The Sister Queens

January 1, 2012

Marguerite and Eleanor of Provence, 13th-century sister queens, exchange frequent letters of friendship and encouragement as they both attempt to make successes of their politically motivated marriages. Marguerite struggles to gain and hold the attention of the fanatically religious King Louis IX of France, first as a competitor with his strong-willed mother and then sharing with her husband the hardships of life on crusade. Eleanor enters into a passionate but tempestuous relationship with Henry III of England and must learn to control her emotions so she can protect the interests of her children. Perinot focuses primarily on the evolution of the sisters' romantic relationships with their husbands rather than on their political or social roles within the royal courts. She depicts each sibling using the other's marriage as a source of inspiration while they ultimately travel very different paths in search of happiness. VERDICT Perinot does not interweave the sisters' stories as seamlessly as she could have--the two plotlines feel largely disconnected at times. Still, her debut novel should please Philippa Gregory fans and other readers who enjoy historical fiction with a strong emphasis on romance.--Mara Bandy, Champaign P.L., IL

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