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The Courtier's Secret
France, 1680. Louis XIV, the Sun King, is at the height of his power. The court at Versailles is a paradise for privileged young women. Jeanne Yvette Mas Du Bois is unlike most other courtiers. Her thirst for knowledge often incurs her father's brutal wrath. But her uncle encourages Jeanne's independence, secretly teaching her fencing in the palace's labyrinthine basement. . .
When two of the king's Musketeers are beset by criminals who are mere feet from Jeanne's fencing lesson, she intervenes, saving one of the Musketeers' lives. Hidden behind her mask, Jeanne is mistaken for a man. As "Jean Luc," Jeanne is admitted to an inner circle where she learns of an assassination plot against the Queen. As Jean Luc, she is permitted to bring her intelligence and swordsmanship to bear. And as Jean Luc, she is free to love the man of her choosing. . .even if she can never have him. Now, with the Queen in jeopardy, and her own double life making her privy to the tangled intrigues at court, Jeanne is in a powerful--yet increasingly perilous--position.
Brimming with lush period detail and vivid, unforgettable characters, The Courtier's Secret takes readers into a fascinating, intriguing world of pageantry, adventure, betrayals, and secrets.
"Exquisitely done. . .fabulous. . .unforgettable characters." --Marilyn Rondeau
"Compelling. . .brings vividly to life the constrained life of the noble Frenchwoman." --Allie Bates, author of Earthchild
Reading Group Guide Inside
When two of the king's Musketeers are beset by criminals who are mere feet from Jeanne's fencing lesson, she intervenes, saving one of the Musketeers' lives. Hidden behind her mask, Jeanne is mistaken for a man. As "Jean Luc," Jeanne is admitted to an inner circle where she learns of an assassination plot against the Queen. As Jean Luc, she is permitted to bring her intelligence and swordsmanship to bear. And as Jean Luc, she is free to love the man of her choosing. . .even if she can never have him. Now, with the Queen in jeopardy, and her own double life making her privy to the tangled intrigues at court, Jeanne is in a powerful--yet increasingly perilous--position.
Brimming with lush period detail and vivid, unforgettable characters, The Courtier's Secret takes readers into a fascinating, intriguing world of pageantry, adventure, betrayals, and secrets.
"Exquisitely done. . .fabulous. . .unforgettable characters." --Marilyn Rondeau
"Compelling. . .brings vividly to life the constrained life of the noble Frenchwoman." --Allie Bates, author of Earthchild
Reading Group Guide Inside
369 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
81 people are currently reading
623 people want to read
About the author
Donna Russo Morin
18 books486 followersDonna Russo is a bestselling author of historical, biographical, and women's fiction, as well as fantasy. She has made a significant impact in the literary world with her detailed writing and compelling characters. Her notable works include multi-award-winning Vincent’s Women and her internationally bestselling Novels of Newport: Gilded Age series, Gilded Summers and Gilded Dreams. Her historical fantasy, The King’s Agent, earned a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly.
An award-winning screenwriter, ghostwriter, and artist, Donna has over thirty years of experience as a certified book coach and has been a writing instructor for Writer’s Digest for over a decade. Donna has also worked as an actor and model with appearances in such notable works as Martin Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED and Showtimes THE BROTHERHOOD. Donna is also one of the oldest practicing yoga aerialists in the country. www.authordonnarusso.com
Donna enjoys meeting with book groups in person and via Skype chat. Visit her website at www.donnarussomorin.com;
friend her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Donna.Russo.M...
Follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/donnarussom...
Follow her on Twitter @DonnaRussoMorin.
An award-winning screenwriter, ghostwriter, and artist, Donna has over thirty years of experience as a certified book coach and has been a writing instructor for Writer’s Digest for over a decade. Donna has also worked as an actor and model with appearances in such notable works as Martin Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED and Showtimes THE BROTHERHOOD. Donna is also one of the oldest practicing yoga aerialists in the country. www.authordonnarusso.com
Donna enjoys meeting with book groups in person and via Skype chat. Visit her website at www.donnarussomorin.com;
friend her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Donna.Russo.M...
Follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/donnarussom...
Follow her on Twitter @DonnaRussoMorin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 8, 2017
Historical fiction with character internal conflict, yes! Although, if I am forced to read the word "miscreants" once more or "orbs" I must stifle a scream...
April 5, 2021
Jeanne Yvette Mas Du Bois is unlike other courtiers: her thirst for knowledge often incurs her father's brutal wrath. But her uncle encourages Jeanne's independence, secretly teaching her fencing in the palace's labyrinthine basement.
Hidden behind her mask, Jeanne is mistaken for a man. As Jean Luc, she is admitted to an inner circle where she learns of a devious plot in the court. As Jean Luc, she is permitted to bring her intelligence and swordsmanship to bear. And as Jean Luc, she is free to love the man of her choosing... even if she can never have him.
With the Queen's life in danger and her own double life making her privy to the tangled intrigues at court, Jeanne finds herself in a powerful, yet perilous position.
I tagged this as an historical fiction due to a few reasons. It uses several real people, events, and the concept of female warriors even if the timing of many events and people are off in order to make her story work.
