Great concept for a fictional twist on real history for a unique historical fiction twist. Will admit that it took me a long time to finish because it's a lot to process with names and slower parts.

"The Embroidered Book" by Kate Heartfield was a disappointing read for me. The story follows Marie Antoinette and her sister Charlotte in a historical fantasy setting, but I found the execution lacking. Despite the intriguing premise, I struggled to connect with the characters and found the pacing to be slow.
As someone familiar with the real history of the French Revolution, I knew how the story would ultimately end, which made the lackluster character development and predictable plot even more frustrating. While I appreciate the author's attempt to breathe new life into this well-known historical period, I couldn't help but feel that the story lacked depth and emotional resonance.
Additionally, I found the fantasy elements to be underdeveloped and not fully integrated into the narrative. The magical aspects seemed like an afterthought rather than an integral part of the plot, which made the world-building feel disjointed and inconsistent.
Overall, "The Embroidered Book" fell short of my expectations. While the premise had potential, the execution left much to be desired. I would recommend this book to readers looking for a light historical fantasy read, but for those seeking a gripping and well-developed story, this may not be the best choice.
Low 3/5 Stars

As someone who started their reading journey in the historical fiction realm, I was immediately drawn to this book. I found the magic system to be unique and it related well to the personalities of our main characters and the overall story that was being told. While I don't feel like the fantasy portion of this book was necessary, it did make it more enjoyable and unique of an experience than if the story was told in a normal setting. I did find it hard to finish because I feel like it stalled at certain points and the story did not progress to what I knew should be happening as quickly as it could have.

Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of <i>The Embroidered Book</i> in exchange for an honest review. I went into this thinking it was going to be a fantasy novel, and while there is some of that with some magical components the bulk of this is historical fiction.

It seems well researched in that respect but made for a different experience than I was expecting. It’s long, which I expect of a fantasy novel, but this length with historical fiction was a bit much. I can’t say this really held my interest.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars
This book did nothing wrong. However, this is not the book for me.
Heartfield has clean, engaging writing in the narrative which humanizes these historical characters that many people know so much about, at least Antoinette and to a lesser degree her family and the other players of the French Revolution. Unfortunately, that familiarity wedged into my reading experience and created a disconnect for me, especially since I have read far too much about most of the involved players through my classes for my history degree as well as my other interest. Since I know that Heartfield does not change any of the major historical events, I did not feel compelled to keep reading this work of narrative speculation about these characters.
This is not a bad book at all. In fact, I think it's written quite well, hence the 3.5 star rating. It's just not the book for me.

This book is a fantastic combination of historical fiction and fantasy. It's centered around the lives of real historical figures and actual historical events with magic woven through the story.

It is a beautifully written book about sisters Antoin and Charlotte. They are princesses of Austria and go on to marry the heirs of France and Naples. When they were children, they discovered a book left by a former nanny that had magic spells in it. The Embroidered Book follows the sisters from childhood into adulthood as they learn more about the magic and how to use it. The magic greatly effects their lives and relationships.

Charlotte chooses a wiser path with her magic and ends up in a great position of power as queen. Antoin takes a different approach and is seen as vain and flighty.

One of my favorite parts of this book is that even though we know all along the fate of Antoin, later Marie Antoinette, this knowledge doesn't detract from the story. Instead, we know what's coming. We see the mistakes as she's making them and the web of intrigue that surrounds her.

This was an incredibly dramatic and intelligent book. The characters are wonderfully written, and the magic is well utilized. It was a little long, but I highly recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Sorry to say I had to DNF this book....this was just too much. The story itself could be interesting but the author has packed in so so so SO much unnecessary words and information that I ended up cross-eyed after every chapter. After chapter 12 I lost who was who outside of Charlotte and Antoinette, I had no idea who was good or who was evil. All the magisters blurred together to the point I just thought they were the same man and the author kept spelling his name wrong. This was just a hard NO for me.

The concept was something I would love to read about and you can tell the author did her research, as it seems she put EVERYTHING she found inside the book and didn't leave anything out. This is getting a 2 for me, because maybe if I was in a different mindset or had 0 other books left to read in the world I would come back to this one.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

A fascinatingly complex historical fiction novel, The Embroidered Book brings magic and secret magical societies to the eighteenth century. Following sisters Antoine and Charlotte, daughters of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa, as they grow up from Archduchesses into Queen Marie Antoinette of France and Queen Carolina of Naples, Heartfield adds a fascinatingly complex element to the historical narrative that readers may be familiar with. Add in a secret Order of 1326 and gender and organizational lines and rivalries between magical users to the already fraught political situation of the late eighteenth century, and readers are in for a fascinating story. Shifting perspectives between the two sisters, Heartfield’s characters are complex, well-intentioned, and realistic, with complex internal monologues, struggles and loyalties. The tension of the era, when combined with the magical society’s tensions, exponentially increases the significance of Charlotte and Antoine’s actions as they seek to make their ways in the world as magisters and queens. Heartfield’s novel is incredibly diverse and dynamic, and her characters are simply fascinating, while her magic system is clever and complex. The Embroidered Book is compelling from page one as it covers decades of historical drama and tension, and the magic weaving across the pages only heightens the stakes.

This book is just so dry. Just when I start to like it I turn the page and my eyes start to blur. For the past 4 months I have picked this book up just to set it back down. I think it might be time to call it quits. I’m not usually a DNFer… so this is kind of painful for me.

Thank you NetGalley for granting me access to this book for an honest review.

I thought this book was really inventive - throwing magic into the midst of Marie Antoinette and her sister Maria Carolina. The historical references are fascinating and I found myself pausing to research more about the time and the family of Marie Antoinette in order to discern what was based on fact and what was fiction.

The magical system in the book was interesting and one that I hadn't read before - one in which a sacrifice was needed in order to complete the magic. The idea of a balance in having to give up a part of yourself to acquire or take magic was something new to me and I liked that element.

I did find the book to be extremely lengthy and overly wordy which left me a bit lost in the plot and stagnant at times. I think the story would be better told in a more condensed manner. While I really enjoyed what I read, I ended up not finishing it about 3/4 of the way through because it was so long and the pace had slowed.

As an avid reader of historical fiction, especially historical fiction that leans heavily into the *fiction* part of its genre, I looked forward to diving into The Embroidered Book. A book with magic! Marie Antoinette! Intrigue! It sounded right up my alley.

Alas, I think it was the wrong alley. I wanted to feel compelled by the characters, but the narrative style was so awkward that I couldn't quite connect to them. Of course, it's not a spoiler to say that Marie Antoinette dies in the end. But the circuitous journey from her childhood to her death is unnecessarily long, an encyclopedic journey through the intricacies of European politics in the 18th century. I learned a lot about the Habsburgs, about Naples, and about Swedish aristocrats. Without giving too much away, the addition of magic to the world of The Embroidered Book doesn't make the world more magical: It makes the existing disparities more stark, the contrasts between those with power and those without more harsh. And perhaps that is the reason to read this book: as a reminder that no matter how utopian your favorite escapist read is, the uncomfortable truth is that even magic doesn't change human nature.

Kate Heartfield's The Embroidered Book is an engrossing tale following the lives of Antoine and Charlotte, two remarkable women from childhood to Marie Antoinette's untimely demise during the French Revolution. Though set in royalty, it's more about sisterhood, finding personal power within society's constraints, and carving out one's space. The incorporation of a magical book adds a fantastical element, making the story even more captivating. Despite its massive page count, the book never feels overwhelming and maintains tension throughout, making it a character-driven masterpiece with poetic writing and well-balanced historical detail.

Thanks to HarperCollins and Netgalley for the ARC.

This was an unexpected surprise. I was taken in by the cover and really didn't know what it was about but I am so glad I took a chance on this story. History + magic and a fresh perspective on historical events that so many are familiar with and it makes for a captivating and intriguing read!!
This is the story of Charlotte and Antoine of the House of Habsburg- Antoine is better known as Marie Antoinette. While generally aware of Marie Antoinette's life, I did not know her sister Charlotte was Queen of Naples and the extent of the Habsburg's influence throughout Europe. I love how the magic was woven into actual events and it did make me fantasize about the possibilities of magical influences in history. While Louis' & Marie's endings are well known, when reframed in this way, it really makes you think about the people they were and not the public perception of them at the time. The ending really was quite wrenching. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience!!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
As a casual fan of Marie Antoinette, the French Revolution, and the Habsburgs, I was drawn to the premise of The Embroidered Book, especially as I liked the focus on Marie Antoinette’s relationship with her sister and other family members, in addition to following her rise and fall as the French queen. And I like how it really focused on their origins, with Empress Maria Theresa being focused on diplomatically making alliances with the major houses of Europe by marrying off her many children, many of them daughters. And while the magical twist with the titular embroidered book was much less pronounced than I initially expected, I liked how it set the tone for the story and showed how these young, powerless girls used magic as leverage to provide security for their own futures.
Both Charlotte and Antoine (renamed Marie Antoinette partway through upon her marriage) are intriguing characters. I was touched by the bond between theme as sisters the most, and how that does not waver even as they are sent off to their separate arranged marriages and take on their own royal responsibilities and start royal families of their own. And it’s especially bittersweet as the political climate shifts around them, particularly for Marie Antoinette in France, and while she definitely makes some mistakes as Queen, it doesn’t make her end any less tragic, especially when viewed from a lens like this. And to see Charlotte’s history retold alongside it, with slight embellishments, makes the story all the richer.
The book did feel a tad long-winded at times, and I definitely felt the length in places. It does serve a purpose in getting the major players from point A to point B, it felt a bit too overwhelming at times, especially since there was a focus on both Marie Antoinette and her sister throughout.
Despite my issues with this book, I enjoyed it for the most part. I recommend it to fans of historical fiction with fantastical elements.

