Antoinette's Sister

by Diana Giovinazzo

Bursting with intrigue, adventure, and romance, Antoinette's Sister expertly brings to life one of history's most formidable European monarchs: a woman who upended societal conventions for the betterment of her people as Queen of Naples, and courageously lived—and loved—on her own terms.

Austria, 1767: Marie Carolina Charlotte—third daughter and sixteenth child of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria—knows her position as a Hapsburg archduchess will inevitably force her to leave her home, her family, and her beloved country. But not yet. The Hapsburg family is celebrating a great triumph: Charlotte's younger sister, Josepha, has been promised to King Ferdinand IV of Naples, and will soon take her place as queen. Before Josepha can journey to her new home, however, tragedy strikes: after visiting the family crypt, Josepha contracts smallpox and dies. Embroiled in grief, Charlotte is forced to face an unthinkable new reality.

​She must now marry Ferdinand in her sister's stead.

Bereft and alone, Charlotte finds that her new life in Naples is more complicated than she could ever have imagined. Ferdinand is weak and feckless, and a disastrous wedding night plunges her into despair. Her husband's regent, Tenucci, is a controlling and power-hungry man who has pushed the country to the brink of ruin. Overwhelmed, she asks her brother Leopold, now the Holy Roman Emperor, to send help—which he does in the form of John Acton, a handsome military man twenty years Charlotte's senior who is tasked to take over the Navy. Now, Charlotte must gather the strength to do what her mother did before her: take control of a country.

Antoinette's Sister brings a forgotten Italian monarch brilliantly to life in this sweeping, luxurious tale of family, power, and court intrigue. For in a time of political uprisings, royal executions, and refugee crises, how is a young woman to keep hold of everything—and everyone—she loves? 

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Italy, Romance, 18th Century, France

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 11, 2022

About the author

Diana Giovinazzo is the co-creator of Wine, Women and Words, a weekly literary podcast featuring interviews with authors over a glass of wine. Diana lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband and menagerie.

Reviews

[Miya (severe pain struggles, slower at the moment) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Royalty and historical fiction/real events mashed. This was interesting from a story perspective and from a historical view as well. It was slow at some points, but for those who really enjoy royal period dramas, this is perfect.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book is SO GOOD! It is powerful, moving, emotional, thought-provoking, gripping, and so much more! Whenever I picked up "Antoinette's Sister", I was whisked back in time to the 1700s and early 1800s, and went on such an emotional journey with this story.

This is the first book I have read by Diana Giovinazzo, and it will certainly not be my last! Her writing style is visceral, vivid, detailed, and incredibly well-researched. I can only imagine the amount of time she spend researching this book, as each aspect: from the story being told, to the historical figures brought to life, to the various locations, etc. jumped right off of the page before my eyes. They all also felt so authentic to the time period the book is set in. I could really envision everything, and often forgot I was reading a book as I was so swept away into the story.

This book tells the story of Maria Carolina Charlotte, who becomes Queen of Naples and Sicilty. We first meet Charlotte as a young girl, who absolutely adores her sister Antoinette. The two have a very close relationship and spend all of their time together, until their mother separates them thinking they are bad influences on one another. Charlotte and Antoinette promise they will never allow themselves to be separated, and that they will find a way to communicate.

When their sister Josepha dies, Charlotte is chosen to marry King Ferdinand IV of Naples, and her life is changed forever as she is sent away to be queen. I do not want to spoil too much of this book plot wise, but, I will say, this book is a must-read. So much history is in this book, and everything weaves together in a story that is difficult to put down.

I found the concept the letters being written throughout very interesting, and think the author did a wonderful job of tying them in to what the chapter is about in many ways. I found this very unique and intriguing!

If you enjoy historical fiction novels, I highly recommend this book! It kept me turning the pages to see what would happen chapter after chapter, and I so look forward to reading what Ms. Giovinazzo writes next! I also look forward to doing more research of Maria Carolina Charlotte, and her life and times too.

Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, and to Grand Central Publishing for sending me a beautiful finished copy as well, it is incredible! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Cookie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love historical fiction, especially about royalty. I had high hopes from this one, but it missed the mark for me. For one, I think the title is not right for the book. The book is about Maria Carolina Charlotte, sister to Marie Antoinette and the Queen of Naples. I thought based on the book it would be about Marie Antoinette's sister who maybe lived with her or was by her side during her reign, but it wasn't at all. This book focused on Charlotte's reign and should have had a title that reflected that it was about Charlotte. I think maybe the publisher chose the title thinking it would attract readers with the famous name of Antoinette.