The idea of a woman in France under the rule of Louis IV, a courtier with a family of moderate standing and means, no less not only takes fencing/sword fighting lessons from her uncle in secret, but dresses up as a man to fight alongside the famous Musketeers is intriguing. Women then are simply property. They’re decoration even before they’re married. They do receive an education, but it is very limited to reading, writing, embroidery, music, dancing, how to set a perfect table, manners, etiquette, how to act like a proper lady, dance, and write; very little else as far as actual knowledge. Jeanne finds that the entire lifestyle of both a courtier and a subservient wife to a horrible husband chosen by her hateful and abusive father to be just entirely too much.
Hidden behind her mask, Jeanne is mistaken for a man. As Jean Luc, she is admitted to an inner circle where she learns of a devious plot in the court. As Jean Luc, she is permitted to bring her intelligence and swordsmanship to bear. And as Jean Luc, she is free to love the man of her choosing... even if she can never have him.
With the Queen's life in danger and her own double life making her privy to the tangled intrigues at court, Jeanne finds herself in a powerful, yet perilous position.
I tagged this as an historical fiction due to a few reasons. It uses several real people, events, and the concept of female warriors even if the timing of many events and people are off in order to make her story work.
The idea of a woman in France under the rule of Louis IV, a courtier with a family of moderate standing and means, no less not only takes fencing/sword fighting lessons from her uncle in secret, but dresses up as a man to fight alongside the famous Musketeers is intriguing. Women then are simply property. They’re decoration even before they’re married. They do receive an education, but it is very limited to reading, writing, embroidery, music, dancing, how to set a perfect table, manners, etiquette, how to act like a proper lady, dance, and write; very little else as far as actual knowledge. Jeanne finds that the entire lifestyle of both a courtier and a subservient wife to a horrible husband chosen by her hateful and abusive father to be just entirely too much.
November 20, 2018
With finals stress quickly approaching, I've been impulse-downloading a lot of free books from Amazon. This was temporarily free, and it's historical fiction, which I've really been enjoying lately, and it has a cross-dressing duelist. So.
That's how I ended up reading it.
I really liked Morin's style. Sometimes I just want to float away on a cloud of historical descriptions, you know? And she makes Versailles sound like such a messed up yet decadent place--all the nobles vying for the king's favor which he only gives out in teaspoons, the dangers of not following the given order (the Bastille, banishment to a convent, etc.), and yet all the food and beautiful clothes and luxury... So there's definitely a strong sense of setting. Was it always realistic/accurate? Lols, idk...for one thing I definitely don't know how Jeanne is such a good duelist when she's supposed to have spent the past seven years at a convent. But I still was enjoying myself.
Now, as to the crossdressing.
I'm not sure whether this comes through as clearly as it might, but Jeanne really comes across as genderqueer. Not so much as a trans man, because she still mostly thinks of herself as a woman, but to me she seems to be maybe genderfluid or nonbinary? Idk. But. My evidence.
First of all, Jeanne plays the whole "not like other girls" game hard. Sometimes this just comes across as anachronistically modern (and I actually got annoyed at her being weirdly modern quite often, but that's another whole story). And sometimes at times like these she actually affirms her own womanhood--for example, she says at one point: “I am glad to be a woman. I do long to feel life growing within me and to nourish that life into a grand human being. But why can I not have a more productive and satisfying life as well?” At other points, though, she clearly is dissatisfied with her gender. The first time she puts on the fancy dress of a noblewoman at court, she states that she finds it to be much too feminine for her.
More importantly, Jeanne's self image takes an interesting swing towards the end of the book. For most of the book, even when in her male disguise she still calls herself Jeanne and uses she/her pronouns. However, towards the end, in her own POV sections she goes by the name Jean-Luc and uses he/him pronouns instead. Which I guess could just be a convention of the writing, but it seems to show more of a morphing of how Jeanne thinks of himself (or, I suppose, how Jean-Luc thinks of himself). Most notably, at one point the narration says, "Jeanne was determined to tell Henri of her covert life as Jean-Luc; she knew now, without doubt, she was both Jeanne and Jean-Luc, it was no pretense." I don't really know of any other way to read that than Jeanne being queer! I mean, otherwise I could read Jeanne's attachment to cross-dressing as escapism from the restrictive life of a noblewoman but...that's pretty unambiguous.
With this in consideration, I was disappointed by the ending. Actually, I would have been unsatisfied with the ending already, but reading Jeanne as queer makes it considerably worse. So! Spoilers from here on out.
I've heard The Courtier of Versailles is this author's rewrite of a book she wrote earlier in her career, The Courtier's Secret, and that she made major plot changes around the ending that she earlier could not write because her publisher didn't like them. I'm curious as to whether this book is possibly more queer than the original version. But at the same time, I can definitely see why a publisher would not like that ending.
Overall, this novel leaves me with very mixed feelings. But while I was reading it, I must admit I was completely absorbed. I think I dreamed about Versailles last night...but I do not completely remember. At any rate, I'm unsure whether I will try Morin again, but I'm tempted. While I thought her MC's mindset was a bit jarringly modern and the ending frustrated me, her style was quite enjoyable, and the plot was consistently unpredictable. So I guess we'll see.
