This is my first book by Kate Mosse, though I had heard of her many times and will now look up more of her books as well. The Burning Chambers is a beautiful written and plotted story that took me back in time and despite its length, never felt too long or boring. I connected to the characters and found the historical details captivating. Recommended!

Very nice piece of Historical Fiction. I've not read Kate Mosse before, was pleased to discover she's an excellent researcher and storyteller.

The story is based on events of 1500s France, which I had never read about before, my previous reading experience for the period having primarily been on England. Therefore the book was doubly delightful due to the story and what I leaned.

My only down point is that apparently it is intended to be the 1st book of a series and I really strive to not get involved in a series.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This story is set in 16th century France during the religious wars. Minou Joubert receives a cryptic note saying only "she knows you're alive" and also overhears part of a conversation between her father and a friend hinting at a secret long kept. Shortly after, she and her brother are sent to live with their aunt, where she meets Piet, a rebel fighting for the Huguenot cause and falls in love. Dangers are everywhere and it's hard to tell friend from enemy.
This is a time period I don't know much about, so I had a hard time with the beginning of the book, but once the action picked up it got really good and i couldn't put it down. I look forward to the next book in this series!

I've never read Kate Moss, so I was excited to see this on Netgalley and get accepted for it. The details are wonderful and you can tell the author did their research. However, the characters felt a bit flat. I liked, but I didn't love it.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

I've never read a Kate Moss book I didn't love - this one is no exception. The depth of her research suggests she has done more than study history but rather has lived and breathed eras before ours. Powerful, complicated, complex, Mosse is at her best in The Burning Chambers.

This is classic Kate Mosse rich historical details, vivid characters and a good rich plot that lets you time travel.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the

The Burning Chambers is a fantastic historical fiction book. The author is very descriptive and it makes you feel like you are part of the book. I must read more from this author.

This is a novel set in the Hundreds Year War. This novel has everything that you could wish for forbidden romance, mystery, and war! The writing is very beautiful and filled with historical detail. The only thing I did not like about the book was that the pacing tended to drag and there were too many characters to keep track of. Overall, I recommend this for fans of Philippa Gregory, Jeanne Kalogridis, and C. W. Gortner. Full review to come!

The Burning Chambers covers a small portion of the struggle the Huguenots (French Protestants) had against the Catholic Church in the mid 1500's. While this book is Historical Fiction, Kate Mosse has done her research and has her facts down on the historical part. She even refers back to the annihilation of the Cathars by the Catholic Church 350 years prior to the Huguenots.

It was a bit slow starting for me, introduction to the cast with no real tie in to each other for awhile. But once it started coming together it picked up and was an enjoyable read. There is a bit of mystery, romance, and history all wrapped up in The Burning Chambers.

While I have several other of Ms. Mosse's books on my TBR list, this is the first one by her that I have actually read. Thank you #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was very excited about this book because so many people love Kate Mosse and this was promised as a historical novel without the supernatural aspect.. I've always gotten hung up on that with her other books, not being a fan of that kind of stuff.

But with "The Burning Chambers" I found that i just don't like her writing. There's a lot of historical detail--a lot-- but the characters are cardboard with every romantic trope in the book trotted out. Does simplistic sound right? Even with all the historical noise. Not gripping at all.

This book may satisfy her existing fans but I doubt it will win her any new ones.

~~Candace Siegle
Greedy Reader

A mystery set in the Catholic-Hugenot wars of the sixteenth century, this novel is unfortunately a total bore. The history is presented pedantically; the main characters are a tired stereotype of lovers from different religions, the kind aunt/nursemaid, and evil priest; the plot is absurd; and it is all overwritten, slow-moving, and long. Mosse's previous works also generally involve absurd plots and French history, but none have ever seemed as slow or as dull or as full of non-developed characters as this one.

Minou Joubert runs her fathers bookshop in Carcassonne after her father seems to have retired from his life. Her younger sister Alis and teenage brother Aimeric depend on Minou to maintain the store that provides their livelihood. But there are things Minou doesn't know, and she lives in dangerous times, when religious tensions are high and those in power fan the flames of intolerance and hatred for their own benefit. When Minou, a Catholic meets Piet Reydon, a Huguenot, her life is changed in many unforeseen ways.

The Languedoc and religious tensions are not a new theme from Kate Mosse, and she does a brilliant in her Languedoc series. The Burning Chambers is equally compelling; fascinating in its portrayal of the times, it reels you in with a teaser in the 1800's before taking you to Minou's time the 16th century to begin the tale. It's a wonderful story of love and loss, treachery and faith, and the incredible courage of people standing up for the rights of others. I highly recommend this book, and I can't wait to read the second in the series!