I enjoy historical fiction that blends historical pieces with good storytelling. This book had tons of historical details, too many that bog down the story and not all relevant for the storyline. It lacked the storytelling and writing needed to move along the story and also capture my attention. This story dragged and I found myself mostly bored while reading it.

⚠️: death of a loved one

I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher.

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the author of The Woman in Red comes another historical fiction. Antoinette's Sister by Diana Antoinette has been a staple on my nightstand this week. It's one of those books that demands you take time and dare I say, a little research while reading. I find myself taking notes and wanting to learn more about these sisters than what I've gained from movies and television. I am pleased to say I'm a fan of author Giovinazzo. I can't wait to read what she does next.

~Tanja

*Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for sharing this title with me. #GCPCLUBCAR


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[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You are the queen. You are the queen that Antoinette wanted to be . . ."

Austria, 1765. We're introduced to Austria in the late 1700s and get a glimpse of what it's like to be in the realm of the Habsburg Empire. At the start of this novel, we're privy to a showing of the suitor chosen to be married to Josepha (the oldest daughter of Empress Maria Theresa).

It was quite common during this period of European history for marriages to be arranged for alliances and keeping the peace.

As described in the quote below, here's how Empress Maria Theresa was viewed:

"Our mother, Empress Maria Theresa, was not only the ruler of the Austria-Hungary Empire, but was also the absolute ruler of the Habsburg royal family - all eleven of us. No Habsburg child, male or female, were immune to her strict cultivation. We were all expected to be rulers in whichever court the empress mother deemed appropriate and, as such were savagely pruned by her sharp tongue".

Unfortunately, due to a tragedy that has befallen Josepha, Maria Carolina Charlotte or "Charlotte" as she was to be known was thrust into the marriage spotlight. This novel also very well describes the close bond Charlotte had with her sister Marie Antoinette. I found it quite interesting, that throughout this novel, the name "Marie" was never mentioned only "Antoinette".

After the marriage, Charlotte is off to Italy to rule Naples & the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Here we're introduced to the different life style than is accustomed in Austria at Schonbrunn Palace.

I have to say, the author Diana Giovinazzo did a phenomenal job in doing her utmost research as it very much shows throughout this novel in both descriptions and overall research.

As an example of the descriptiveness of Caserta Palace in Naples, where Charlotte rules as Queen of Naples & the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, I present you with this quote below:

"Looking beyond the arches, I could see one of the beautiful courtyards, enchanted with sunlight that spilled over a multicolored rose garden. But it was the octagonal vestibule that opened up to the most beautiful staircase I had ever seen that took my breath away. The rich notes of violins floated down from the balcony above us as we began to climb the ornate marble stairs that lead to a landing guarded by two stone lions".


Caserta Palace

As for the research aspect, I present you with this quote but gives you a good history sense behind The Kingdom of the Two Sicilies:

"The kingdoms of Naples and Sicily were traded between the countries of Spain, Savoy and Austria for the better part of a century, but it wasn't until Austria was forced into a war with the Turks that King Philip the Fifth of Spain took his opportunity".

PS I loved the random dissemination of letters between Charlotte and "Antoinette" and amongst the other members of the family showing how close of a relationship the two sisters really had even after going their own ways when married off, but also shows a glimpse into the Habsburg Empire even more but this time on a more personal level.

This is such a fantastic book as it's told from the eyes of Maria Carolina Charlotte while ruling but also as the events of the French Revolution transpired.

If you're at all interested in European history, Marie Antoinette, etc I definitely recommend you check out historical fiction author Diana Giovinazzo's newest historical fiction novel Antoinette's Sister, which was released on January 11, 2022.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character in this book was written with every attempt to paint her as "perfect". She had no flaws save for veiled compliments (an all too common trope, especially for female novel leads these days, which irks me TO NO END) such as an impetuous and rebellious streak that really serves to fight to improve the lives of her people and rage against the more corrupt men in power. That, or her less seemly actions are merely a response to how she is otherwise victimized by others' behavior.

Spoiler:
When it came to her and John Acton, she was told by another lady at court, "We marry for position, for wealth, but we have affairs for love. We finally get to enjoy ourselves"..."All I ask is that you simply remember what I said." Then said lady "winked and walked away." When her husband the king catches her kissing Acton and reprimands her, the queen proceeds to detail her husband's own indiscretions in town and demands that she has the same right to be happy. It was at this point that I lost my patience with this book and decided not to finish it.

We are supposed to be set in the 1700s here, in a social circle that was born and bred as nobility. Queen Charlotte's sole purpose in this day and age was to ensure the lineage of the king by producing male heirs. If the paternity of the queen's children can be questioned, then she has irreparably failed in her most important duty and we set the stage for potential civil war. There is no way that this confrontation between husband and wife, king and queen, would have gone down in this way. Whether or not relations between Charlotte and Acton actually developed into an affair, if the king suspects as much the queen doesn't simply get to throw a temper tantrum and turn the tables on him -- then run away to another palace with the man in question! Kings throughout history have had a pass when it comes to mistresses, but I'm hard-pressed to fathom a queen who would have had that same ability. Whatever we think of this type of social marriage contract in today's day and age, our own feelings must be left out of the plot line when attempting to retell a piece of history. We must put ourselves in the shoes of the characters, and this character was living in starkly different circumstances from what we know today. If the author had found some other way to create a connection between the protagonist and the reader despite such cultural differences, that would have been an impressive feat.

The fact of the matter is that this book is NOT taking place in 2022, between a regular couple in an apartment in downtown New York. This is not a modern career woman talking to her friends over drinks at the bar about how her partner is cheating on her, being told, "Go ahead and do you girl, you deserve so much better!" It's not a woman at the office who has been guaranteed equal rights legally, but still fighting for respect from her male counterparts. The landscape for this particular character was FAR more treacherous. It is exceedingly frustrating to see modern sensibilities painted over historical events like this. From what very little I know of Queen Maria Carolina Charlotte, she does indeed seem like a formidable woman in history and I would have loved to delve into her inner workings and connect with what she may have experienced as she established her legacy. But unfortunately I was instead met with a protagonist that is overly perfect -- competent in all matters and meeting every challenge with ease and intelligence -- and well, I can't relate to that type of character. I simply end up rolling my eyes.

[Sydney Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally loved this, and yes, it’s as enticingly fun as the cover.

First, let's talk about that cover and why it is so great, besides the fact that it isn't just a redo of someone's back to us. The cover makes our heroine look feisty, a little wicked, a bit spoiled, and like someone I really want to know more about. In fact, Queen Charlotte of Naples, who fiercely loved her younger sister, Marie Antoinette, lived a life that should certainly be written about and talked about more. I doubt anyone who reads the book can help but wonder, what if? What if Charlotte had married Louis XVI instead of Antoinette--how much would be different? She certainly seemed to have the personality that would have lived up to the challenge, as well as the desire to actually do what her mother raised her to do: run a country.

But I don't want to give it all away. I'll just say, if you--like most of us-- refuse to buy into the history that women couldn't (or can't) do well running things, if you want to know about women who lived a different narrative, if you want to be inspired and entertained, if the cover appeals to you--then you should go ahead and read this enjoyable book.

[Laura • lauralovestoread · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of Historical Fiction, I’ve read my share of books with a look into Marie Antoinette’s life, but this was the first time reading a more intimate look at her sister Antoinette’s life, and I loved it.

I think the only thing keeping this from a five-star read was that it felt a bit lengthy in parts, but definitely informative!

*many thanks to Grand Central for the gifted copy for review

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich, fascinating, and informative!

Antoinette’s Sister is an alluring, compelling tale set in Europe during the late 1700s that tells the story of Maria Carolina Charlotte, a young, Habsburg archduchess who not only became the powerful Queen of Naples and Sicily and a loving mother after her reluctant marriage to the immature King Ferdinand IV but also remained a stalwart, unwavering supporter of her closest and dearest sister, Marie Antoinette, Queen of France.

The prose is seamless and vivid. The characters are intelligent, ruthless, and bold. And the plot is an insightful, sweeping tale of the struggles, sacrifices, hopes, fears, entangled relationships, love affairs, schemes, and treachery that surrounded one of the most powerful families of the time.

Antoinette’s Sister is, ultimately, a story about life, loss, politics, power, family, desires, sacrifices, love, and war. It’s an immersive, absorbing, well-written tale by Giovinazzo that does a beautiful job of highlighting her incredible research and considerable knowledge into the life of Maria Carolina of Austria and both her undeniable love for her infamous sister and her long-lasting influence on Naples and European history.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather Thorup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte, the sister of Marie Antoinette. 3 years apart and closer than twins. Charlotte becomes the Queen of the Two Sicilies and Marie the Queen of France. They correspond regularly as they become Mothers and all through the uprising against the royal family in France. Charlotte hears of her closest sister's death after fighting for ways to save her. Charlotte shows an indomitable spirit throughout the entire book. She takes the reins of Naples in her husband Ferdinand's stead. She is a competent ruler and Mother. After her sister's death, she eschews everything and everyone French, causing a national uprising. In the end, she sees Naples restored and Napoleon Bonaparte defeated. Charlotte was responsible for the salons she hosted and art that was brought in. For the olive trees planted in the wasteland. Marie Antoinette had such a fascinating and devastating life that I'm not surprised Charlotte was overshadowed and misconstrued. I love strong female characters, fictional or otherwise. Lovely book, I devoured it. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced read.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book! A historical fiction reader's delight! It's such a shame that it hasn't been marketed properly. It needs a wider audience....89 reviews 3 months post-publication is a crying shame.

The research was impeccable, the writing style was divine, and the narrative was well-paced with just enough intrigue to keep me turning pages. I wish I could be on the author's cheer team - I'd shout its accolades from the tallest building!

I'm glad I found this book at my local library and I look forward to reading more by this author.

[Pooja Peravali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though her tragic sister Marie Antoinette is better known today, Maria Carolina Charlotte, the queen of Naples, ruled with better success but faced her own share of troubles and tribulations in her years on the throne.

The thing with historical fiction is that the story can live or die by the events it's based on, especially when it follows the life of a historical figure. Luckily, Charlotte is an interesting main character. Though her attitudes toward the monarchy and her family were fairly typical for the time, combining it with her sense of duty, her pride, and her love of her adopted country made for a dynamic protagonist.

I thought the writer did an excellent job of showing Charlotte as both a public and a private figure, the queen and the woman both. She had been brought up to put her country first, but she struggles with how it impacts the lives of her and her family. It was interesting too to learn about the external views on the French Revolution, and clearly laid out the lead up to the Napoleonic Wars in more detail than I'd previously known - so I learned something!

I also enjoyed how the author depicted the complex relationships that Charlotte had with her husband Ferdinand and her prime minister John Action, which could have been so easily smoothed out into a cliched love triangle.

However, I did think the latter end of the book lagged, especially in the years after Marie Antoinette's death. There's a number of time skips, and one rather loses track of time and of what's going on. I would have like to see more of Charlotte's descent. I also really which there was a historical note or something which completed the arc of Ferdinand's reign and Marie Louise's marriage to Napoleon, because as it stands we end very abruptly, a pity when every life has threads which go on after death. As it stands I had to look up both on Wikipedia.

I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Marisa Calin. I thought she did not only a good job with all the accents, but also with capturing Charlotte's haughty, spirited voice.

[Katya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I adore historical fiction, courtly intrigue, and scandalous royal/noble women, so I was pretty excited to dive into this book, a fictionalized account of the life of Marie Antoinette's closest sister, Maria Carolina Charlotte, a queen in her own right. Unfortunately, it was weak on every level, leaving me to wish that Charlotte's story had been handled by a more capable writer.

Starting with the title - Antoinette's Sister implies that the story will be told through the lens of the titular character's relationship with her sister, which it kind of does, but this approach really does a disservice to Charlotte's own story. The letters peppered throughout the chapters are out of chronological order, for no discernible reason, and left me confused about either what had happened in the past or what's being foreshadowed for the future. A strange choice, to be sure. Charlotte also refers to her sister as Antoinette, when she would have been Antonia to her - Marie only became Antoinette to the world after going to France.

I didn't find the writing style compelling. It was very matter-of-fact, telling rather than showing, and although Giovinazzo peppered lots of details and descriptions into the story, it failed to draw me into Charlotte's world. It didn't help that the dialogue and Charlotte's behavior were incredibly anachronistic; she spoke like a modern woman and acted like one often. It seems like the intent was to portray her as someone strong and independent, but she came off as bratty and impetuous, with zero self-awareness. Much of the novel was devoted to describing how much of a bumbling fool her husband was, and how much better than him Charlotte was because she's bookish and intelligent.

Reading this book was more of a frustrating experience than an enjoyable one. There are better-researched, more compelling historical novels out there. Find one of them instead.

Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher for the published copy.

[Cindy Burnett (Thoughts from a Page) · Rating 4 out of 5]

While everyone is familiar with Marie Antoinette, her sister, Queen Charlotte of Naples, is much less renowned. The daughter of the formidable Habsburg ruler Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, Maria Carolina Charlotte is groomed from birth to extend her family’s power and influence through marriage. When older sister Josepha dies, Charlotte is forced to marry King Ferdinand IV of Naples, a simple and easily influenced individual, and she finds herself thrust into the role of Queen of Naples amid power struggles, economic turmoil, and political uprisings. Antoinette’s Sister brings Queen Charlotte and Naples vividly to life as well as portraying the Habsburg family’s influence and domination in the political arena during this time period, creating a fascinating and compelling read.

I included Antoinette's Sister on my Best Historical Fiction of January-March 2022 blog post: https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com/blo....

For more reading recommendations and author interviews check out my podcast and blog: https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com and follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfro....

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Stars

I liked this but the audiobook narrator had a grating voice.
This was kinda slow and detailed.
I'm very familiar with this time in history and enjoyed this framing of Maria Carolina, Queen of Naples.
I honestly think this would've gotten a higher rating from me but the narrator.

[Liz Mannegren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give me a book about royalty and I'm all in! I was so excited to receive an advance copy of Antoinette's Sister and it absolutely lived up to expectations.

While we're all familiar with the famous historical figure, Marie Antoinette, this book follows one of her lesser known siblings, Charlotte. This Queen is strong and determined, and while she certainly has her faults, she is responsible for much improvement in Naples. This fictional recounting of Charlotte's reign is absolutely fascinating, and had my deep-diving into my own research on this indomitable woman.

While I found the letters inserted a bit distracting (the timeline jump often confused me), I thought this was a wonderfully written story that kept me absolutely riveted.

Thanks to the publisher for this advance copy!

[Jennifer Moreman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid 4.5… I loved learning about what was going on in Europe during the French Revolution.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You probably know Marie Antoinette, the queen of France who was beheaded during the French Revolution. But how well do you know the life of her sister Maria Carolina “Charlotte,” queen of Naples and Sicily? This is her story.

Being born into the lineage of royalty sounds so glamorous, but history shows that children and marriages were all pawns on the political chessboard. Charlotte (her nickname) and Antoinette were daughters of the Holy Roman Emperor and Empress. When they were still young teenagers, they were parceled off to wed other nobles, hoping to make alliances with those countries - of course, the girls had no say.

Charlotte was wed to Ferdinand, king of both Naples and Sicily. She would go on to be an imposing queen and hold a seat on the council of state. Although busy with affairs of state and keeping her husband’s antics to a minimum, Charlotte found time to have seventeen children (although many succumbed to smallpox in childhood).

I loved how we got to see life as a monarch in the 1700s through the character of Charlotte. She was raised by her empress mother for her duty as a queen, to sacrifice for crown and country, and her lineage. As she was very close to Antoinette, I can’t imagine how she felt being separated from her and then learning of her execution.

With a strong focus on the people and their relationships, this book draws you into the world of the monarchs. But even among the grandeur and opulence of the palaces, these royals were not sheltered from grief, disease, and backstabbing. They were, after all, just people.

Thank you to @grandcentralpub for this gifted copy.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

In all of my recent Marie Antoinette reads, her favorite sister Charlotte has come to my attention. How serendipitous that I had this book about her on my shelves. This is a biographical fiction of Marie Charlotte Queen of the Two Sicilies. What a life! What a woman! Honestly she deserves to have her name in the title because she was remarkable, and did more than her more famous sister. I loved this! It was also my first foray into the Italian royals and I learned a lot!

[Eve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel tells the story of Marie-Antoinette’s sister, Charlotte, who was queen of the Two Siciles. Married to a weak king, she had to become the de facto ruler. Although not a page turner, it’s excellent historical fiction.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately for "Antoinette's Sister" by Dianna Giovanni, I had just finished reading "A Marriage Portrait" by Maggie O'Farrell when I started reading it. Oddly enough, the stories are very similar - both set in what we now know as Italy, both concerning a daughter of royalty being married off to produce an heir for the son of another royal family, and both being of the historical fiction genre about a time and a place that I knew very little about. "A Marriage Portrait" is set in the mid 1500's, and "Antoinette's Sister" is set mostly in the last half of the 1700's. I would have enjoyed "Antoinette's Sister" much more had I read it first. Both are very compelling stories, but Maggie O'Farrell's writing is a far superior to that of Diana Giovinazzo.

Let's start with the TITLE. This is not Antoinette's story. It is Maria Carolina Charlotte's story, though her relationship with her sister does play into her story. I understand that perhaps "Antoinette" may bring readers to the story - but I, honestly, made no connection that the "Antoinette" being referred to here was the "Marie Antoinette" until well into the story. I read it because it was a pick for one of my book clubs. I did not read it because I thought it was about Marie Antoinette and the story we all know. I think the title does a disservice to Maria Carolina Charlotte.

