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Book Review: Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow by Juliet Grey & Giveaway (US/Canada)

October 2, 2012 by Darlene

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.

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Filed Under: 2012 - 100+ Books, 2012 ARC's, 2012 Book Reviews, 2012 eBooks, Historical Fiction Virtual Blog Tours

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linda B says

    October 2, 2012 at 6:02 am

    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

  2. Anne says

    October 2, 2012 at 6:24 am

    This novel sounds fascinating and enjoyable. Many thanks. I am an e-mail subscriber.

  3. ellie says

    October 2, 2012 at 7:13 am

    thanks for this interesting giveaway. I subscribe via e-mail.

  4. Patty says

    October 2, 2012 at 8:46 am

    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

  5. Wendy Newcomb says

    October 2, 2012 at 10:08 am

    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

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

  6. Carly says

    October 2, 2012 at 11:16 am

    I’d love the chance to win. Thanks.

  7. Lisa Garrett says

    October 2, 2012 at 11:53 am

    I absolutely love historical fiction. This sounds very interesting. I must get the first one.

  8. Lisa Garrett says

    October 2, 2012 at 11:53 am

    I follow via gfc and email.

  9. zibilee says

    October 2, 2012 at 11:57 am

    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!

  10. Emma @ Words And Peace says

    October 2, 2012 at 5:01 pm

    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

  11. Carl says

    October 2, 2012 at 5:07 pm

    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!

  12. Staci says

    October 2, 2012 at 7:01 pm

    Geesh! Sounds like another series I have to read!!!!!!

  13. Susan says

    October 2, 2012 at 8:20 pm

    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

  14. Nancy Luebke says

    October 2, 2012 at 8:55 pm

    Really enjoy historical fiction, happy that I have the moderon things that they didn’t. Thanks for the opportunity to win this

  15. Janet P. says

    October 2, 2012 at 9:10 pm

    This sounds like a wonderful book!

    I follow on Google Reader.

  16. Serena says

    October 3, 2012 at 3:44 am

    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.

  17. Margaret says

    October 3, 2012 at 5:17 am

    Would love to read this book.

    I am a gfg follower and also on facebook.

  18. mamabunny13 says

    October 3, 2012 at 8:38 am

    I would love to win the book! Thanks for the opportunity.
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

  19. mamabunny13 says

    October 3, 2012 at 8:38 am

    I follow via gfc – mamabunny13
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

  20. mamabunny13 says

    October 3, 2012 at 8:39 am

    tweet
    https://twitter.com/mamabunny13/status/253504520758390786
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

  21. Margaret says

    October 3, 2012 at 10:45 am

    Keeping my fingers crossed for this one!

    -blog follower
    -tweeted

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

  22. Melissa says

    October 3, 2012 at 11:15 am

    Hi Darlene! I’m just stopping by to say hi! I hope you and Sammy are doing well!

  23. Alexis @ Reflections of a Bookaholic says

    October 3, 2012 at 11:17 am

    Lovely review that really got me thinking. I think this is a trilogy I would really enjoy.

  24. Dalene @ A Date with a Book says

    October 3, 2012 at 2:34 pm

    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 🙂

  25. justpeachy36 says

    October 3, 2012 at 5:34 pm

    This one looks pretty great. I’d love to win.

    I am long time GFC follower

    justpeachy36@yahoo.com

  26. Courtney says

    October 3, 2012 at 6:12 pm

    Thanks for the chance! I looooooove French historical fiction!

    sidhekist at gmail dot com

    I also follow your blog.

  27. kimbacaffeinate says

    October 4, 2012 at 10:59 am

    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

  28. Angela/griperang says

    October 5, 2012 at 12:29 pm

    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

  29. Nook My Book says

    October 7, 2012 at 7:50 pm

    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!

  30. Anna (Diary of an Eccentric) says

    October 8, 2012 at 7:39 am

    I enjoyed the first book, so I really want to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway. I am a follower.

  31. Diane Castiglione says

    October 9, 2012 at 10:19 am

    I love stories on the French Revolution. This book sound really great Would love to win it.Am a
    follower on Facebook dian429

  32. Mary Siller says

    October 11, 2012 at 12:06 pm

    Sounds like an interesting book, I’m ready to try another genre.

  33. Kitty says

    October 13, 2012 at 8:23 pm

    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.

  34. Kitty says

    October 13, 2012 at 8:24 pm

    email subscriber

  35. Kim@Time2Read says

    October 26, 2012 at 6:49 am

    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!

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