Scan barcode
deepat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It was a great read. I love historical fiction quite a bit and I find that this book has been relatively faithful to the real Empress Sisi story in as much as we know from the records. I truly sympathised with the young, carefree girl who was forced to a difficult life after marriage. A tale as old as time - an overbearing mother, an inexperienced wife and a man caught in between. But I love that she was always able to retain the love of the public, in spite of her personal woes.
justfara's review against another edition
5.0
I love all of Pataki's books, BUT.... she is so so so WORDY.... Everything she writes could be done with about 1/3 the words, it is as if she is being paid by the page.
That being said, she is well researched and the stories are phenomenal!!!
Well done! If you are like me and cry when a long book is over.. (I've been known to cry when a bad book of 1200 pages was over) well.. read it just because it is really good, and then the followup!
That being said, she is well researched and the stories are phenomenal!!!
Well done! If you are like me and cry when a long book is over.. (I've been known to cry when a bad book of 1200 pages was over) well.. read it just because it is really good, and then the followup!
bookleo's review against another edition
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
At moments I was annoyed by the deviation from history but then again you also have to come with terms that not everyone would make the same deviation from historical fact and use the liberty of writing fiction. By the end of this book I have very much accepted it and I can say some moments were not for me.
megan_mcdaniel's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death
lorinlee's review against another edition
4.0
This is an historical novel, not a bodice ripper, and Pataki does a fine job of creating a scaffold that adheres to the historical reality. Elizabeth of Bavaria marries Franz Joseph of Austria when she is barely 16. From day one she is in conflict with her mother-in-law Sophie. Elizabeth, of Sisi, as she was called had a temperament unsuited for the rigidity of the Viennese court. As the novel proceeds a war with Prussia reduces the size of Franz Joseph's empire and leads to a dual monarchy, the Austro-Hungarian empire. Sisi plays a role in getting her husband to grant Hungary considerable independence as she loves that country.
In a closing "interview" Pataki discusses precisely what she used the historical record, and where she diverged from it. It's a useful guide for any writer who hopes to pen historical fiction. There are as well questions for reading groups to consider. Acknowledgements include the historical works on which Pataki relied.
All in all, a fine read.
In a closing "interview" Pataki discusses precisely what she used the historical record, and where she diverged from it. It's a useful guide for any writer who hopes to pen historical fiction. There are as well questions for reading groups to consider. Acknowledgements include the historical works on which Pataki relied.
All in all, a fine read.
deniseboot's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
alexamajka's review against another edition
2.0
Forced myself to finish this solely bc I hate DNFing books but this was painful. Sisi is such a fascinating historical figure and it doesn’t seem like there was any real research done on her or the time period for this book.
mats0011's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
susandhooks's review against another edition
3.0
Well it was fun to read in the same way that any nobility-infused story is: the dresses! the food! the brocade and silk and jewels! the horses and poetry and fountains! But it felt simplified to me. Sisi was only a young, besotted girl who was swept off her feet, seemingly against her will, by an Emperor, and then everything happened TO her and her reactions were predictable and wearying. Her mother-in-law/aunt was a controlling, demanding woman who undermined Sisi and passively-aggressively took control of her children (not once did I feel they were also the Emperor’s children).
Having said all that, I am grateful for learning about the Habsburg Court, enjoyed the composer references, and glad to have gained an understanding of the political and geographical movements of the late 1800’s in Europe. Also, a great promotional piece for Budapest.
Having said all that, I am grateful for learning about the Habsburg Court, enjoyed the composer references, and glad to have gained an understanding of the political and geographical movements of the late 1800’s in Europe. Also, a great promotional piece for Budapest.