Skip to content
Cécile Sune Cécile Sune
  • Blog
  • Authors
  • About me
  • Contact
Cécile Sune
Cécile Sune

The Rivals of Versailles by Sally Christie

May 6, 2016December 9, 2018

The Rivals of Versailles by Sally Christie

As a child, Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson meets a gypsy that tells her she will one day be the king’s mistress and a very powerful woman. As she belongs to a modest bourgeois family, this prediction seems very outlandish, but her mother believes it and makes sure Jeanne gets the proper education of a lady. With a little help from her godfather’s connections at court, Jeanne manages to meet Louis XV, and they start a passionate love affair. She receives the title of Marquise de Pompadour, and her influence in Versailles grows despite her many enemies. Will she be able to hold the king’s attention despite of him being a notorious womanizer? Will her rivals be successful in banning her from court?

The Rivals of Versailles is a historical fiction and the second book in the Mistresses of Versailles Trilogy. I found that the author’s writing style had significantly evolved since her first novel, even though she uses the same devices as in her debut: short chapters that often end with a letter. This gives the story a certain rhythm and helps it go forward in time. In addition, I thought that the Marquise de Pompadour was a fascinating woman, ambitious and bright. When I started reading, I believed the novel only told her story, but it also talks about Rosalie de Romanet-Choideul, Marie Louise O’Murphy and Marie-Anne de Mailly de Coislin, the women who each plotted to unseat the Marquise.

I especially enjoyed the book’s comedic moments, particularly during Rosalie and Marie-Anne’s short-lived stints in the king’s bed. However, at the beginning of the book, it sometimes seemed we didn’t have Jeanne’s end of the conversation, as dialogues only included what her interlocutors were saying. Surely, she couldn’t have charmed Louis XV without talking to him? On the whole though, this was a great read, and I highly recommend it. I can’t wait for the last book in the trilogy, The Enemies of Versailles, that will come out in the spring of 2017!

The Rivals of Versailles was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review.

Read my review of The Sisters of Versailles, the first book in the Mistresses of Versailles Trilogy.

About the author and her work: Sally Christie’s Website.

Fun facts about the author and the book:

  • Sally Christie made two research trips to Versailles.
  • Louis XV had 69 known mistresses in his life.
  • Frederick of Prussia named a dog after the Marquise de Pompadour.
  • In Versailles, you can do a backstage tour that takes you to the apartments of the Marquise de Pompadour, the apartment of the Comtesse du Barry, as well as the servants quarters.

If you liked this book you might also like:

Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland

The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee

The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erickson

The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg

Review Sally Christie comtesse du barrycourtdialoguesfrederick of prussiagypsyhistorical fictionjeanne-antoinette poissonkinglouis xvmarie louise o'murphymarie-anne de mailly de coislinmarquise de pompadourmistressmistresses of versailles trilogyrivals of versaillesrosalie de romanet-choideulsally christieservantsversailles

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post

Cecile

Cécile Sune was born in Lyon, France, and her obsession with books started when she was 14. Her grandparents had lent her Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, and she spent part of the summer indoors reading. Needless to say, her tan didn't really improve that year! It was also around that time that Cécile fell in love with the English language. Several years later, in 1999, Cécile moved to Toronto, Canada, with her cat and 5 suitcases. Her love of reading greatly increased when she discovered that English books were much cheaper than French novels. In 2013, she decided to start a blog to share her passion. Cécile now lives in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband and their daughter, and works as a freelance translator (CS Revision).

Related Posts

Michael Schmicker The Witch of Napoli by Michael Schmicker

The Witch of Napoli by Michael Schmicker

July 8, 2015December 9, 2018

Tomaso Labella is a young photographer working for a local paper in Naples, Italy, when he takes a picture that makes his career: Alessandra Poverelli levitating a table during a private seance. For almost 20 years, Tomaso follows the medium as she travels around Europe while scientists study her. One man in particular is interested in Alessandra’s unusual abilities: Dr. Camillo Lombardi, a professor in abnormal psychiatry at the University of…

Read More
Jeannette de Beauvoir Asylum by Jeannette de Beauvoir

Asylum by Jeannette de Beauvoir

May 1, 2015June 7, 2021

Martine LeDuc is the publicity director for the city of Montreal. When a string of murders threatens the municipality’s tourism industry, she is asked to be the liaison between the mayor and the police director. She is partnered with Julian Fletcher, a police detective, and together they decide to lead their own investigation. Soon they discover that the killings seem to have a link with the Duplessis Orphans and the…

Read More
Arthur Thomas Morton Way Out by Arthur Thomas Morton

Way Out by Arthur Thomas Morton

October 17, 2014December 9, 2018

This is the true story of Eugene Uttley as he contends with schizophrenia. At first, all seems well: after graduating from university with a B.A. in English, Eugene starts working as a teacher. He sometimes struggles in his relationships but nothing is obviously wrong with him. After a while, he decides to go to South Korea as an ESL instructor. Once there, he meets Jen, and they eventually move to Jeju Island. That’s when…

Read More

Goodreads Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge
Cecile has read 70 books toward her goal of 100 books.
hide
70 of 100 (70%)
view books
©2025 Cécile Sune | WordPress Theme by SuperbThemes