The PLOT of "Antoinette's Sister" is a story that most probably don't know, but is important and compelling in its own right. It is tangled and complicated. I appreciated the family trees at the front of the book for this reason, though it bugged the crap out of me that there were several inconsistencies, where the dates in the story did not match those on the family trees. (Don't get me started on all of the editing errors found in the book.) It also bothered me that Giovinnazzo skipped over great swaths of time, especially towards the end of the book; that the letters (an epistolary element, which is used to tell some of the story, especially in terms of Charlotte's relationship with Antoinette) were often out of chronological order, for no clear purpose; and that she tried to cover too much and did it ineffectively.

In terms of CHARACTER, I would have liked to hear more about Giovinazzo's research in putting together this piece. For example, the letters. Are the letters found in the novel based on actual letters between the individuals portrayed in the novel? If so, at one point in the story, Charlotte burns all but one letter in the midst of a temper tantrum...so that doesn't work. I enjoyed the first person narration, as this helped to keep the focus on Charlotte, whose story this really is.

LANGUAGE was a central weakness of the novel. This is one of the major differences between Giovinazzo's work and O'Farrell's work. Example: on page 82, "In the center was the most magnificent painting. Rich with hues of red and blue and green, it depicted the very first stone at the palace as it was laid be King Carlos III." "Red and blue and green"? Really? How about more descriptive words such as "emerald" or "crimson." Also, the language didn't help to move the reader into the era. It was much too contemporary. I actually cringed a few times at the use of contemporary slang terms.

I really liked (in both books) the fact that there was so much here in terms of THEME that seemed relevant and timely to a 2022 audience. THEMES included:

- the incompetence of some rulers, especially those who inherit a position, rather than earn it
- the importance of education
- pandemics - in the 1760's it was smallpox
- love - especially in terms of marrying for love, rather than power and appearances and wealth - are there greater loves than that of the flesh?
- power
- sex - for the sake of producing an heir, especially a male heir, rather than love
- the role of a woman
- the role of a man
- the relationship between sisters
- the relationship between a husband and a wife
- lack of loyalty
- what an effective ruler is
- the importance of finding common ground, especially in a dispute
- the importance of the arts
- the importance of anticipating your opponent - gather information to use against them - neutralize them so that one can catch them
- learning from one's mistakes
- what it means to be a mother
- the value of a male's life as compared to that of a female
- should one be a queen first or a mother (sister, wife, daughter, friend) first (also a significant theme in "The Crown" series a bout the British monarchy)?
- inoculations/vaccinations
- men being intimidated by women who show strength or who "exercise any liberty"
- the importance of female friendships
- everyone wants something - it's human nature - and we will fight to get it
- many men have a propensity to conquer, and when they can't conquer, they destroy
- grief
- living life without regrets

So in terms of THEME, this was generally a strong read.

This novel covers a compelling story. However, if looking for a great work of historical fiction, I would recommend "A Marriage Portrait," also a compelling story, over this one.

[Kiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was tempted to abandon my social life until finishing it.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you @grandcentralpub and @netgalley for my gifted copy!

"As Marie Antoinette took her last breath as Queen of France, another formidable monarch, Antoinette's sister Charlotte, was in Naples fighting desperately to secure her release from the revolutionaries. Little did Charlotte know, however, that her sister's execution would change the course of history and bring about the end of her own empire."

What I liked:
- It was refreshing to read about a strong, independent female lead in Maria Carolina Charlotte, a character who is often overlooked in history due to the infamous story of her sister.
- I really admired Maria Carolina's efforts to improve the Sicilian government and enforce political action to benefit the people, and she did this amongst a government of men who challenged her every move.
- I enjoyed reading and learning about the dynamics of Maria Carolina's relationships with her husband, children and siblings, and how the toll of war with France affected their livelihood and familial relationships.

Why I was disappointed:
- Although I enjoyed aspects of this historical fiction, what was lacking for me was the emotional connection to these characters and their story. In my favorite historical fiction novels, I become so invested in the characters, their emotions and their journey, but this novel's writing left me feeling quite neutral. It didn't spark the emotion I was hoping to achieve.
- After each chapter, there is a letter that foreshadows what's to come in the novel or provides another character's perspective. I typically enjoy the addition of letters in historical fiction, but I did find it odd and at times confusing that the letters were most often out of order, and typically did not align with the timeline in the current story. I routinely had to check the dates of these letters and compare to the date of the next chapter to ensure I was keeping the events straight in my mind. I do appreciate the author's efforts here, but I think it could have been utilized more efficiently.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lover of historical fiction, I thought this was a really great read. The novel transports you to the eighteenth century and gives you a seat at the tables of the Kings and Queens of Austria, Naples and France. The Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, Maria Theresa of Austria, manipulates the betrothals of her children in order to gain greater power, throughout all of Europe, for the Hapsburg dynasty. However, the main character in this story is Maria Carolina Charlotte who is the tenth daughter of the Empress and sister to Marie Antoinette. When Charlotte is forced to marry King Ferdinand IV of Naples she begins to exert her own power over their kingdom, while at the same time she is helpless to save her sister from her fateful destiny in France.

