Finally I got around to reviewing this book after receiving the galley several months (years?) ago. It’s a big story, and I unfortunately let the galley expire before getting to it so I am reviewing the published audiobook instead.

It’s a very slow book. I listened to it while doing chores and the pace was pretty perfect for that, but it’s not a thriller by any means. I actually really enjoyed the storyline, but I think editing out a good quarter of the book would have lifted this from three stars to four for me.

Still, I really enjoyed the first part about Veronique and then the later part about the lives of midwives in 18th century France… I might have to find a book centred around that.

King Louis XV of France has teenage girls from all over the country come and live at a nearby villa. His mistress Madam de Pompadour oversees the training of these girls as courtesans for the King, though they are told they will be visiting with a Polish Count. Thirteen-year-old Véronique is one of these girls whose mother sends her away because she can’t afford to keep her. Véronique becomes a favourite girl of the King, but when she becomes pregnant, she’s whisked away to give birth in secret and then she must marry a merchant that has been chosen for her. Véronique’s daughter Marie-Louise has to grow up without her parents. She isn’t treated well by her guardians, until she is sent to be trained by a midwife in Paris. The woman who teaches her treats Marie-Louise like her niece, and gives her a good life. However, when Marie-Louise finds a piece in the puzzle to her parentage, she tries to find the secret of her birth.

This was quite a difficult book to read. There were some terrible things that happened to women and girls in the book, many of which were because of the time period but some still happen today. One thing that was interesting was the medical side of this story. Medicine has come a long way since the eighteenth century, but there was a female labour machine that mimicked the way a woman would give birth to teach midwives. This was an interesting piece of history that I didn’t know existed before reading this book.

The School of Mirrors is a tough read but it’s a touching story.

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada and Tandem Collective Global for providing a copy of this book.

Content warnings: child abuse, child death, mother death, childbirth complications, nonconsensual sexual encounters

The School of Mirrors takes place during the 1700s and begins with Veroniques POV (the only one told in the first person for some reason). She becomes a THIRTEEN 🤢 year old mistress of the King of France, and once she becomes pregnant with his baby, is sold off as a wife and her baby taken and given to guardians.

That baby is Marie-Louise and the rest of the book tells her story about being raised by strangers and eventually becoming a midwife.

This book is LONG and slooooowwww. It’s writing style is a bit of a head scratcher as there are no chapters and the jumping between POVs through the first half, got quite confusing. It was also incredibly hard to keep track of the characters as there were a lot of them, and many were referred to by two or three different names.

Normally I love historical fiction, but I think it was a bit “too” historical for me 😂
This was the first book I read during this time period, but I can’t imagine rushing to read one again.

I will say I found the midwifery aspect completely fascinating and was by far my favourite part of the book.

Unbelievable to think of the advances we’ve had in medical treatment. Good thing there wasn’t the internet or social media back then, or life expectancy may still be 40!

While there were parts of this book I did enjoy and loved the character of Marie-Louise, it definitely felt like work to get through at times. The writing was good, but this just wasn’t a favourite

2.75 stars

This was such an interesting book and I appreciate the amount of time and research that the author put into this book, which focused on the reign of Louis XV and then the French Revolution.

The book was very well written with ample descriptions of the setting, however I had an big issue with the pacing of the book. Some sections and parts felt long and seemed to drag on. I was also disappointed with the reunion between Véronique and Marie-Louise, and was unsatisfied with the second half of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher For an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It took me months to read this one. Well Actually it took me months to get up to 40% and then I just quit because I just couldn’t get into it. This book sounded amazing but I just got bored .
I guess it just wasn’t for me .

Taking two items she found while researching, Eve Stachniak has created a fascinating story set in 18th century France, during the reigns of Louis XV and Louis XVI.

Stachniak follows two people, young Véronique who's sold into service, and years later Marie-Louise, a midwife.

Véronique is taken to a special school set up by Madame de Pompadour, where girls are groomed for the King to have sex with. When Véronique becomes pregnant, she's kicked out, her baby taken from her, then married to a stranger. Years later, young Marie-Louise lives with abusive adoptive parents, and is eventually and fortuitously adopted by a midwife who has the King's permission to train midwives all over the country. Unbeknownst to Marie-Louise, she's actually Véronique's daughter, and over her life she sees how events in France get increasingly dangerous for anyone with a connection to its royalty.

Stachniak has created a book that deals with the precariousness of women's lives, and how susceptible they are to misogyny-fueled manipulation and abuse. The book is also an examination of unchecked power and how easy it is for those with it to abuse those without it.

I learned a little more about French history during this read in this interesting book, which did have a tendency to drag a little. I still enjoyed this read, and was impressed with all the details which brought the period to life, and was impressed with the author's evident knowledge of her subject.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.

I loved the prose in this historical fiction novel. Detailed descriptions perfectly suited to give life to the clothing, the deliciousness to food, or emotions to the characters. I loved how the King treats his little "mouse" and I can totally believe he had his stable of young girls to suit his tastes. I loved how smug and important his trusted, yet arrogant "stable manager" thinks about himself, and how well he does his job to ensure secrecy while satiating his Lord. The lengths that people would do to earn money during this time, and the shocking divide between the haves and have nots is so sad. So similar to Les Miserables, which is completely understandable.

This book is told by two characters in two parts. The first part is from the POV of Veronique, a lower class girl (and I’m not just using that word, she’s literally 14) who is swept away to Deer Park, a house for the playthings of the King of France. She is trained on how to behave, and how to present herself, all which is overseen by Madame de Pompadour, the king’s favourite mistress.

The second part is from the POV of Marie-Louise, Veronique’s daughter who grew up never knowing her mother or father. She trains as a midwife under the supervision of Aunt Margot, which eventually leads to her finding out the truth about her parentage.

Versailles is one of my absolute favourite places, so of course I had to read a book set there. This was a fantastic book. The author does such a wonderful job setting the scene and her descriptions make you feel like you’re right there with the characters.

It’s a bit of an emotional ride and also terrifying to think what these young girls had to go through just to survive - and even then, some of them didn’t. It really shows what life was like for women of all different classes during that time.

Marie-Louise’s story takes place during the French Revolution and the fall of the monarchy. It was interesting to see what was happening in Paris during that time. We always hear about the royals, but never about the ordinary citizens. It’s easy to see that this book was very well researched.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an eArc in exchange for an honest review.
A historical novel that spans several decades in 18th century France. An interesting look at the lives and roles women play in this time period and their limited choices. Two parts devoted to two different characters - Veronique during the first and the second is where we explore the life of her daughter Marie-Louise. The plight of people living in this time period is vividly portrayed and Stachniak put extensive research into every aspect of life in the 18th century. I found the storyline a bit predictable, but really appreciated reading about the French Revolution and the strength and resilience of women during this time. Will look forward to reading more from this author.

This book was an incredible read! It was descriptive and made me feel like I was there at Versailles. This was a beautiful book that was well researched and intriguing.

This book follows two generations. Two very different paths. It was written so well I couldn’t put it down. I read it all over the weekend and out off all my house chores.

Great time 4/5 would recommend.

I absolutely loved the premise, and respect the amount of research that clearly went into this work. However, I found the pacing incredibly slow and just couldn't connect to the characters. It just wasn't for me.

The story takes place in France during the reign of Louis XV and continues into the French Revolution. This is a well written and well researched book. As I read, I felt compelled to explore the time period and circumstances surrounding this story. While the author did take some creative liberties, the story remained true to the reality of the time. I really enjoyed the storytelling and have been inspired to find more works written about this time period.
The story follows Veronique Roux, a poor French peasant girl sold into the care of Monsieur Lebel. She is trained in the Deer Park residence to become a mistress of the king, under the guise that he is a Polish Count. She is discarded after asking too many questions and becoming pregnant. Her child is taken away from her and she is to be married off to a grain merchant.
In the second part of the story, we leave Veronique behind and follow her daughter, Marie-Louise. At first, she is raised by a nurse, then brought to be raised by servants of the king’s primary mistress. Upon the death of Monsieur, she is left in the care of and becomes apprenticed to a reputable midwife - the one that was present for her birth. Marie- Louise marries and her husband is a key participant in the events that lead to the revolution.
The story was intriguing. The author wrote beautifully. If you are looking for an intriguing and beautifully written historical fiction, then this is definitely worth the read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me a copy of the eBook to read and review.

An impoverished 13 year old girl is scooped off the streets of 18th century Paris and sent to a house of girls being groomed for the French King's bed. Being pampered and spoiled by a man she believes loves her, she is unprepared for her fate when the inevitable happens and she finds herself pregnant. The second part of the book follows the life of her daughter who grows up in the shadow of the impending French Revolution, and is witness to the death of the man she learns is her father.

This is a luscious, gorgeously written book. Eva Stachniak's prose is lyrical even while exploring themes that are dark and traumatic. She brings to life the brilliance and rot of the decadent and depraved French court. None of the characters are one dimensional; she manages to find something sympathetic in the most vile. Ultimately, this is a story of women, of mothers and daughters, of the struggle to survive in a society that disenfranchised and oppressed women.

Set against the backdrop of Versailles during Louis XV’s reign, The School of Mirrors is a complex and heartrending novel. The two protagonists, Veronique and Marie-Louise are mother and daughter but have very little in common. Their stories contrast beautifully, and lead us through very different periods in French history. I love that she has centred the story on women who so often are invisible in stories of the court, and that the story extends far past court.

Stachniak has done an incredible job of setting a novel at Versailles but not letting Versailles take over the story, no small feat. She has clearly done her historical research, as she did with her Catherine the Great novels, and it makes a big difference- it feels like you are there in eighteenth century France. This is the perfect novel for anyone interested in women’s history!

2.5 ★ Thank you Netgalley for this ebook in exchange for a review.

While I did enjoy parts of the story and found myself invested at certain parts, there were a lot of areas I felt like I was just forcing myself to read through. This is likely personal preference as I am sure these sections were what others really enjoyed. I found that I was wanting for more of the story and less of the lengthy descriptions at times. That being said, this book was very clearly well researched and well written for anyone interested in this type of historical fiction. I was hoping for a bit more of the story of Veronique but also understand that maybe wasn't the only focus of this book.

A wonderful historical fiction that provided fresh insights and connections to a contentious time period.

I thought the premise of this one sounded so interesting, especially given that it’s a period of history I don’t know a lot about but unfortunately it just wasn’t a great fit for me. I appreciated the amount of research the author must have put in but I found the pacing to be very slow and the descriptive detail to just be a little too much which impacted my enjoyment a little.
I can definitely appreciate that others may enjoy this book more than I did though.

The School of Mirrors is a well researched, beautifully written, descriptive book set during multiple time lines, the court of Versailles and the French Revolution. I could imagine being in France via the imagery and feel of this book. It is a book of commitment spanning many years and by way of emotion and historical information. I love the book cover as it is captivating and drew me in. I should note this was a first book for me of Eva Stachniak’s.

At times this was a difficult book for many reasons. First, you have to truly enjoy and appreciate the historical research that went into this book! It is not for those who may consider historical fiction dry. Also , some readers may not feel comfortable with some disturbing elements of child abuse and grooming of a young child. Despite this, I felt this story to be compelling, due to the relationship that develops between a mother and daughter during a time when women didn’t have rights,
The characters were engaging and well developed, even those we didn’t enjoy. I appreciated the topic of midwifery, that that historically has fallen under constraints of men’s beliefs and control.
I enjoyed this deeply engaging and intense book and highly recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction,

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the digital copy of this book.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher thru NetGalley for a review.

I was hopeful for this book. I love historical fiction and it had an interesting premise and historical time period that I didn't know a lot about but I didn't really enjoy it. I really couldn't get invested in the characters and felt there wasn't enough depth to them. I also found it difficult to follow the "voice" of the story in the beginning.

Overall I wasn't that impressed.

3.5 stars An interesting historical fiction novel set in Paris and Versailles that spans several decades in the latter half of the 18th century. The focus of the first part of the book is the court of Versailles and the young girls from poor families who are taken there and groomed to become courtesans for King Louis XV. Véronique Roux is one of these girls who is brought to Versailles at the age of 13. By age 14, she is pregnant with the king's child and gives birth to a daughter who is taken from her. The focus of the story then shifts to the daughter, Marie-Louise, who lives as a child with guardians in Versailles and later in Paris with an accredited midwife who takes her in and treats her as a niece. Marie-Louise also becomes a midwife, marries and starts a family in Paris during the volatile time leading up to the French Revolution.

The pacing is a bit slow at times, however, the novel is meticulously researched and well-written with detailed descriptions of life in Paris and Versailles during the time period. The School of Mirrors shines a light on the reality for women in 18th century France including limited legal rights regardless of class, rampant abuse of young girls and women by men in power, unrelenting poverty for many and the dangers of childbirth to mother and child. It's also a story of the strength of women who are survivors and of the love that endures between a mother and daughter despite their physical separation.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC.