayne ♕ is currently reading it

Shelves: from-publisher, own

Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Nov 25, 2019 Lorran Garrison rated it it was amazing

Ever wonder what Belle in Beauty and the Beast would be like in an adult-themed story? Not a cartoon, but a woman, with needs and desires?

The Prisoner of the Castle of Enlightenment by Therese Doucet is the tale of Violaine twenty-seven, widowed, and mother of two near Vaud, Switzerland, in the Age of Enlightenment. She loses the bookshop that her and her late husband owned, sold by her father to a mysterious Marquis.

The Marquis finds a beloved book by Violaine, filled with poems written by ...more

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Feb 08, 2020 Michael Austin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2020

The Prisoner of the Castle of Enlightenment is a remarkable work of fiction that manages to be a number of things at once: it is (among many other things) a variation on a popular fairy tale, a novel of manners, a good adventure story, and a philosophical tale. And it takes place in a well-researched historical setting with an environment, and a society, that the author holds with obvious esteem and affection.

Let’s unpack all of this a little bit, keeping nasty spoilers to a minimum.

The novel The Prisoner of the Castle of Enlightenment is a remarkable work of fiction that manages to be a number of things at once: it is (among many other things) a variation on a popular fairy tale, a novel of manners, a good adventure story, and a philosophical tale. And it takes place in a well-researched historical setting with an environment, and a society, that the author holds with obvious esteem and affection.

Let’s unpack all of this a little bit, keeping nasty spoilers to a minimum.

The novel begins as a recognizable variation of the Beauty and the Beast tale. The heroine, a literate and intellectually curious Savoyard widow named Violaine, is sold by her father to a mysterious Marquis from a nearby castle. The father is not malicious, merely pragmatic--he cannot afford to support Violaine and her two children, and the Marquis offers to care for her and support her family. She tries to escape, but eventually accepts her fate and travels to the castle, which turns out to be 1) enchanted (we don’t quite get to singing teapots, but it comes close) and 2) possessed of a marvelous library of floor-to-ceiling books to which Violaine has unfettered access.

And there is a beast, sort of. At least there is a man who writes her letters (which magically appear) and allows her to decide when she will meet him and both if and when they will become lovers (light spoiler: they do). But the man comes only at night, telling vague tales of a faerie realm and an ogrish ancestor. (Did I mention that stuff appears out of nowhere, and anything she asks for magically appears?)

After about a third of the novel, though, Doucet deftly widens her scope and takes the novel from the familiar fairy tale to an inventive novel of aristocratic manners. After her first night with the ambiguously beastly lover, she wakes up to find a houseful of guests--all of whom have been invited by the Marquis whom they have never actually seen. The assembled group of eight (not counting the Marquis’ major domo, a minor nobleman named Harlequin), four men and, including Violaine four women.

The group includes all of the sorts of people you would find in a typical 18th century Parisean salon--and, a hundred years or so later, in the pages of Marcel Proust: an artist, a writer, a painter, a Scottish philosopher, several wealthy aristocrats, and one debauched and wealthy rake. These people are capable of sparkling conversation that allows the author to present and test some of the novels’ important ideas about religion, society, truth, and beauty--you know, stuff like that.

And they also sleep with each other in almost every pairing imaginable. This sexuality is an important part of the novel, but it is neither graphic nor gratuitous. Doucet describes the various pairings almost bashfully (or maybe it only seems bashful because all of the good stuff is in French). Sexuality is part of the philosophy that the novel tests. Much like Rabelais’ Abbey of Thélème--which I suspect is an inspiration somewhere in the background--the community sees pleasure as something inherently good when given and received freely. And as something destructive when achieved by coercion or force.

This middle section of the novel was my favorite part: it is where Doucet brings all of the big ideas out to play--and where the obvious allegory of “The Castle of Enlightenment” makes the most sense. The participants create a classless society (men and women participate equally, and everybody uses invented names to avoid class-based distinctions). Art and philosophy are valued highly, religious discussions are highly naturalistic, and nobody is terribly hung up about sex.

Then, of course, things go drastically awry.

The final third of the novel cycles back to a fairy tale plot, but it is much darker than the first. The world of this part of the novel is the dangerous mirror-world of Faerie, where nothing is as it seems and where most of the players are motivated by either mischief or malice. The non-magical world that comes into play is equally malicious, with the agents of malice being the Church and the corrupt aristocracy with their suffocating and self-serving definitions of virtue.

The Prisoner of the Castle of Enlightenment is engaging, quick-paced, well-plotted, and charming as hell. I loved it and will be waiting anxiously for the next books, may they be many, by the talented Ms. Doucet. ...more

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Nov 04, 2019 Therese added it · (Review from the author)

Shelves: fairy-tales, fantasy-and-sci-fi, french, historical-fiction, literary-and-general-fiction, magical-realism, mom-lit

Author's note - The first chapter of the novel was featured as an excerpt in Embark Literary Journal. It's available here.

Advance praise:

"Political, social, and psychological insights accompany Violaine's journeys to keep readers immersed in a story that defies easy categorization. From romance and fairy tale allusions to historical and philosophical foundations, The Prisoner of the Castle of Enlightenment may best be described as a surreal journey through the changing, challenging world of the ...more

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Feb 08, 2020 Rhianna Gale rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, fantasy, favorite, romance, historical, drama

OMGGG

I have FALLEN in love with this book, OVER, and OVER again! I am just madly in love OMG. I can't even think right now, that's how in love I am. I'm going to have to revisit this review in the near future to touch up, and give an actual review. But for now, I am going to sit here and wait for my very own Marquis, to come and rescue me.

*Thank you Therese and her publisher for being ever so kind, as to send me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

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Feb 04, 2020 Erin Figueiredo rated it really liked it

Interesting Read!

This was definitely a very interesting story, more of an adult retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I was not sure if the story would grip me and keep me interested and entertained, but once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. The story has suspense, intrigue and lots of romance to keep you captivated and highly entertained. It was a great story.

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Jan 29, 2020 Natalie rated it really liked it

I wasnt sure if I would like this story when I started reading this but I was pleasantly surprised.

This is a retelling of my favourite Disney movie. Beauty and the beast.

It has the romance and the suspense and everything you want and need in a retelling.

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Feb 18, 2020 Rachel C. rated it liked it

Shelves: pop-fic-general, lit-permutations

Beauty and the Beast retelling with Age of Enlightenment principles, as promised on the tin.

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Feb 10, 2020 Ekaiserattoe rated it it was amazing

Loved this book! Intelligent and very, very entertaining. Can’t wait for a sequel!!

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Jan 28, 2020 Raven Prophet marked it as to-read

Cupid and Psyche Retelling?

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Feb 17, 2020 D. X. rated it it was amazing

Absolutely exquisite period piece with just a hint of magic.

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About Therese Doucet

Therese Doucet

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My historical novel with magical realist elements, "The Prisoner of the Castle of Enlightenment," was published by D.X. Varos in February 2020. I'm also the author of "A Lost Argument: A Latter-Day Novel," published through my own Strange Violin Editions micropress imprint in 2011.

My fiction and creative nonfiction have appeared in literary magazines including Embark, Hotel Amerika, and Bayou ...more

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