The lives and loves of these strong women spill onto the pages and immerse the reader into a different time and place. The letters between many of the characters, at the end of each chapter, were a great conduit to outlining the story. I would highly recommend this book to fans of Philippa Gregory or Michelle Moran or to readers who enjoy anything royal or who are looking for an escape.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a digital review copy of this book, which is available now in bookstores and libraries.

[Tracy Sauvageau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not have loved this book more! For those of you who love a book that draws you in from the beginning and makes you think of nothing else ...this book is for you! It is amazing how this book taught me so much about the prominent figures of the late 1700s- early 1800s and made their lives fit together like the pieces of a puzzle! I not only learned a great deal about the Habsburg Dynasty, but I learned how the Habsburgs fit into the rest of the European picture at that time...who knew Mozart, Napoleon, and Catherine the Great would be mentioned in this book as well? What a fascinating time period with compelling historical figures! But not only that, this book captures your heart as the characters navigate love, honor, and duty in a tumultuous time. The relationships between Charlotte and her siblings, offspring, and lovers can teach us so much about ourselves. This book is a winner! Thank you to #grandcentralpublishing #grandcentralpub for this #giftedcopy

[Ella Hasel | Knjiški recenzeRAJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veličanstven roman o ženi, kojoj je povijest pokušala zamesti trag. Antoanteina sestra knjiga je koju bismo svi trebali pročitati!

Antoanteina sestra roman je autorice Diane Giovinazzo, koji maestralno opisuje život Marije Karoline Šarlote, kraljice Dviju Sicilija i kćeri Marije Terezije. Njezina me priča podsjetila na onu o faraonki Hatšepsut, koju je povijest pokušala izbrisati iz svih udžbenika i enciklopedija, samo zato što je kao žena uspjela mnogim reformama donijeti dobrobit svojoj državi, baš poput glavne junakinje ovoga romana. Međutim, kao i uvijek – istina je izašla na vidjelo, pa tako znamo koliko je Hatšepsut doprinijela svome narodu i kolike je reforme donijela Šarlota, a ne njezin suprug (kako je povijest dugi niz godina nalagala).

Iako ju povijest predstavlja u sasvim drukčijem svjetlu, nego što je upoznajemo u ovoj knjizi, Marija Karolina Šarlota jaka je i posebna žena svojega vremena, a uzor može biti i mnogim djevojkama danas. Njezina inicijativa, pravednost i predanost neopisiva je. Knjiga će se svidjeti onima koji vole proučavati dinastije, rodbinske veze, uzroke i posljedice povijesnih događaja, ali i onima koji jednostavno vole pročitati povijesni roman i na trenutak pobjeći od stvarnosti.

Zadivljujuća je i lakoća pisanja, što je samo dodatan plus i razlog za čitanje ove knjige ljeti, a pisma koja se nalaze na kraju svakoga poglavlja objašnjavaju mnogo toga, ali i upotpunjuju samu priču.

Meni je bilo posebno drago pročitati ovu knjigu jer sam prije nje, ali i nakon, čitala knjige o drugim hrabrim i velikim ženama iz istoga stoljeća, pa sam si mogla stvoriti slike u glavi: aha, Marija Terezija je bila u Beču, Šarlota u Napulju, Katarina Velika u Rusiji, dok je Antoaneta patila u Parizu. Lagano je štivo, koje bi svima moglo upotpuniti ljetne dane, kao savršeno štivo na plaži. Stil pisanja je vrlo jednostavan i samim time svima razumljiv.

Antoanetina sestra senzualan je roman, u kojemu ćete saznati mnoge informacije o samoj Mariji Antoniji, poznatije kao Antoaneti, francuskoj kraljici, ali i njezinoj borbenoj i hrabroj sestri Mariji Karolini Šarloti, kraljici Dviju Sicilija. Vjerujem kako će vas nadahnuti priča, koja u 300 (i kusur) stranica govori o ljepoti življenja, pravoj sestrinskoj ljubavi i ženskim strategijama pri upravljanju kraljevstvom.