Oh, I almost forgot. CW for rape, abuse, and character death. Yeah, parts of this book are pretty grim, which is weird because the overall tone is pretty light.
That's how I ended up reading it.
I really liked Morin's style. Sometimes I just want to float away on a cloud of historical descriptions, you know? And she makes Versailles sound like such a messed up yet decadent place--all the nobles vying for the king's favor which he only gives out in teaspoons, the dangers of not following the given order (the Bastille, banishment to a convent, etc.), and yet all the food and beautiful clothes and luxury... So there's definitely a strong sense of setting. Was it always realistic/accurate? Lols, idk...for one thing I definitely don't know how Jeanne is such a good duelist when she's supposed to have spent the past seven years at a convent. But I still was enjoying myself.
Now, as to the crossdressing.
I'm not sure whether this comes through as clearly as it might, but Jeanne really comes across as genderqueer. Not so much as a trans man, because she still mostly thinks of herself as a woman, but to me she seems to be maybe genderfluid or nonbinary? Idk. But. My evidence.
First of all, Jeanne plays the whole "not like other girls" game hard. Sometimes this just comes across as anachronistically modern (and I actually got annoyed at her being weirdly modern quite often, but that's another whole story). And sometimes at times like these she actually affirms her own womanhood--for example, she says at one point: “I am glad to be a woman. I do long to feel life growing within me and to nourish that life into a grand human being. But why can I not have a more productive and satisfying life as well?” At other points, though, she clearly is dissatisfied with her gender. The first time she puts on the fancy dress of a noblewoman at court, she states that she finds it to be much too feminine for her.
More importantly, Jeanne's self image takes an interesting swing towards the end of the book. For most of the book, even when in her male disguise she still calls herself Jeanne and uses she/her pronouns. However, towards the end, in her own POV sections she goes by the name Jean-Luc and uses he/him pronouns instead. Which I guess could just be a convention of the writing, but it seems to show more of a morphing of how Jeanne thinks of himself (or, I suppose, how Jean-Luc thinks of himself). Most notably, at one point the narration says, "Jeanne was determined to tell Henri of her covert life as Jean-Luc; she knew now, without doubt, she was both Jeanne and Jean-Luc, it was no pretense." I don't really know of any other way to read that than Jeanne being queer! I mean, otherwise I could read Jeanne's attachment to cross-dressing as escapism from the restrictive life of a noblewoman but...that's pretty unambiguous.
With this in consideration, I was disappointed by the ending. Actually, I would have been unsatisfied with the ending already, but reading Jeanne as queer makes it considerably worse. So! Spoilers from here on out.
I've heard The Courtier of Versailles is this author's rewrite of a book she wrote earlier in her career, The Courtier's Secret, and that she made major plot changes around the ending that she earlier could not write because her publisher didn't like them. I'm curious as to whether this book is possibly more queer than the original version. But at the same time, I can definitely see why a publisher would not like that ending.
Overall, this novel leaves me with very mixed feelings. But while I was reading it, I must admit I was completely absorbed. I think I dreamed about Versailles last night...but I do not completely remember. At any rate, I'm unsure whether I will try Morin again, but I'm tempted. While I thought her MC's mindset was a bit jarringly modern and the ending frustrated me, her style was quite enjoyable, and the plot was consistently unpredictable. So I guess we'll see.
Oh, I almost forgot. CW for rape, abuse, and character death. Yeah, parts of this book are pretty grim, which is weird because the overall tone is pretty light.
March 6, 2009
Seventeen year old Jeanne du Bois returns from the convent where she's been schooled the last seven years and joins her family at Versailles. Much to her father's disapproval Jeanne is too independent and unladylike, and unbeknownst to him she resumes fencing lessons with her uncle Jules. After one of these lessons, Jules and Jeanne (who is dressed in men's clothes), come across two of the King's Musketeers under attack and save the day when they join in the battle. Not willing to reveal her identity as a women Jeanne is introduced as Jean Luc and as she wishes to join the Musketeers later she convinces her uncle to help her dress as a man. As Jeanne's abusive father plots to marry her off to an odious Baron, she finds herself drawn to Henri, one of the Musketeers - who during a fete at Versailles meets Jeanne and he is instantly smitten. A plot to kill the Queen is revealed and Jeanne/Jean finds both identities in the thick of things while she tries to balance the two and avoid being exposed.
So why am I giving this one only two stars? For starters, Jeanne is just way over the top in her independence - let alone the ditzy way she came across in the first two chapters (argh, those curls always coming lose from her coiffure!!) and I was beginning to think I was in for Gidget does Versailles. I threw the book across the room at Chapter two, but picked it up again and things did improve. Jeanne's ditzyness was toned down a bit, but as hard as the author tried to keep things realistic they just didn't always ring true. Hiding her dress and under things underneath the stinking privy cover and they didn't pick up any odor from it? She's able to get her men's boots off by herself, let alone the dress itself and do her hair just in time to run to chapel? Then there was the garden party where she/he had to run and change clothes at least once and run back to present her/him back again at the party - again she can get those big old boots off and on all by herself.
