I received this book (in an ebook format) in exchange for an honest review. But I may have to buy the book anyways because the cover is so beautiful! It's released February 5!
" When smallpox kills her parents, Camille Durbonne must find a way to provide for her frail, naive sister while managing her volatile brother. Relying on petty magic—la magie ordinaire—Camille painstakingly transforms scraps of metal into money to buy the food and medicine they need. But when the coins won’t hold their shape and her brother disappears with the family’s savings, Camille must pursue a richer, more dangerous mark: the glittering court of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
With dark magic forbidden by her mother, Camille transforms herself into the ‘Baroness de la Fontaine’ and is swept up into life at the Palace of Versailles, where aristocrats both fear and hunger for la magie. There, she gambles at cards, desperate to have enough to keep herself and her sister safe. Yet the longer she stays at court, the more difficult it becomes to reconcile her resentment of the nobles with the enchantments of Versailles. And when she returns to Paris, Camille meets a handsome young balloonist—who dares her to hope that love and liberty may both be possible.
But la magie has its costs. And when Camille loses control of her secrets, the game she's playing turns deadly. Then revolution erupts, and she must choose—love or loyalty, democracy or aristocracy, freedom or magic—before Paris burns… " - official Enchantée description
I adored this book! It's like a dystopian Cinderella meets the eve of the French Revolution! I loved everything about this book! There is almost nothing I would change. The author writes in such a realistic and detailed manner that I felt like I was living amongst the pages of her world! I also have not read much historical fiction just prior to the dawn of the French Revolution and found myself researching details, like "Did Marie Antoinette have pet sheep that she walked through the palace with?" The answer is YES if you were curious! From the sorrow and anguish of the hungry who have no hope to the absurd and overindulging parties in the halls of Versailles, I felt that both extremes were explored and written about in ways that brought tears to my eyes! Most books really only present one side or the other, but both sides through a single character is a rather remarkable feat!
The basic premise of the story is that very few people can work magic. It requires very steep prices to use it and most are not willing to pay the price. However, for two sisters who recently lost their parents and with the rising prices of bread and dwindling job opportunities, the older decides that no price is too steep to keep her sister fed and housed. With magic that is fed by blood and sorrow, she steps into the halls of the palace to con the nobles out of their riches. She has until morning when the magic stops fueling her illusions. The magic demands more and more, but won't let her stop! I don't want to give too much away, but you should absolutely read it!
I would recommend this book for those who love fairy tale retellings, historical fiction, or fantasy! I love all three, so it was perfect for me. I would recommend it for older teens and up because there are a few dark scenes in the book.
I also want to include a few trigger warnings. There is an abusive, alcoholic older brother of the two sisters that is often present early in the book and is one of the reasons the girls need money to move somewhere safer. The threat of him lurks even though we don't see him again until the last few chapters of the book. There is also an emotionally manipulative nobleman who basically blackmails people into doing terrible things. So, there is male-on-female violence at several points. Feel free to message me if you need additional clarification.
I loved this book! Five Stars!
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