[Donia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and deeply appreciate the research and effort that went into writing such a novel. Often history can make for a weighty read but such is not the case here. This novel is entertaining yet educational and provides a realistic view of the ruling class in Europe of the 1700's.

Often the historical figures in books lack vitality but bringing life to her characters is Giovinazzo's greatest talent. The royal family are not wooden figures followed by data and lifeless incidents, King Ferdinand and his Queen and their many children become real people with feelings, hopes and dreams. What happens in Naples feels real as though the reader were there at the time it happened.

I was confused many times by dated chapter headings that conflicted with letters contained within them. I also found several dates in the story that gave a birth*, death or marriage date that conflicted with the chart at the front of the book. But overall, this did not detract from the beautiful story.

The book is still quite educational for it provides a very realistic view of what it was like to be a royal female in that era. We live in a time in history where young girls play with dolls and read stories that glamorize the lives of Princesses and Queens when in reality, I would maintain that the majority of royal females led a demanding often quite stressful and frequently very short life spent trying to produce male heirs without dying in the process.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My obsession with history began in elementary school when I discovered (and absolutely devoured) The Royal Diaries series. I still have my collection of them, and I hope that someday they also inspire my little girl to love history! Marie Antoinette’s book was the second one I read, and it started a lifelong fascination with reading about her time period. While I’ve read extensively about Marie Antoinette and her mother, I haven’t actually read much about her siblings. All that to say, when I saw this on sale while online book shopping, I had to pick it up!

And then I let it just sit on my shelf for months.

But then I finally read it! And then I let it just sit on my ‘read’ shelf waiting for my review to be written. (Because sometimes reviews are HARD.) (I’m feeling very rambly this morning, please forgive.)

Antoinette’s Sister follows Maria Carolina Charlotte, one of Maria Theresa’s sixteen children. While Antoinette’s life took her to France, Charlotte, in a very shocking turn of events, is forced to marry Ferdinand of Naples. She and Antoinette were the closest of friends growing up, and they remained close via letters as their respective journeys took them to different parts of the world.

Antoinette’s Sister follows Charlotte throughout almost her entire life and is incredibly rich in detail. I learned a lot of new information about Charlotte, Ferdinand, and the history of her court in Naples. Charlotte was not always likable in my opinion, but she was a very intriguing person! It was interesting to see how Charlotte navigated life in a new court, being married to a mess of a man, and the turmoil in France.

I did find myself wondering why this book was called Antoinette’s Sister. I felt like Charlotte’s story deserved better, as she was so much more than just the sister of one of the most famous female historical figures. There were also a couple of inaccuracies I noticed at the beginning, which had me curious if there were more that I just don’t know enough about to recognize. (That being said, this is a work of fiction and doesn’t claim to be otherwise!) I was also confused about the way that Antoinette’s letters were presented. They were not in a chronological pattern, which felt like an odd choice.  

Those complaints and questions aside, I did ultimately enjoy this read. It was a solid 3 stars, and it has me excited to read more about Naples and its history!

[Sarah W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd encountered Maria Carolina Charlotte before - typically as a background figure in books centered on Marie Antoinette and books about Lady Emma Hamilton - and I was delighted to find someone had finally written about this fascinating women. Maria Carolina was one of Marie Antoinette's sisters, she married the King of Naples and practically ruled his kingdom, often with the assistance of Sir John Acton, who may or may not have been her lover. She campaigned to save her sister from French revolutionaries and Napoleon Bonaparte eventually forced her to flee Naples, although she still managed to be a thorn in his side through her connections to the Hapsburg court in Austria. All of which makes her life suited to a novel and this one doesn't disappoint. For those who enjoy reading historical fiction about the French Revolution, this book makes for a fascinating view of the revolution from the outside.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely one of the best recommendations I’ve received this year. A look back at the 1800s and the woman’s place in political scheming within a dynasty / kingdom. A peek of Antoinette and her sister, Charlotte before their notoriety. I appreciated this glamorous, fascinating tale of the battles, losses, courage, doubts, predicaments, relationships, plots, and betrayals that surrounded one of the most formidable families of the time. The author shed light on Charlotte, the lesser known of the sisters, and gave us more insight into all the children of Maria Theresa of Austria. There are breaks within the story that are letters between the siblings that give you even more of their thoughts, desires, and heartaches. I didn’t want this story to stop and am left feeling a little bereft without the siblings and their shenanigans.