Book Title: Enchantee
Author: Gita Trelease
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Publication Date: February 5, 2019
The only way Camille Durbonne knows how to provide for her and her sister after her parents die of smallpox is through magic. But anything she makes, her brother Alain steals away to quell his gambling addiction. So Camille has to take more drastic measures: use her magic to trick her way into Versailles to win back the money they have lost. But France is becoming more tumultuous for aristocrats as the French revolution brews within the city. As Camille gets caught up in the glamour of the rich, she learns the dark secrets behind the palace of Versailles. She must decide if she wants to keep up her glamour or join the revolution.
I received an eARC of this from NetGalley and and Flatiron books in exchange for my honest review. What a wild ride this book was! I’m not usually a fan of historical fiction, but Gita Trelease put a magical spin on the era of the French Revolution that will have you absolutely enchanted (pun intended).
While, for me, the beginning of the book was a bit slow, once Camille makes her entrance in Versailles, I didn’t want to put the book down. This book has almost everything that you could want: magic, intrigue, romance, revolution, the taking down of the powers in charge. Though it’s set in history, the book reflects the current politics of the United States, which will make it all the more relatable to teens when it’s released in February.
Trelease’s writing reflects the subject matter of the book as well; including French phrases (with a key at the back of the book) adds to the magic and intrigue of the story. Her lyrical style transports the reader to the magical version of historical France that she has created, making the book even more enjoyable.
The addition of Lazare and the hot air balloons also showed readers a different side of the aristocrats, showing that not everyone has to fall into what they were bred to be. This fantastical retelling of the French Revolution will have readers spellbound.
4.5/5 stars
I’m so excited to read this.
It’s such a magical read! I’m not usually a huge fan of historical fiction, but I liked what she did with this one!