The Queen's Fortune Allison Pataki
“Fortune favors the bold. One doesn't win glory by hiding behind the lines.”
Following a brief prologue, the novel begins in France during the summer of 1789 and continues through its epilogue set in Stockholm in December 1860. As a girl, Desiree Clary’s life becomes entangled with that of the Buonaparte family; her sister Julie eventually marries Joseph, the older brother of the man who will become known as Napoleon. Desiree, herself, is captivated by Napoleon, who pledges his love and seduces her before leaving to pursue his career. Eventually returning to France, Napoleon, along with Josephine, continues to be a major force and influence in the lives of the Clary family and of France. As the novel continues, Desiree finds happiness and fulfillment with Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, one of Napoleon’s generals, and an eventual rival. Allison Pataki does an incredible job developing the characters and their interactions with one another. Allowing Desiree to narrate the novel makes it far more personal than writing her story in the third person would have. Further, it accentuates Desiree’s emotions and personal growth, and developing maturity. This historical novel is filled with romance and emotion but never devolves into the typical bodice-ripping narrative into which so many purported “historical novels” descend. Although the characters and their conversations are imaginary, there is nothing that detracts from the history contained through the pages of this fine novel.
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