The Queen’s Fortune by Allison Pataki

The Queen’s Fortune by Alison Pataki – 448 pages

ARC provided by Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review

Book Blurb:

As the French revolution ravages the country, Desiree Clary is faced with the life-altering truth that the world she has known and loved is gone and it’s fallen on her to save her family from the guillotine. A chance encounter with Napoleon Bonaparte, the ambitious and charismatic young military prodigy, provides her answer. When her beloved sister Julie marries his brother Joseph, Desiree and Napoleon’s futures become irrevocably linked. Quickly entering into their own passionate, dizzying courtship that leads to a secret engagement, they vow to meet in the capital once his career has been secured. But her newly laid plans with Napoleon turn to sudden heartbreak, thanks to the rising star of Parisian society, Josephine de Beauharnais. Once again, Desiree’s life is turned on its head.
Swept to the glittering halls of the French capital, Desiree is plunged into the inner circle of the new ruling class, becoming further entangled with Napoleon, his family, and the new Empress. But her fortunes shift once again when she meets Napoleon’s confidant and star general, the indomitable Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. As the two men in Desiree’s life become political rivals and military foes, the question that arises is: must she choose between the love of her new husband and the love of her nation and its Emperor?

My Review: 4 stars

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The Queen’s Fortune is another fast romp through history filled with danger, rivalry, romance, war and political positioning. I’ve read a handful of historical fiction novels about Josephine Bonaparte, so I was excited to delve into Pataki’s story of Desiree Clary – Napoleon’s one-time fiancé. I didn’t know much about Clary, although even without Napoleon, she was a historical figure in her own right. Until it was revealed in the book, I didn’t realize that Clary would eventually become Queen consort of Sweden and Norway. It was incredible to learn that her descendants still rule Sweden today. Honestly, It was a welcome change of pace to read about a historical figure who was involved in so many major moments in history, but was happier on the sidelines than in the spotlight.

Watching Clary come out of her shell because of Napoleon, and then flourish despite him, kept this novel moving forward. I also enjoyed learning about Napoleon before he was “the Napoleon”, when he was just an unknown, well-liked, Corsican gentleman. He soon became a man climbing his way up the political ladder, while fighting for France’s freedom. Finally, we see him become consumed by power & prestige. 

Pataki has a way of bringing historical characters to life, and Clary’s remarkable life is no exception. She knows how to make a story move at a quick pace and fill the pages with the juicy bits that makes the history entirely relatable. Once again, she taught me a lot about a powerful and willful historical character; one I will not soon forget.

Overall, the story-telling and the evidence of thorough research, painted a thrilling tale of post-Revolution France. If you’re a fan of the author’s Sisi series, you’ll be thrilled by this new book.