Last complaint and again I appreciate the author taking the time and effort to pack plenty of history in her romance (and with a nod to M. Dumas, père), but it was all just a tad bit too heavy handed and I was beginning to feel like I was being clubbed over the head with it. In the end, it was a reasonably entertaining piece of fluff, nice to have a romance set somewhere else besides the Regency period but I do want to warn potential readers, according to the author's notes at the end she wrote this as a historical novel and not a romance. So, despite appearances and the impression the cover gives, this is not a bouncy bodice ripping novel packed with sex and I suspect serious romance readers will be sorely disappointed, as will serious historical fiction readers - for those I'd recommend just sticking with Dumas and read his Musketeer series.
So why am I giving this one only two stars? For starters, Jeanne is just way over the top in her independence - let alone the ditzy way she came across in the first two chapters (argh, those curls always coming lose from her coiffure!!) and I was beginning to think I was in for Gidget does Versailles. I threw the book across the room at Chapter two, but picked it up again and things did improve. Jeanne's ditzyness was toned down a bit, but as hard as the author tried to keep things realistic they just didn't always ring true. Hiding her dress and under things underneath the stinking privy cover and they didn't pick up any odor from it? She's able to get her men's boots off by herself, let alone the dress itself and do her hair just in time to run to chapel? Then there was the garden party where she/he had to run and change clothes at least once and run back to present her/him back again at the party - again she can get those big old boots off and on all by herself.
Last complaint and again I appreciate the author taking the time and effort to pack plenty of history in her romance (and with a nod to M. Dumas, père), but it was all just a tad bit too heavy handed and I was beginning to feel like I was being clubbed over the head with it. In the end, it was a reasonably entertaining piece of fluff, nice to have a romance set somewhere else besides the Regency period but I do want to warn potential readers, according to the author's notes at the end she wrote this as a historical novel and not a romance. So, despite appearances and the impression the cover gives, this is not a bouncy bodice ripping novel packed with sex and I suspect serious romance readers will be sorely disappointed, as will serious historical fiction readers - for those I'd recommend just sticking with Dumas and read his Musketeer series.
November 1, 2018
I read the first version of this book, but after reading this version, I completely understand why the author chose to rewrite. So much better. And the new ending...superbly tissue-worthy!
April 5, 2019
Great historical fiction.
As a lover of all things French, this book hit so many marks for me! I love a great heroine! If you liked the show Versailles, you will love this book!
As a lover of all things French, this book hit so many marks for me! I love a great heroine! If you liked the show Versailles, you will love this book!
November 6, 2018
There are two sides to this story. One is the exquisite detailing of what life was like inside the vast palace of Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV. No other book I have read has even come close to this level. I was captivated by the subservient lives the nobility led in order to meet the demanding needs of Louis XIV. It was mind boggling to hear how accepting these families were of the living situation inside the palace when they could otherwise live in comfort and splendor outside of the palace walls.
As always, whenever I am reminded about the dominance of men over women, I was mortified. I enjoyed how Russo Morin gave us a spunky, determined young woman who was brave enough to challenge the status quo. Jeanne reminds us that no matter what the situation is, individuals always have their own hopes and dreams. The dual character of Jeanne and Jean-Luc depict the complexities of all of us. This story will appeal to anyone who enjoys a little romance, swash buckling adventures, subterfuge, hidden identities, honor and loyalty.
As always, whenever I am reminded about the dominance of men over women, I was mortified. I enjoyed how Russo Morin gave us a spunky, determined young woman who was brave enough to challenge the status quo. Jeanne reminds us that no matter what the situation is, individuals always have their own hopes and dreams. The dual character of Jeanne and Jean-Luc depict the complexities of all of us. This story will appeal to anyone who enjoys a little romance, swash buckling adventures, subterfuge, hidden identities, honor and loyalty.
December 18, 2018
Good Read
You may think four stars harsh. I don’t normally read fiction. I was stuck in bed for a day, so I chose to read this. I loved the researched historical detail. I enjoyed the evocative descriptions of life as a courtier - the best I have ever read - warts & all. The characters were good and the main characters relatable. The last chapter, not so much, there was an opening there for a sequel or an unusual ending. It was a little unsatisfying, when the rest of the book had been like a lovely box of chocolates. All in all, a good read for those interested in the era, historical fiction, and a good love story.
You may think four stars harsh. I don’t normally read fiction. I was stuck in bed for a day, so I chose to read this. I loved the researched historical detail. I enjoyed the evocative descriptions of life as a courtier - the best I have ever read - warts & all. The characters were good and the main characters relatable. The last chapter, not so much, there was an opening there for a sequel or an unusual ending. It was a little unsatisfying, when the rest of the book had been like a lovely box of chocolates. All in all, a good read for those interested in the era, historical fiction, and a good love story.
January 28, 2020
Me ha sorprendido mucho esta historia ya que nos muestra una época muy bien detallada en la que nos meteremos de lleno en la piel de la protagonista y donde descubriremos cosas de un siglo XIV buenas y no tan buenas que nos harán devorar esta novela.
Reseña completa: https://atrapadaenunashojasdepapel.bl...
