Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow by Juliet Grey is the second in a trilogy and again Juliet brings alive the world of Marie Antoinette so vividly that I felt I was right there experiencing the extravagance of the French Court. I was first introduced to Juliet Grey when I read Becoming Marie Antoinette (my review) and really enjoyed it so I was anxious to have the story continued in Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow and I was most definitely not disappointed as I loved this one as well! Juliet Grey is very skilled at pulling you into the past of these historical characters and weaving together a story that will hold you spellbound throughout.
Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow picks up the storyline following Becoming Marie Antoinette as she comes into her time as Queen of France. While it was interesting to read the first book and her introduction to the French Court this novel was fascinating as it delves into Marie Antoinette as a grown woman and focuses on how became so unpopular with the people of France.
As the novel opens Marie Antoinette is still waiting to have her marriage consummated and until it is she can’t perform her most important duty as queen and that is to produce a male heir. She encourages Louis to have the surgery that would enable them to consummate their marriage but even though he knows that he needs to produce an heir he is still hesitant to have the surgery. In the meantime since Marie Antoinette has no children to focus her energies on she instead points them towards having gowns made, remodeling her living quarters, having her hair done, giving lavish parties, and spending a good amount of time playing cards and gambling. Eventually their marriage was consummated and though she first gave birth to a girl she did eventually have two boys although the eldest was a sickly boy. As the story progresses it is interesting to read how Louis who had been so loved eventually ended up being hated instead. It is obvious he didn’t really have the backbone to lead and I am especially curious to see how the story will play out in the final novel of the trilogy.
As with the first novel and this one I really felt for Marie Antoinette despite the picture that history has painted of her. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to be torn from your family and country at a young age and thrown into a completely different environment. Add that to being married to a man who can’t seem to make you his wife in the most important way and who knows how we would react. I think that the author portrayed her as a real individual who had flaws and wasn’t perfect, not to mention that when she was focused on gowns and her hair she was also quite young at nineteen. Despite how people may have felt about her once she had her children she tamed down considerably and many times it is mentioned how she would give up anything for her children as she loved them with everything she had. I was fascinated with Marie Antoinette’s life when I read the first book in the trilogy and Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow solidified that fascination and I can’t wait to read more in the next book!
Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow by Juliet Grey is touring with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and as I am one of the first tour stops you have many more to follow along with in the coming month so be sure to check out the rest of the tour schedule! You can pick up your own copy of Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow here in the US and here in Canada.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS (US/Canada)
I have one copy of Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow by Juliet Grey to share with my readers. To enter…
- For 1 entry leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
- For 2 entries, follow my blog. Let me know if you currently do follow so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
- For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway!
This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, October 20/12. Good luck!
Source: Review copy provided by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and the Publisher. No compensation was received and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I would love to win this book. I enjoy novels set during the French Revolution. Thanks for the giveaway.
GFC follower
lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com
This novel sounds fascinating and enjoyable. Many thanks. I am an e-mail subscriber.
thanks for this interesting giveaway. I subscribe via e-mail.
I loved the first book so I would really like to win this one.
thank you
I follow by gfc
https://twitter.com/BrokenTeepee/status/253143750648410112
I would love to win this for my daughter, she loves these stories.
I follow on GFC (wfnren), Networked Blogs (Wendy Newcomb) and by email.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/WendyNewcomb/status/253163824889339904
Blogged:
http://wrensthoughts.blogspot.com/p/contests-and-giveaways-good-luck.html
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I’d love the chance to win. Thanks.
I absolutely love historical fiction. This sounds very interesting. I must get the first one.
I follow via gfc and email.
I am just about to start this one, and I am so excited about it! I loved the first book to bits. I am glad that you loved it too!
thanks for the giveaway!
this was not my favorite HF, but still it would be nice to have a copy to offer to a friend.
here is my tweet:
https://twitter.com/wordsandpeace/status/253267755401347072
Emma @ Words And Peace,
your faithful follower!
ehc16e at yahoo dot com
Another look at the life of Marie Antoinette from the accomplished authority sounds just about perfect. Thanks for giving us a shot at it.
I follow this blog by email: carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx
For an extra entry I tweeted about the giveaway: https://twitter.com/carlrscott/status/253269738875146240
Thanks again!
Geesh! Sounds like another series I have to read!!!!!!
This does sound fascinating! I am a follower, and will post this giveaway in my blog’s sidebar. Thank you for hosting this, Darlene.
suko95(at)gmail(dot)com
Really enjoy historical fiction, happy that I have the moderon things that they didn’t. Thanks for the opportunity to win this
This sounds like a wonderful book!
I follow on Google Reader.
I have the first book on the shelf and would love to have this one, so I can go from one to the other. Thanks for the giveaway, which I posted in my sidebar for you as always.
Happy reading. Hope all is well with your dad.
Would love to read this book.
I am a gfg follower and also on facebook.
I would love to win the book! Thanks for the opportunity.
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
I follow via gfc – mamabunny13
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
tweet
https://twitter.com/mamabunny13/status/253504520758390786
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
Keeping my fingers crossed for this one!
-blog follower
-tweeted
Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hi Darlene! I’m just stopping by to say hi! I hope you and Sammy are doing well!
Lovely review that really got me thinking. I think this is a trilogy I would really enjoy.
I love books like this! I’ve read so many great reviews of the first book. I really need to get started. Thanks for the review 🙂
This one looks pretty great. I’d love to win.
I am long time GFC follower
justpeachy36@yahoo.com
Thanks for the chance! I looooooove French historical fiction!
sidhekist at gmail dot com
I also follow your blog.
I love historical fiction and I love that an author made you connect with Marie. Would love to win, and adding both books to my list. Awesome review.
kimbacaffeinated(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you for the chance to win this book. It looks like a good one. I blogged, tweeted and facebooked.
griperang at embarqmail dot com
http://griperangsbookmarks.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html
https://twitter.com/griperang/status/254286602971537411
https://www.facebook.com/angela.holland.359/posts/286173648160467
I have read a couple other books in past about her and would enjoy reading this one also! Thank you for the chance to win!I am a GFC follower as Nook My Book, ty!
I enjoyed the first book, so I really want to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway. I am a follower.
I love stories on the French Revolution. This book sound really great Would love to win it.Am a
follower on Facebook dian429
Sounds like an interesting book, I’m ready to try another genre.
Sounds like an interesting book. Great to read on a cold winter day in front of the fireplace. Thanks for letting us know about this book.
email subscriber
I really want to read this! This is a time I don’t really know a lot about and the series sounds so interesting!
I am a GFC follower!