I really, really liked this book! This is based on the true life story of Desiree Clary, a young girl who was Napoleon's first fiancée, and later in life became the Queen of Sweden. In between, Pataki details how her life stayed entwined with Napoleon and his wife Josephine. I knew nothing about Desiree, and have not read much about this era - and I enjoyed not only the details of life in France at the time, but the politics and the look at Napoleon's career and relationship with Josephine, and the life of Josephine herself. Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House - Ballantine for the e-arc. This is only my second book by Allison Pataki, but I will definitely be reading more. Excellent book! 4.5 stars!

I wish to thank Net Galley, the author and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a wonderful historical fiction about the lives of Desiree Clary who was first engaged to Napoleon and Josephine whom he later married. The splendor of the French Court, the jewels, the fashions and the lives of the ruling class at that time are just stunning to learn about. The reader can tell that Allison Pataki did meticulous research while writing this book. I knew very little about Napoleon and his life before starting this one and it makes me want to read more but it will never be as intriguing as what Allison has written.

I have already recommended this book to my book club and several friends with the confidence that they will enjoy it as much as I did.

Brilliantly done!

I am an avid fan of Alison Pataki's books. Her latest, The Queen's Fortune, is about a woman history forgot. Desiree Clary was the first fiancée of Napoleon, only to be dumped for Josephine. She remained around the epicenter of Napoleon through marriage and politics. I had never heard of her until I read this book. I was thoroughly intrigued that she became the Queen of Sweden and her son married Josephine's granddaughter. The historical note is informative and the writing very fluid. I empathized with Desiree. I've never cared for Napoleon and reading this book didn't change my opinion. He is center stage in the story, right where he always had to be. He was a cavalier cad when it came to women. His megalomania came at a high price.

I never heard of Desiree Clary and her sister and I loved their background and felt bad for how Desiree was treated by Napeleon.

The Queen’s Fortune by Allison Pataki
Source: NetGalley and Ballantine Books
Rating: 4/5 stars

I don’t normally delve into French history (unless it’s artists) when I go trolling for new historical fiction. However, I tend to enjoy historical fiction which focuses on the women rather than the men, so The Queen’s Fortune was just what I was looking for at the time. Because of the time and the place that she lived and her association with Napoleon Bonaparte, Desiree Clary often gets overlooked by historians. Thankfully, Allison Pataki has taken the life of a little-known woman, Desiree Clary and has spun a wonderfully engrossing tale that endures into the modern period.

By all accounts, Desiree Clary was a lovely young woman from a strong French family, and like most girls of her age, she was meant to be married off, advantageously in order to strengthen the family, their connections, and fortunes. As fate would have it, before Desiree could be saddled with an appropriate husband, she met and fell in love with a young Napoleon Bonaparte. Though the two pledged themselves to one another and no other, Napoleon was a fickle man whose only real interest in life was his own advancement and the acquisition of power. To that end, as soon as it suited Napoleon, he threw off his ties to Desiree and married the infamous Josephine.

Though Desiree had been cast aside, she was still tied to Napoleon through her sister who married Napoleon’s greatest supporter, his brother. From an early age, and perhaps better than anyone else, Desiree knew of Napoleon’s temperament, his lust for power, and his inability to care for anyone (even Josephine!) beyond himself. In fact, for the remainder of her life, Desiree will watch – often with a great deal of worry for herself - as Napoleon runs roughshod over those around and directs others’ lives as if they were nothing more than pawns in a game. To that end, even Desiree is advantageously married to one of Napoleon’s most trusted men in an effort to keep both she and he close. Though the arrangement turns out to be an agreeable one for Desiree, there are certainly bumps along the road and though she tries to remain separate from Napoleon and his machinations, she finds she and her family are constantly drawn back in. Through revolution and times of relative peace, Desiree watches as Napoleon and his fortune rise and fall, his life with Josephine ebbs and flows, and his turn as leader of France takes terrifying turns.

Desiree Clary grows into a woman through the reign of Napoleon, serves his wife as a part of her inner circle, and advises her own husband as Napoleon is a paranoid and temperamental man. Through the years, the decades really, Desiree becomes as adept at politics and political intrigue as any man. She learns to navigate treacherous waters and though her life (and that of her family) is often threatened, she learns to protect herself and position herself and her family for safety above all else. Though she never could have imagined what her life would become, Desiree rises higher than ever anticipated and becomes a very real part of the history she is living through.

The Bottom Line: My greatest complaint regarding this book is length; The Queen’s Fortune could reasonably be about a hundred pages shorter and still have the same impact. I am not a fan of excessive detail so, for those of you who are, this really isn’t a complaint at all 😊 I did find the environment and the atmosphere to be very well and clearly conveyed, both literally and figuratively. This book covers a tumultuous time in French history when nothing was certain and the landscape, both political and otherwise, was constantly changing. Revolution was constantly in the air, treachery always afoot, and intrigue was at every turn. All of this is expressed wonderfully in this book and very much keeps the reader on edge. Of all the characters, I found Desiree and Josephine to be the most compelling; Desiree for her maturity and ability to adapt and endure and Josephine for her over-the-top antics that often masked a shrewd and discerning mind. Though Desiree Clary never wanted power or prominence, she got both and she did so without ever betraying her own sensibilities and/or morals. Given the time and place, that, in itself was a stunning achievement. While history most assuredly remembers Napoleon and Josephine, it should also remember Desiree Clary. Afterall, it is Desiree’s line that STILL sits on European thrones today while Napoleon and Josephine’s lines have died out.

This is the rare historical fiction where truth is stranger than fiction. It's the story of Desiree Clary, one-time fiancé of Napoleon, and later a lady of his wife's court (as her sister marries his brother). Her life stays intertwined to the Napoleon family and gives her a front row seat to France in this time period.
Allison Pataki always turns history into a very readable and relatable story and I very much enjoyed this book. It surprised me and I would definitely recommend it to historical fiction lovers who are looking for a time period and character that is less known.
Thank you to Netgalley for the free, advance copy.

What an awesome recount of the life of Napoleon told by Desiree, his ex-finance and a close member of his inner circle!
This historical fiction had me captivated from the start. I had, of course, heard of Napoleon, but had not heard of Desiree, or the story behind his family and other members of his political and familial circles. I truly loved reading about his life told from a different perspective. The characters and story were extremely well developed and the events flowed easily from one to another.
Highly recommend this story.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Besides being a great primer on the politics and events of the French Revolution, Allison Pataki gives you an intimate glimpse into the relationships of the women who knew and loved Napoleon—and the price they paid for that relationship in her latest book <i> The Queen's Fortune</i>.

From the early days of the revolution through Napoleon's ascent to Emperor, and eventual exile, Pataki delivers valuable insights into the challenges, choices and consequences made by Josephine and Desiree Clary—a historical figure who finally gets her story told through Pataki's excellent research and storytelling. Discover the connections between France and Sweden and how those closest to Napoleon eventually ascended to the throne, and whose descendants still rule today.

Before reading this book, I had never heard of Desiree before, which is shocking considering her relationship to Napoleon, as well as the fact that she became the Queen of Sweden, and her descendants sit on the throne of Sweden today. The Queen's Fortune went wonderfully in depth with Desiree's entire life, beginning when she was sixteen years old, shortly before she met Napoleon for the first time.
While I enjoyed the amount of depth and admired the amount of research that was clearly done, I thought that the plot dragged at some points, especially when nothing was really happening in close proximity to Desiree and instead she was receiving information about what was happening elsewhere. Other than that, Desiree's life was clearly very exciting and the book itself included many dramatic and action-packed scenes.
I really liked Desiree as a character; I admired her resilience and intelligence, and I liked reading from her perspective. Other than that though, I didn't have much of an attachment to any of the other characters. Even Bernadotte and Julie, who were both very important in Desiree's life, didn't have much personality, and other than Desiree saying that she loved them, I didn't sense a strong connection between them. I did really like how Napoleon was characterized; he and Desiree were really the only characters I thought seemed like real people; the other characters tended to blend together and not have much individual personality.

5.0 stars

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Ballantine Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Allison Pataki, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Okay, I must admit that I am a REAL LOVER of historical fiction - it is my favorite genre of books. I also must admit that I knew NOTHING about Desiree Clary. But, I love the books that I have read by Allison Pataki and this was NO exception!! However, I tried my best to read this book slowly, but I just couldn't do it!!

Desiree Clary was a fascinating character who lived during horrific times but managed to survive intact. Her life was amazing, interesting, and mind-boggling at times!!

This book goes from Marseilles to Paris to Stockholm seamlessly. I learned so much and now my interest is piqued and I want to know about Desiree Clary!

Allison Pataki has a lush, real, and beautiful style of writing. It is as if you are there IN the room as the story is unfolding. This is her BEST book yet!! I cannot wait to read more!

HIGHLY recommend, but most especially if you are a historical fiction lover!!

The strange but true tale of a silk merchant's daughter who married a Jacobin general following the French Revolution who somehow became the Queen of Sweden. She also happened to be the first love of Napoleon Bonaparte, her sister married Napoleon's older brother and their lives and fates were intertwined. You can't make this stuff up if you tried.

I really wanted to like this one more than I did. This was not a bad book and if you had never read about Desiree Clary before it would be a great book as it covers the major events of her life (while maybe dwelling a little too much than I would have liked about her life before Sweden). Unfortunately I had read Désirée many years ago and it to this day remains one of my all time favorite books. Both books have many historical inaccuracies but the Desiree in Annemarie Selinko's story is just more charming and a better narrator of her tale.

There was so much about this book to love! The topic was fascinating, and I appreciate how Allison Pataki always brings to light a little-known, strong female from history. I knew nothing about Desiree Clary, and her story was fascinating. At times, though, I felt as if the narrative got bogged down in details that weren't entirely necessary and detracted from the flow of the book. Overall, though, as with all of Pataki's work, I will definitely be recommending it to patrons.

Read all of Allison Pataki’s books and I can’t put them down.
Great story teller.
The in-depth story about Desiree, who met with France’s nobility, which may have caused her fathers death.
A must read.

This is the first book I have read by this author, but I will definitely be seeking out her others! Although I knew about Desiree Clary's history, it was amazing to have it brought to life in this rich and detailed historical novel. To have French revolutionary and political history, including all of the Napoleonic years, along with that of Sweden's Bernadotte dynasty's beginnings all covered in one woman's story is simply an astounding fact of history. Allison Pataki truly does it justice. Highly recommended.

I absolutely loved this book and hated to see it end. I knew very little about Desiree Clary and was fascinated by her amazing story. The author brings to life the era of the French Revolution, the rise and fall of Napoleon and Desiree becoming the Queen of Sweden.

As a child I was fascinated by the romance between Désirée Clary and Napoléon Bonaparte. I had seen it depicted in a film and never forgot it. Over the years I visited her home in Stockholm and named a poodle Désirée.

That being said, I was thrilled at the opportunity to read a novel devoted to the tale that was her life. This book certainly did not disappoint me. Pataki was able to flesh out details and bring richness to this life. As a commoner from Marseille, it’s remarkable to think that it is her descendants that rule Sweden today, and are connected to most current European royalty. .

The connection between the Clarys and Bonapartes is detailed. I truly read with wonder as I saw how these women reached the heights of European nobility. Yes, this is historical fiction, but meticulously researched. It is the kind of book that will help students understand the era of the Napoleonic Wars., and the politics of post-revolution France.

I think reading groups will savor this book and there will be discussions about other commoners who ascend to royalty.

I thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book about one of the most extraordinary lives ever led.

French history is just about one of my favorite fictional historical genres, Allison Pataki is a favorite author, therefore, what's to say except this was a superb novel. The story captures the violent times, the rise and fall of Napoleon as well as the emotions of the protagonists. Layer upon layer of history, of the people creating that history, whose names shall ever be in the annals of France during those turbulent times. Absolutely fascinating.

Well written, interesting, well researched...loved i My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review..

Napoleon meets Desiree first and gets engaged to her. Then, he meets Josephine and dumps Desiree and marries Josephine. But he finds a husband suitable for Desiree. Sadly, Josephine cannot give Napoleon a son, so he finds another woman who does. All this, while conquering nations and becoming Emperor. What a guy!

The Queen's Fortune is a fantastic historical fiction novel. It is well written and has well developed characters. I would read more by this author.

In 1794 Désirée Clary was a 16 year old living with her wealthy family in Marseille when her brother, Nicolas, was brought in to the Revolutionary government for questioning. Her mother feared that he would be detained and eventually killed the same as many other wealthy French folks. So she sent her 2 daughters, Désirée and Julie, to intercede on Nicolas’ behalf. Later that night Nicolas returned home with his sisters and 2 Corsican brothers responsible for his release. His mother invited the brothers in to celebrate.

Désirée and Julie were formally introduced to Napoleon and Joseph Bonaparte. Napoleon was smitten with the beautiful Désirée and Joseph married Julie soon after they met. Napoleon pledged his love to Désirée and promised to marry her once he established himself. Then he went off to Paris alone to fight for the French cause. He met great success in Paris and also the beguiling Josephine. He soon forgot about Désirée. By the time Désirée arrived in Paris to stay with her sister and brother in law, Napoleon had married Josephine.

Joseph and Napoleon were very close and the two Clary sisters got to know Josephine well. Napoleon arranged for the marriage of Désirée first to an older General who died suddenly. Then Napoleon introduced her to the dashing General Bernardotte. Désirée married the younger general and was very happy. Bernardotte served under the command of Napoleon but often disagreed with Napoleon’s decisions.

After his many conquests, Napoleon handed out titles to his family and loyal followers. Eventually Bernardotte ended up being “adopted” by the ailing and childless King of Sweden. Soon thereafter Bernardotte, now named Charles John, became King Charles XIV John of Sweden. Désirée became know as Desideria, the Queen of Sweden. Their line, the House of Bernardotte, continues to reign in Sweden to this day.

The author has written other historical fiction books about little known women in European history. She has done extensive research and also crafted a story that kept this reader interested until the last page.

I received this ARC from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review