Reseña completa: https://atrapadaenunashojasdepapel.bl...
February 16, 2021
The premise of this book was good. It’s an era I enjoy and I like the idea of an independent and brave heroine who wants to learn to fight.
The editing was horrible. In places it made me want to put the book down. Honestly, the copy editors should be fired.
The ending was deeply disappointing.
This is not going to end up on a top 10 list.
The editing was horrible. In places it made me want to put the book down. Honestly, the copy editors should be fired.
The ending was deeply disappointing.
This is not going to end up on a top 10 list.
April 24, 2010
I think the story was good. Enough to keep me reading till midnight, but not much later I suppose. The plot was the kind I like, even if a little cheesy and with a hint of deja-vu (ahem, Shakespeare), I think it's nice to read about Jeanne's exciting life. But I found the writing style of the author, forgive me, quite dreadful. She tried to give an "ancient" style by using big words such as dilemma, abject, behest, nondescript, etc. But they didn't feel natural, and the sentence felt a bit like an impostor in contrast to the other pretty modern phrases the characters and narrator used. And some sentences had very little sense. This mixture of old and new style and structure made it difficult to read because I was always thinking about how it was written, and how it could be improved, and I felt like I couldn't get into the story as much as I could have. Also, being French, I found it, if I may say so, quite atrocious how she used french words all the time. If she wanted the novel to be in French, she should have simply written it in that language! I mean, what is the point of having your characters say "oui" all the time instead of "yes"? and "ma chère", "magnifique", "mon ami", and then finish the sentence in english? It just didn't sound natural! In addition to the artificiality the use of the French brought, I must point out the number of mistakes the author made in using it. For example, "LE Galerie des Glaces". The characters at one point, when at Jeanne's uncle's place, meet Henri, when they want him to leave, they say "Bonjour"! I'm guessing they meant good day, goodbye, but may I remind you that Bonjour means Hello? So they were bidding goodbye by saying hello!? This was enough to make me put the book down for quite some time! And many other "mistakes" I won't point out so I won't "spoil" the book for you.
Now about the plot: Yes it is about a girl disguising herself as a guy to have more freedom. Cheesy. Deja-vu. Ultra romantic. Pretty pathetic when you think about the amount of novels with the same plot line. But who cares? That's why I chose the book, I love these silly romantic stories! :)
BUT, I think the writing and the drive of the plot was a failure. I'm sure there are many better romantic stories out there. I mean, Henri falls in love with Jeanne in half an hour? That she loves him, ok, she got to know him as a guy. But Henri? In one interview, that's it, he thinks she's his soul mate and would love it for her to meet his mother. And we witnessed the conversation, it was everything but enchanting, all we could see was Jeanne becoming utterly girly, when until now she was kind of a tomboy. She changes in five seconds. I found it a bit disappointing. I thought it would take time for their love to develop, that's the greatest part of romantic stories in my opinion, how and when the couple fall in love. It's also the hardest thing to render I think, cos it's all about the development of emotions. But it was completely ellipsed in this novel, and when Henri and Jeanne were together, Jeanne just seemed to lose all her toughness. And I guess that's normal since the author kept on reminding us that she was very feminine with him with all the "I wonder what's happening to me?!"
Well, anyways, it was a good story, and I recommend it only if you have nothing better to read, and you haven't found a better story. If you don't mind HOW the book is written, then really, this romantic story is for you, cos, well, the story is just as good as any other!
I, for my part, regret having spent £7 on this book, and I wish I'd found another, better book.
Now about the plot: Yes it is about a girl disguising herself as a guy to have more freedom. Cheesy. Deja-vu. Ultra romantic. Pretty pathetic when you think about the amount of novels with the same plot line. But who cares? That's why I chose the book, I love these silly romantic stories! :)
BUT, I think the writing and the drive of the plot was a failure. I'm sure there are many better romantic stories out there. I mean, Henri falls in love with Jeanne in half an hour? That she loves him, ok, she got to know him as a guy. But Henri? In one interview, that's it, he thinks she's his soul mate and would love it for her to meet his mother. And we witnessed the conversation, it was everything but enchanting, all we could see was Jeanne becoming utterly girly, when until now she was kind of a tomboy. She changes in five seconds. I found it a bit disappointing. I thought it would take time for their love to develop, that's the greatest part of romantic stories in my opinion, how and when the couple fall in love. It's also the hardest thing to render I think, cos it's all about the development of emotions. But it was completely ellipsed in this novel, and when Henri and Jeanne were together, Jeanne just seemed to lose all her toughness. And I guess that's normal since the author kept on reminding us that she was very feminine with him with all the "I wonder what's happening to me?!"
Well, anyways, it was a good story, and I recommend it only if you have nothing better to read, and you haven't found a better story. If you don't mind HOW the book is written, then really, this romantic story is for you, cos, well, the story is just as good as any other!
I, for my part, regret having spent £7 on this book, and I wish I'd found another, better book.
August 29, 2017
Hace ya algunos años que leí este libro y recuerdo la grata impresión que me causo. Quizas por eso , sin saber realmente porque, he vuelto a leerlo de nuevo . Aunque no vaya a ser mi libro favorito de toda la historia, esta novela me encanta .