Now THIS is a great work of historical fiction! Set in 1560's Languedoc, when the Catholics are persecuting the Protestant Huguenots, Minou Joubert and her family are caught in the middle of secrets from long ago and current day danger. The Burning Chambers is a wonderfully written novel of the time, with interesting characters who must use their wits to survive not only the violence wrought by the Church but also the treachery and betrayal of friends and neighbors. Action, mystery and a romance make this a great read. Kate Mosse writes with a depth that just draws you in to her world. Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the e-arc. Highly recommend! 4.5 Stars!

Languedoc, region in Southern France, was marked by Cathars Inquisitions before the 14th century and after the 15th century the region experienced another Crusade now against Huguenots (French Protestants), who seemed to be putting the strongest resistance in this particular region.

The story begins in 1562 Carcassonne with a 19 year old Minou, who works at her father’s bookshop. A bookshop known for “selling books to suit all religious tastes” and to be “out of step with the increasingly intolerant times.” Her father, Bernard Joubert, was a faithful Catholic, but it was her late mother, who was a true Languedocien, promoting tolerance through selling books expressing her believes. Five years earlier, the plague took her life and now her husband is troubled by the Inquisition.

One day, Minou receives an anonymous letter with only five words: “She knows that you live.”

Piet Reydon, originally from Amsterdam, is visiting Carcassonne to do business. He does charitable work for Huguenot community in Toulouse.

The Edict of Toleration, which was supposed to give Huguenots’ protection, seems to be meaningless. The Duke of Guise has no intention of honoring it.

Meanwhile, a fragment of the Shroud of Antioch, “in which the body of Jesus was laid in the sepulchre,” gets stolen from the Church in Toulouse. “It was an object of great and holy significance for the Catholic Church, a relic said to be able to work miracles.” And there is someone who will do anything to get it back.

A massacre at Vassy happens; a hundred Huguenots are slaughtered as they gathered in worship.

The attacks on Huguenots continue in other places, businesses and houses are destroyed. They are left homeless with no means to support themselves.

That’s why Piet’s charitable work is so important.

After a brief encounter of Minou and Piet in Carcassonne, their paths cross again in Toulouse. The tensions in the city of Toulouse, further take them to Puivert.

With a moving prose, the story engages three historical places of Carcassonne, Toulouse, and Puivert, bringing the richness of those places: their history and secrets of those who know those places well.

Kate Moses has written another novel historical fiction that drew me in .She transported me to 16th century France a dark time in history a time a place so descriptive the characters come alive the life the turmoil .zkate Moses never fails to write exciting dramatic page turners #netgalley #st.martinsbooks.

The Burning Chambers is an historical fiction story. Set in 16th century France, it's a dark gritty story. I'm usually a fan of this time period, but something about this story bothered me. It's well written and completely immersive with strong characters. Despite this, I didn't care for the story overall. Unfortunately, it's a miss for me. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This one was a little long for my taste. I found myself forcing my way through after a while. I liked the characters and the fact that the story was both a mystery and a romance.

Thank you for the advance copy via Netgalley. Here is my honest review.

I love Kate Mosse! I read The Labrinyth many years ago and have not been disappointed with anything she has produced since. I love that we have gone back to the Midi - a few hundred years after the Cathars but the same hatred and intolerance still abounds. This time between the Huguenots and Catholics. Mosse weaves the tale of everyday people among the history of that time so perfectly. I get a history lesson without the lecture!

Mosse does suspense and darkness so well and her characters are so realistic and completely rounded. There is madness, cruelty and torture throughout but you don't despair because there is also love, kindness, bravery and joy. And then behind it all is the beauty of Toulouse and Carcassonne. I would so love to visit and see the Cathedrals and walled cities which I believe are still intact to this day.

This book was amazing, I can find no fault. As soon as I was finished, I wanted to start it all over again. Don't let this one pass you by.

Kate Mosse once again delivers! Her wonderful caracter driven books continue to keep you reading, and the bonus is, though fiction, she brings Historical events to life! I love how she draws me forward, wanting to read the next installment the moment ive finished this book.

Reading a book by Kate Mosse means you will be immersing yourself in a particular time period. In this book, Mosse takes readers to 16th century France where Minou Joubert receives a letter from an unknown person saying “She knows that you live”. Before she can ponder the the meaning of the note, she meets Piet Reydon, a Huguenot on a dangerous mission. The two young people are swept up in an escalating war that challenges old beliefs and pits brother against brother. This is by no means a light, quick read, but if you are willing to spend some time with Mosse, she will sweep you into another world in another age