After watching the series on Netflix I was eager to gobble up more about Sissi of Austria. Sumptuous and detailed about the life of an exciting woman and ruler. A vivid tale about a woman coming into her own.

‘The year is 1853, and Princess Elisabeth “Sisi” of Bavaria has been very clear: She will wait for the head-over-heels love the poets speak of, or she will have no love at all. Just because her older sister, Helene, is eagerly heeding their mother’s advice and preparing to marry Emperor Franz of Austria does not mean Sisi must also subject herself to such a dutiful existence. Sisi knows there is more to life than luncheons and corsets—if only someone would let her experience it all firsthand.

Meanwhile, in Austria, the emperor is recovering from an assassination attempt that left him wounded and scared. In a bid to keep the peace, Franz has recommitted himself to his imperial duties—and promised to romance the pliant Helene of Bavaria at his upcoming birthday celebration. How better to unite the empire than with the announcement of a new empress? But when Sisi and Franz meet unexpectedly in the palace gardens, away from the prying eyes and relentless critique of the court, their connection cannot be denied. And as their illicit conversations turn into something more, they must soon choose between the expectations of their families and standing up for what they truly believe in . . .’
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I’ve read other books about Empress Elisabeth of Austria and this is overall a good read, even if it is less true to the history. The cover, which I understand is from the Netflix show, gave the impression that it would be a gritty and unpolished truth of the story of Emperor Franz and Empress Elisabeth, but I would say that it was a bit of a misdirection. It reads a bit fluffier and glossed over on some of the harsher details. It felt like a more YA version of Allison Pitaki’s The Accidental Empress, which is a great read if you want to read a less filtered telling of Franz and Elisabeth’s story. As well as the sequel, Sisi: Empress on Her Own. Both are great.
But I digress, back to the book that this review is about. This is a decent read, if a bit filtered on the history and the telling is slightly choppy. But if you’re curious about Empress Elisabeth or interested in the Netflix show, then it is worth a read. If you’re looking for a deeper retelling, then there are other retellings.
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I would like to thank NetGalley and Zando Projects for sharing an eARC of The Empress by Gigi Griffis. This is my honest review.

I love a good historical fiction and this one hit all the right buttons. Reading it and then watching the Netflix tie in really helped me enjoy it even more. I loved this book and intend to tell everyone I know who read this genre to read it. Looking into seeing if the author has any other books.

This book was almost painful for me. An unnecessary purchase for libraries and a passable TV series.

Loved this one so much. I loved the history. And Sissy! Wow

PaThank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read.

Here is a possible review for The Empress by Gigi Griffis:

I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this wonderful book. The Empress is a dazzling reimagining of the courtship between one of history's most iconic and beloved couples: Sisi and Franz of Austria. I have been obsessed with Sisi since I was a kid, watching the movies with Romy Schneider and dreaming of being a princess.

The Empress is a captivating, vivid and remarkably modern tale about falling in love and finding one's voice². The story follows Sisi, a sixteen-year-old princess of Bavaria who wants to experience life and love beyond the confines of her family and society. She accompanies her older sister Helene to Austria, where Helene is expected to marry Emperor Franz. But when Sisi and Franz meet in the palace gardens, they feel an instant connection that changes everything. They start a secret romance that defies the expectations of their families and the court. They also have to deal with political intrigues, assassination attempts, and personal struggles.

The Empress is a gem of a novel with a compelling feminist bent. Sisi is a strong, spirited, and unconventional heroine who refuses to settle for less than she deserves. She challenges Franz to be more than a puppet emperor and to stand up for his beliefs. Franz is a complex and sympathetic hero who is torn between his duty and his heart. He is wounded by his past and scared of his future, but he finds courage and comfort in Sisi's love. The chemistry between them is sizzling and swoon-worthy.

The Empress is also rich in historical details and atmosphere. The author transports the reader to the 19th century Europe, with its lavish palaces, elegant balls, colorful costumes, and intricate etiquette. She also explores the political and social issues of the time, such as nationalism, revolution, feminism, and mental health. She brings to life the characters and events that shaped history with her vivid prose and imagination.

The Empress is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, romance, and drama. It's a book that will make you laugh, cry, sigh, and cheer. It's a book that will stay with you long after you finish it.

I love The Empress tv show on Netflix! This book was a treat and a delight! It goes deeper into more detail that is only briefly mentioned in the tv show! Thus, this is a great companion piece to the tv show! Hopefully, there will be more in the future!

The year is 1853, and Princess Elisabeth “Sisi” of Bavaria has been very clear: She will wait for the head-over-heels love the poets speak of, or she will have no love at all. Just because her older sister, Helene, is eagerly heeding their mother’s advice and preparing to marry Emperor Franz of Austria does not mean Sisi must also subject herself to such a dutiful existence. Sisi knows there is more to life than luncheons and corsets—if only someone would let her experience it all firsthand.



Meanwhile, in Austria, the emperor is recovering from an assassination attempt that left him wounded and scared. In a bid to keep the peace, Franz has recommitted himself to his imperial duties—and promised to romance the pliant Helene of Bavaria at his upcoming birthday celebration. How better to unite the empire than with the announcement of a new empress? But when Sisi and Franz meet unexpectedly in the palace gardens, away from the prying eyes and relentless critique of the court, their connection cannot be denied. And as their illicit conversations turn into something more, they must soon choose between the expectations of their families and standing up for what they truly believe in . . .

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this historical fiction romance book about Princess Elisabeth (Sisi) of Bavaria) and Emperor Franz of Austria and how they formed their relationship.

Griffs really hits the high in this book, you want to delve straight into the story and know exactly what happens next. It’s intense with secrets, hot passion and some rather gasping moments.

If I dare say a negative it would be that I wanted a longer book. I love Sisi and Franz as characters and I thought Griffis really portrayed them well 😍

I also enjoyed that we get perspectives from Sisi's sister - Helene who had an arranged marriage with Franz, and Franz’s brother Maxi who had a rather interesting storyline in the book.

As soon as I finished reading The Empress I went and watched the tv show. So I could get more of The Empress world. 🥰

Thank you Netgalley, Zando Projects and Gigi Griffis for the digital copy of The Empress for reviewing purposes.

I had not seen this show on netflix before reading the book but after reading i'm definitely going to seek it out!

i thought the pace of the storytelling was great - never felt like a drag to read

This book is a beautifully written tale of the Empress Sisi. The author brings a new perspective to this historical figure. The story will grab your attention from the start and won’t let go until the very end.

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and Zando Projects for this review copy, I received this review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Griffis keeps the pages turning with a fresh and cinematic look at Empress Elisabeth of Austria. A wonderfully compelling take: each wonderfully-painted scene reflects the obvious passion Griffis has not only for Sisi's court but for the lovely landscapes of Austria. Contemporary royal watchers will be dazzled by how shockingly modern Sisi and Franz's romance is. A telling look at what little agency women had in pawns of greater political interest and a worthy new take on the sumptuous crown jewel of Europe: the once unstoppable Habsburg empire. Made me want to watch the Netflix series right away!

I was really looking forward to this, but the writing was so, so awkward and stilted. I just couldn't get into it.

The book was very slow and I didn't find myself reaching for this book when I found time to read. The last few chapters were probably the most exciting part.

Oh, how I adore this book! I cannot recommend it enough as it is fascinating and absorbing in every sense! Thank you, NetGalley for this approval because I LOVE it so much! I highly recommend it!

This is the novelisation of the upcoming Netflix period drama, and reading it has made me even more excited for its release at the end of September 2022. Sisi was an incredibly complex and layered person. She often is reduced to one line- “mental health issues”, “beautiful”, “youthful”- but is so much more than that.

Griffis not only brought Sisi and Franz to life, the couple whose romance and early marriage are often celebrated (though it turned sour…) but Sisi’s family. I loved that we spent much of our time with Helene, the Bavarian duchess who was originally meant to marry Franz. We also get to know Maxi, Franz’s younger brother and future Emperor of Mexico. (Normally you get to know each of their mothers, so it is a nice change.) I would have loved to go beyond Sisi and Franz’s wedding day, but I suspect the show ends then!

This is a fantastic book for anyone who loves The Gilded Age, The Crown, or Downton Abbey!

The show is so much better. I did not enjoy this book at all. The historical royalty romance feeling I wanted just wasn't there. Very disappointed.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Loved this
as a result of reading the book I have now also seen the series which was great too

highly recommend

While people are going crazy for The Crown and the Windsor. This is my crown and Windsor. Sisi has always been one of the royals that has fascinated me. I've always been more into studying the royals and Empires of Eastern Europe, Germany and Russia than England. And I think part of that is my own ancestors at least on my mom side came from Eastern Europe. And I one of those rare Americans without any drops of English blood. So I thrilled to see this one and watch Sisi come alive on the page.

This was a decent love story but not enough to make me want to watch the series although I hear the costumes are fabulous. I like a little more meat to my historical fiction.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley