Médicis Daughter: A Novel of Marguerite de Valois - Hardcover

"A 16th-century princess, daughter to the sharp-tongued Catherine de Médicis, finds herself facing intrigue and impossible love... Her story is woven together with the run-up to and bloody events of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, which forces her to make an impossible choice."--Barnes & Noble Reads, "December's Top Picks in Fiction"

"Amid the glamorous intrigues of the 16th-century French court, Marguerite de Valois, the youngest Medici daughter, deftly balances secret escapades and public duties... Perinot matches the rhythm of Margot's life to the political storms: as the battles escalate, so do the perils of love and lust. A riveting page-turner skillfully blending illicit liaisons and political chicanery."--Kirkus Reviews

"Absorbing... an engrossing read."--Publishers Weekly

"Set in Winter of 1564, this page-turner of a historical fiction follows Princess Marguerite de Valois (known as Princess Margot) upon her arrival to the French court, where secrets, suitors, and scheming are all on the menu."--Bustle, "13 of December 2015's Best Books to Go With Your Holiday Cheer"

"An enthralling page-turner which lovers of royalty fiction and strong female leads should enjoy thoroughly."--HNR Magazine

"This is Renaissance France meets Game of Thrones dark, sumptuous historical fiction that coils religious strife, court intrigue, passionate love, family hatred, and betrayed innocence like a nest of poisonous snakes. Beautiful Princess Margot acts as our guide to the heart of her violent family as she blossoms from naive court pawn to woman of conscience and renown. A highly recommended coming-of-age tale where the princess learns to slay her own dragons!" --Kate Quinn, national bestselling author of The Lion and the Rose

"The riveting story of a 16thcentury French princess caught in the throes of royal intrigue and religious war. From the arms of the charismatic Duke of Guise to the blood-soaked streets of Paris, Princess Marguerite runs a dangerous gauntlet, taking the reader with her. An absolutely gripping read!" --Michelle Moran, bestselling author of The Rebel Queen

"Rising above the chorus of historical drama is Perinot's epic tale of the fascinating, lascivious, ruthless House of Valois, as told through the eyes of the complicated and intelligent Princess Marguerite. Burdened by her unscrupulous family and desperate for meaningful relationships, Margot is forced to navigate her own path in sixteenth century France. Amid wars of nation and heart, Médicis Daughter brilliantly demonstrates how one unique woman beats staggering odds to find the strength and power that is her birthright." --Erika Robuck, bestselling author of Hemingway's Girl

"As with her previous novel, Perinot doesn't smooth over the rougher aspects of life for women in this historical era nor does she tone down the drama of the Valois family: there's enough soap opera-y drama to make this fun, but everything is anchored by Marguerite's voice and character...deliciously satisfying."--Unabridged Chick

"A compelling and thoroughly satisfying read sure to ignite interest in the era, Médicis Daughter depicts the pageantry and ugliness of sixteenth century court life in all its gritty glory."--Writing the Renaissance

"Soaring, fascinating... this book has it all."--Long and Short Reviews

"An engrossing, and engaging, love story."--The Readers Hollow

"Rich with intrigue, rivalry and passion, Médicis Daughter is not to be missed."--Flashlight Commentary

"A page-turner, fast-paced, emotional, passionate, well-written and carefully researched...Romance and history loving teens will find this a satisfying read." --School Library Journal on The Sister Queens

"Anyone with a sister will feel something when they read this novel." --The Pittsburgh Historical Fiction Examiner on The Sister Queens

"Marguerite and Eleanor are fully-fleshed out characters; they are products of their time and place, which Perinot establishes in fine form...a fine debut." --Historical Novel Society on The Sister Queens

"Sophie Perinot's debut tour de force, The Sister Queens, gives the reader a detailed and racy look into the very public and most intimate lives of English and French royalty. . . .This sweeping, compelling novel is a Medieval, double-decker lifestyles of the rich, famous and fascinating." --Karen Harper, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Boleyn on The Sister Queens

"What Philippa Gregory did for Anne and Mary Boleyn, Perinot has done for Marguerite and Eleanor of Provence. This is, without a doubt, one of the best novels I've read all year!" --Michelle Moran, national bestselling author of The Second Empress, on The Sister Queens

"If you enjoy a tale of passion, intrigue and sisterly devotion that will keep you turning the pages, then The Sister Queens is a must for your reading list." --Anne O'Brien, author of Queen Defiant

"Every page . . . was like a morsel to savor. . . .The Sister Queens is one of the most beautifully written books I have read in a very long time. Absolutely superb!" --Diane Haeger, author of The Queen's Rival on The Sister Queens

"With lyrical prose, The Sister Queens tells a riveting story of sisterly rivalry and love, of war and betrayal. Marguerite and Eleanor remain united by bonds of love that can not tarnish and that can not break. A beautiful novel." --Christy English author of To Be Queen: A Novel Of Eleanor Of Aquitaine on The Sister Queens

"The Sister Queens is a rich and stately medieval tapestry of a novel, with two royal couples weaving intertwined patterns of history and private life. Marguerite and Eleanor are the queens of France and England, yes, but Sophie Perinot reveals the living women behind the glittering pageantry--two young Provençal sisters, fiercely competitive and just as fiercely devoted. Through coronations and childbirth, wars and sieges, triumphs and betrayals, Marguerite's and Eleanor's lives are stitched against the colorful and meticulously-researched background of thirteenth-century Europe--golden queens and steadfast sisters." --Elizabeth Loupas, author of The Second Duchess on The Sister Queens

"Sibling rivalry with the highest possible stakes! Sophie Perinot awards two luminaries of medieval royalty their due in a densely woven tapestry of colorful detail." --Leslie Carroll, author of Notorious Royal Marriages and Royal Pains, on The Sister Queens

Winter, 1564. Beautiful young Princess Margot is summoned to the court of France, where nothing is what it seems and a wrong word can lead to ruin. Known across Europe as Madame la Serpente, Margot's intimidating mother, Queen Catherine de Médicis, is a powerful force in a country devastated by religious war. Among the crafty nobility of the royal court, Margot learns the intriguing and unspoken rules she must live by to please her poisonous family.

Eager to be an obedient daughter, Margot accepts her role as a marriage pawn, even as she is charmed by the powerful, charismatic Duc de Guise. Though Margot's heart belongs to Guise, her hand will be offered to Henri of Navarre, a Huguenot leader and a notorious heretic looking to seal a tenuous truce. But the promised peace is a mirage: her mother's schemes are endless, and her brothers plot vengeance in the streets of Paris. When Margot's wedding devolves into the bloodshed of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, she will be forced to choose between her family and her soul.

Médicis Daughter is historical fiction at its finest, weaving a unique coming-of-age story and a forbidden love with one of the most dramatic and violent events in French history.