El argumento es muy interesante (y mas si eres de las que les pasa lo mismo que a mi, que les gusta las historias de mujeres vestidas de hombres que tratan de hacerse un hueco en un mundo de hombres y luchar contra su destino, tipo Mulan) . Versalles es un protagonista más de esta novela, y eso quizás sea el gran pero de este libro. La autora no se corta a la hora de describir como era la vida en el Versalles de Luis XIV, con todo el ceremonial y etiqueta que regia las vidas del rey y los nobles , describiendo profusamente los rincones mas emblemáticas del palacio. En este aspecto la autora se pasa un poco, tanta descripción puede resultar muy pesada al lector al que no le gusten estas cosas y solo logran hacer mas lenta la historia. Y es que casi prima mas esto que lo que es la propia historia principal.
Aparte de esto lo demás esta bien. La ambientación es muy buena y esta muy lograda, y la forma de escribir de la autora es muy amena. Hay muchos personajes muy bien construidos, tanto los dos protagonistas ficticios, como personajes reales como el rey Luis y la reina Maria Teresa. Sin embargo se hecha de menos que se profundice en las historias de las dos amigas de Jeanne. Estas eran muy interesantes porque representaban como era la vida de las mujeres en la época. Imposible no compadecerse de ellas.
Y esto me lleva a alabar la importancia que tiene el feminismo en esta historia, que no es poco. Al final la moraleja es la igualdad entre sexos, y el ser uno mismo y luchar por lo que se cree, no dejar que nadie te diga quien o que debes ser.
En resumidas cuentas, es un libro altamente recomendable, muy bueno e interesante, plagado de buenos momentos y con un transfondo muy interesante.. Siempre y cuando te interese el periodo histórico en el que transcurre o como era la vida en Versalles.
El argumento es muy interesante (y mas si eres de las que les pasa lo mismo que a mi, que les gusta las historias de mujeres vestidas de hombres que tratan de hacerse un hueco en un mundo de hombres y luchar contra su destino, tipo Mulan) . Versalles es un protagonista más de esta novela, y eso quizás sea el gran pero de este libro. La autora no se corta a la hora de describir como era la vida en el Versalles de Luis XIV, con todo el ceremonial y etiqueta que regia las vidas del rey y los nobles , describiendo profusamente los rincones mas emblemáticas del palacio. En este aspecto la autora se pasa un poco, tanta descripción puede resultar muy pesada al lector al que no le gusten estas cosas y solo logran hacer mas lenta la historia. Y es que casi prima mas esto que lo que es la propia historia principal.
Aparte de esto lo demás esta bien. La ambientación es muy buena y esta muy lograda, y la forma de escribir de la autora es muy amena. Hay muchos personajes muy bien construidos, tanto los dos protagonistas ficticios, como personajes reales como el rey Luis y la reina Maria Teresa. Sin embargo se hecha de menos que se profundice en las historias de las dos amigas de Jeanne. Estas eran muy interesantes porque representaban como era la vida de las mujeres en la época. Imposible no compadecerse de ellas.
Y esto me lleva a alabar la importancia que tiene el feminismo en esta historia, que no es poco. Al final la moraleja es la igualdad entre sexos, y el ser uno mismo y luchar por lo que se cree, no dejar que nadie te diga quien o que debes ser.
En resumidas cuentas, es un libro altamente recomendable, muy bueno e interesante, plagado de buenos momentos y con un transfondo muy interesante.. Siempre y cuando te interese el periodo histórico en el que transcurre o como era la vida en Versalles.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2013
This was a very quick, fluffy read. It's a familiar storyline, one that we've all read and seen before, where a young woman dresses up as a man to access something denied to her as a woman. In this case it's helping the Musketeers. And, like other familiar story lines, she falls in love with one of the men who sees her in disguise. There are other common character tropes in this novel. She is a sympathetic but unique character with an abusive upbringing and callous father, she has one sassy friend and one angelic friend. I think these common elements add to the reason why it was an easy but engaging read.
I have only two complaints. The first is that the prose is very "purple". Eyes are commonly referred to as "orbs", and breasts "translucent mounds", and similar descriptions. The second is from a historical standpoint, Morin attributes the phrase "Let them eat cake." to Queen Marie-Terese, wife of Louis XIV, but it has never been definitely proven who has said it, or if it was ever even true. Jean-Jacques Rousseau told this story in his autobiography and only said it was said by a "great princess", not naming who. Antonia Fraser claims it was said by Marie-Terese uses Louis XVIII's memoirs as "proof". They were published in 1830, after his death.
I have only two complaints. The first is that the prose is very "purple". Eyes are commonly referred to as "orbs", and breasts "translucent mounds", and similar descriptions. The second is from a historical standpoint, Morin attributes the phrase "Let them eat cake." to Queen Marie-Terese, wife of Louis XIV, but it has never been definitely proven who has said it, or if it was ever even true. Jean-Jacques Rousseau told this story in his autobiography and only said it was said by a "great princess", not naming who. Antonia Fraser claims it was said by Marie-Terese uses Louis XVIII's memoirs as "proof". They were published in 1830, after his death.
February 3, 2019
I found The Courtier’s Secret to be very entertaining and would highly recommend it for those who enjoy historical fiction. I thought the characters were varied and interesting, even if I found some of them to be despicable. I think the key for reading this book is to remember it is historical fiction and was meant to be entertaining, not a history lesson. In the Acknowledgements, the author lists other books and resources for readers who want to learn about the time period.
August 14, 2012
While I didn't wholly dislike this book, not enough to only rate it one star, it really wasn't that good of a read. Not much depth to the characters and the situations in which they found themselves were rather unbelievable. I'm just glad that I finished it so I could count it for my library's summer reading program.
February 12, 2009
This the first post-Twilight book that I actually stayed up late to finish. Fluffy, but entertaining.
July 8, 2010
Yawn.
May 28, 2010
Too much cant, improbably fiery heroine. More frank treatments of domestic violence than usual in these books, so kudos for that, but meh.
November 10, 2011
Writing only so so on this one. If I have to read about moisture secreting one more time, I could scream.
August 7, 2021
Usually, I avoid modern historical fiction. I feel like it limits the author to actual events, caging the characters in a concrete timeline, and therefore sets a standard that few authors have been able to reach. The best historical fiction, in my opinion, would be books like A Tale of Two Cities, War and Peace, Ben Hur, or Gone with the Wind, all mature, powerful, and inspirational classics written by giants of literature. This book could have been written by a pre-teen who finished watching Sons of the Musketeers (1952) and was inspired to write her own version. The characters are uncomplicated, the French basic, and the intrigue and grandeur of Versailles and the Sun King watered down (which I was somewhat grateful for as much as I prefer the truth. I know enough of the debauchery and ostentation of the French court during this time). I learned some things I didn't know about the queen's mysterious death and the Sun King's subsequent religious epiphany, however, I feel like the author managed to turn a glass of champagne into a cup of weak tea in the delivery. I have no problem with formulaic writing unless it's unavoidably obvious. In this case, the author was trapped by history and probably couldn't help it.
The book would possibly have been better if it were written in a different setting and time, but there it is. It will never be a classic but could be light entertainment if you have an hour to burn.
The book would possibly have been better if it were written in a different setting and time, but there it is. It will never be a classic but could be light entertainment if you have an hour to burn.
June 8, 2025
The Courtiers of Versailles is a great read. Set in the court of the great “Sun King”, Louis XIV, Jeanne lives a double life, courtier and musketeer. There is intrigue, romance, and swashbuckling. If you love history and the works of Alexandre Dumas, you will love this novel.
July 30, 2025
Suspenseful and Romantic
The novel is suspenseful and romantic. Several themes running through it tie together beautifully in the end. Spoiler alert I hate how the main character Dies in the end.
The novel is suspenseful and romantic. Several themes running through it tie together beautifully in the end. Spoiler alert I hate how the main character Dies in the end.
November 1, 2018
Sooooo much better than the first version! Definitely worth the read even if you did read the first version.
November 1, 2018
Love a badass heroine; 'she's' all that and more. Thrilling read.
November 27, 2018
Interesting
Held attention, some grammar errors, but flowed well .
Including some french, which added flavor.
Feel of the place and time
Held attention, some grammar errors, but flowed well .
Including some french, which added flavor.
Feel of the place and time
May 6, 2020
Different take on this period. I enjoyed the book.
December 24, 2021
DNF at 150 pages
Life is too short to push myself to read books which I'm not into
Life is too short to push myself to read books which I'm not into
April 6, 2023
Interesting and entertaining.
December 15, 2009
The Courtier’s Secret by Donna Russo Morin
Historical Romance- Feb. 1st, 2009
3 stars
The Courtier’s Secret by Donna Russo Morin is a historical romance that is set in France 1862 at the court of the Sun King, Louis the XIV. The heroine, a plucky young lady who secretly learns the art of fencing and is renowned for her misbehaviors, disguises herself as man and aids the Musketeers in uncovering an assassination plot against the Queen. Of course, as it is expected, she falls in love with one of the Musketeers but can never hope to marry a man of her own choosing. To complicate matters, her abusive father plans to marry her off to an aristocrat in order for further his standing in court.
This book is a pretty solid read. There are a lot of things going for it. First, the setting is very, very rich. The author has chosen a great period of history to set her story in. There is so much rich material to draw upon and Morin makes great use of the time period. She creates a vivid, realistic picture of court life and the limitations of women at that time. From tiny little details such as the number of bathrooms there are in the Versailles to the rich description of the King’s daily toilette, the whole book starts to sag at the end under the weight of so much historical research. The author definitely did her homework, and I loved reading about France at that time, but in the end, it started getting a little bit too much.
The novel started out very promising but the plot developed some major problems for me. I loved how Morin set the stage: girl fresh from the convent, abusive father and loving, victimized mother, gender bending, disguise, mystery. I was eager to see how the heroine will solve her dilemma. Will the dashing hero discover her hidden identity? How is she going to get out of the planned marriage? Will they ever get together? In the end however, I was disappointed. It was very good to start with but around the middle it started to slow down. The author started to focus less on the heroine’s double life and more on the forbidden courtship between the hero and heroine. It was a total and abrupt shift in the plot. The author also introduced us to the heroine’s two girlfriends, whose stories were so engrossing that I became more interested in their sub-plot stories rather that the heroine’s story.
