The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot

From the author's website... "Like most sisters, Marguerite and Eleanor were rivals.
They were also queens.
Raised together at the 13th Century court of their father, Raymond Berenger, Count of Provence, Marguerite and Eleanor are separated by royal marriages—but never truly parted.
Patient, perfect, reticent, and used to being first, Marguerite becomes Queen of France. Her husband, Louis IX, is considered the greatest monarch of his age. But he is also a religious zealot who denies himself all pleasure—including the love and companionship his wife so desperately craves. Can Marguerite find enough of her sister’s boldness to grasp her chance for happiness in the guise of forbidden love?
Passionate, strong-willed, and stubborn, Eleanor becomes Queen of England. Her husband, Henry III, is neither as young nor as dashing as Marguerite’s. But she quickly discovers he is a very good man…and a very bad king. His failures are bitter disappointments for Eleanor, who has worked to best her elder sister since childhood. Can Eleanor stop competing with her sister and value what she has, or will she let it slip away?"


About Sophie Perinot... Sophie Perinot writes historical fiction. In Spring 2012 her debut novel, The Sister Queens, will be released by NAL. Set in 13th century France and England, The Sister Queens weaves the captivating story of medieval sisters, Marguerite and Eleanor of Provence, who both became queens – their lifelong friendship, their rivalry, and their reigns
Ms. Perinot has both a BA in History and a law degree. She left the law to pursue artistic interests, including writing. An avid reader, especially of classic literature, and life-long student of history, it seemed only natural that Sophie should write historical fiction. As someone who studied French abroad and a devotee of Alexandre Dumas, French history was a logical starting point. An active member of the Historical Novel Society, she has attended all of the group’s North American Conferences.
Active among the literary twitterati as @Lit_gal (a moniker she also uses at Agent Query Connect www.agentqueryconnect.com), Sophie is a regular contributor to the group writers' blog "From the Write Angle" http://www.fromthewriteangle.com. Find her on facebook at www.facebook.com/sophie.perinot.author.
For more information, please visit Sophie Perinot's WEBSITE. You can also find Sophie on her blog, Facebook and Twitter.

I have a younger sister and after reading The Sister Queens, I am so very happy that we have a normal relationship and that neither of us is Queen. Wow... what a complicated relationship Eleanor and Marguerite have.

I have always loved royal historical fiction... especially when it is about English or French royalty. There is just so much drama and intrigue and it can be told from so many perspectives... and reading such a novel told from two sisters' points of view is refreshing and, honestly, a little unexpected. I did not realize, when I was offered this novel for review, that it would be such an intimate tale.

I was absolutely intrigued with The Sister Queens from the very beginning! Ms. Perinot tells each sister's story in the first person (which is probably my favorite way to read a novel) but opens each chapter with a letter from one sister to the other. It is the perfect way to transition between the two stories.

There are many things about The Sister Queens to appreciate besides, of course, the well-written story. The preface lays the groundwork for Eleanor and Marguerite's rise to "queendom"... is that even a word?!? I'm sure you know what I mean, right?!? There is also an author's note, at the end that ties it all together and gave me some insight into the author's process. Whether or not you read The Sister Queens as your book club selection (which I believe would make a fascinating choice!), you should definitely read the reader's guide with discussion questions. It's a great way to reflect on book and, maybe, think of aspects that may not have been apparent while reading. One of the questions that really made me think was thinking about Eleanor's actions and behaviors in today's world or those same actions if she was a nobleman instead of a woman. I don't think I've really thought about historical women in those terms. It'll be interesting to keep that in the back of mind as I read about other historical women.

~~Thanks to Amy at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and Sophie Perinot for a copy of this amazing debut novel in exchange for my honest and thoughtful review.~~