I was really pumped to get this book, but honestly it just fell a little bit short for me. I’d still recommend it to certain friends though

This was an incredibly well-researched and interesting book about Marie Antoinette and her sister Maria Carolina (Charlotte) and many of the events of their lives.

While I initially enjoyed the first third of the book, I became bored very quickly and it became a struggle to get through. I found the writing and storytelling to be a bit clunky and halting. There was often no flow between paragraphs. Time passed and perspectives would change without warning and this made things hard to follow, especially in the beginning of the book. This book is also at least 200 pages too long - I was shocked to see that it hits 672 pages. Things happened without much explanation - there was a lot of telling and not showing.

The biggest problem I had with this book is the magic system and the way it was portrayed. This has one of the most unique and interesting magic systems because it requires the magic user to make a sacrifice. The bigger the magic, the bigger the sacrifice. While this should have very impactful ramifications and is implied to do so at the beginning, it literally doesn't matter at all throughout the book. The characters lose a memory and that's about it. It's not explored at all and to me it invalidated the entire system. All of the magic performed is very surface level and most of the time we learn about the magic after it has already happened.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for the ARC!

- DNF
- Written In Present Tense
- Pet Peeve

This is an unfair review.

Thank you to Harper 360, HarperVoyager for an ARC of The Embroidered Book by Kate Heartfield

I cannot stand present-tense books. I am fully aware that this is a personal pet peeve and completely my own bias. My dislike for this writing style has NOTHING to do with the story or the ability of the author to communicate and write effectively, therefore I will not be posting this review on any other platform.

I can only imagine the sheer amount of research that went into this hefty yet engaging tome.

I love reading about this time period, and the way Heartfield brings these historical figures to life is absolutely impressive.

I found myself rooting for and then against each character, often within the same chapter.

It is 600 plus pages, so go into it with an open mind and know that you’re gonna be here for a while!

Look for an episode featuring this novel on the Books Are Magical podcast.

The heart of the Embroidered Book revolves around the concept of power and sacrifice. Set against the backdrop of revolution—The American and French, not to mention a general European uprising against the monarchy and feudalism, two sisters must learn to fight for power just to attempt to survive.

Our heroines are none other than two of the Habsburg sisters, Marie Antoinette (known as Antoine as a girl) and Maria Carolina (Queen of Naples and referred to as Charlotte in the story). We meet them as young girls, discovering their murdered governess’ eponymous Embroidered Book and exploring the magical spells revealed inside. For each spell, they must grant a sacrifice, which could be a simple as a fingernail and memory, or as dire as the love for a brother. These early moments in the novel stole my breath, creating a captivating metaphor for meaning making and discovery of power and loss. The prose is mesmerizing and elegant and the relationships feel deeply authentic.

When their elder sister dies, their strict and power-hungry mother sends Charlotte to Naples to fulfill her sister’s marriage obligations. Charlotte is devastated, as she has been trained her whole life to be the Queen of France. Antoine, fully unprepared, must now become Marie Antoinette, and learn to make France love her. They are determined to do this through their magic. Remember, in this world, magic demands a price, and the sisters must continue to make great sacrifices to become the wildly different rulers they eventually grow into.

As they grapple with the weight of their responsibilities, the loyalty and love they hold for one another is tested, demonstrating the complexity of their relationship in the face of power struggles and external threats.

I could not resist a deep investment in these characters, especially Marie Antoinette. Despite being keenly aware of the tragic outcome (this doesn’t feel like a spoiler, her story is common knowledge), I felt an irresistible urge to root for her survival and triumph! It’s an odd position to find oneself in, when you are vehemently anti-monarchy as a person! However, the emotional investment in her character underscores the author’s gift in crafting a compelling portrayal of one of history’s most fascinating figures.

I particularly loved Kate Heartfield’s exploration of the societal limitations placed on women in the era. Through the magic system, readers are invited to reflect on the sacrifices women make in their pursuit of power, autonomy, and recognition in a world that often undermines their capabilities and potential.

Heartfield’s meticulous research into the history of these formidable women and events is also impressive, as she provides a beat by beat unfolding of the French Revolution’s treachery and multitudes of characters (in fact, so many that I constantly found myself running to google to look up more information on each character).

The Embroidered Book is an enchanting work of magical historical fiction that weaves the fascinating worlds of Marie Antionette and Charlotte. Although the book sags a bit in the middle as the author has a lot of historical detail to navigate and loses the human connection, it’s impossible not to power through to follow the emotional journey of these two incredible queens who make heartbreaking sacrifices for their family and country. This is an absolute must-read for lovers of magical historical fantasy and powerful women—but have your tissues ready!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy, all opinions are authentic and my own.