To be fair, this is Morin’s debut novel and for a first book, it’s pretty darn good compared to a lot of other poorly written romance novels out there. Overall, this is a solid read if you are interested in the French history. This author has great potential and I eagerly await her next book.
Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Historical Romance- Feb. 1st, 2009
3 stars
The Courtier’s Secret by Donna Russo Morin is a historical romance that is set in France 1862 at the court of the Sun King, Louis the XIV. The heroine, a plucky young lady who secretly learns the art of fencing and is renowned for her misbehaviors, disguises herself as man and aids the Musketeers in uncovering an assassination plot against the Queen. Of course, as it is expected, she falls in love with one of the Musketeers but can never hope to marry a man of her own choosing. To complicate matters, her abusive father plans to marry her off to an aristocrat in order for further his standing in court.
This book is a pretty solid read. There are a lot of things going for it. First, the setting is very, very rich. The author has chosen a great period of history to set her story in. There is so much rich material to draw upon and Morin makes great use of the time period. She creates a vivid, realistic picture of court life and the limitations of women at that time. From tiny little details such as the number of bathrooms there are in the Versailles to the rich description of the King’s daily toilette, the whole book starts to sag at the end under the weight of so much historical research. The author definitely did her homework, and I loved reading about France at that time, but in the end, it started getting a little bit too much.
The novel started out very promising but the plot developed some major problems for me. I loved how Morin set the stage: girl fresh from the convent, abusive father and loving, victimized mother, gender bending, disguise, mystery. I was eager to see how the heroine will solve her dilemma. Will the dashing hero discover her hidden identity? How is she going to get out of the planned marriage? Will they ever get together? In the end however, I was disappointed. It was very good to start with but around the middle it started to slow down. The author started to focus less on the heroine’s double life and more on the forbidden courtship between the hero and heroine. It was a total and abrupt shift in the plot. The author also introduced us to the heroine’s two girlfriends, whose stories were so engrossing that I became more interested in their sub-plot stories rather that the heroine’s story.
To be fair, this is Morin’s debut novel and for a first book, it’s pretty darn good compared to a lot of other poorly written romance novels out there. Overall, this is a solid read if you are interested in the French history. This author has great potential and I eagerly await her next book.
Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
November 8, 2011
Jeanne Mas du Bois is a young courtier in the court of King Louis XIV of France. Her entire family lives in the castle at Versailles along with thousands of other courtiers vying for the eye of the king. Jeanne, however, is very different from any ordinary courtier. Her brightest wish is to be a musketeer and join Louis' forces. Her most acute disinterest is climbing the social courtier ladder. Not that Jeanne isn't a lady, she just doesn't find satisfaction in napkin-folding and watching the king's gluttony at dinner. Her uncle secretly teaches her the sport of fencing down in the labyrinthine bowels of the castle. It's during one of these lessons that Jeanne and her uncle advantageously save a pack of musketeers from some ruffians bent on queen-murdering mischief. Because Jeanne is wearing a helmet covering her face, she is mistaken for a man and invited by the musketeers to one of their exclusive dinner parties. Not wishing to pass up on the extraordinary, albeit ludicrously insane, opportunity, she convinces her uncle to help her find man clothes and some hair for a mustache. Enter Jean-Luc. To put a cog in her cross-dressing wheel, Jeanne falls in love with one of the musketeers that "Jean-Luc" has befriended. Jeanne is able to meet this musketeer, Henri, as herself and he instantly falls in love with her. Unfortunately, Jeanne's abusive father has promised her to a pallid cold-fish of a man named Polignac. As Jean-Luc, she helps the musketeers save the queen from murder. As Jeanne, she fights for her personal freedom from her father and court life and to marry the man she loves.
The Courtier's Secret has a great amount of historical facts thrown about throughout the narrative which gives the story more detail and credibility. The reader can tell when a bit of true history is being related. The random French words peppered in the dialogue gets old and is somewhat distracting. It's as though the author learned a few basic French words and threw them in at each chance she could instead of tastefully accenting the character's conversations. Also, the reader beware of a plethora of long French names.
Overall, The Courtier's Secret is an entertaining story and not to be overlooked as another generic, non-action love story. Be en garde for the ending as it will certainly take you by surprise with the demise of one very influential character.
www.lostincodex.com
The Courtier's Secret has a great amount of historical facts thrown about throughout the narrative which gives the story more detail and credibility. The reader can tell when a bit of true history is being related. The random French words peppered in the dialogue gets old and is somewhat distracting. It's as though the author learned a few basic French words and threw them in at each chance she could instead of tastefully accenting the character's conversations. Also, the reader beware of a plethora of long French names.
Overall, The Courtier's Secret is an entertaining story and not to be overlooked as another generic, non-action love story. Be en garde for the ending as it will certainly take you by surprise with the demise of one very influential character.
www.lostincodex.com
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews