What happens when you family tries to arrange a match? The younger free spirited younger sister is so much more appealing.

The prim and proper title of Empress is not what one thinks of when it comes to Elisabeth. What I liked about her is that she just wanted to say and be herself including speaking out of turn and going on barefooted walks. Franz had been thorough a lot including a knife attack. All he wanted was to be seen as himself and not just his title. The drama that unfolded was all surrounding what others wanted to happen and that wasn't the Franz and Elisabeth romance.

I really liked the characters in this book, but I wanted more romance. I think that Elisabeth and Franz sneaking away from prying eyes could have been more frequent and steamy. I think that would have added a bit more excitement.

I am interested to see where the rest of the story goes from here since I left the end wondering "what next."

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

I love the story of Franz and Elisabeth, and I'm really excited that their story is going to be made into a TV show based on this book. I like the way Elisabeth is characterized, as a quirky, high-spirited girl who doesn't fit well into the life she was born into. Helene was also a POV character, which isn't something I've seen before in the various stories I have read about Franz and Elisabeth. In other books, Helene is described as somewhat severe and dour, but in this book you're really able to get a glimpse into what she could have been thinking and feeling as she watched her little sister marry the Emperor she was originally meant to marry.

Love triangles and courtly duties. There's a lot to admire about The Empress. You get introduced to Helene, Elisabeth, and Franz, all major players in a very interesting time in history. The plot, however, moves a bit slow. The writing is lovely and descriptive and the characters have excellent back and forth. I can see the momentum for a second book and for a movie version, which I'll definitely watch! Sisi is one of my favorite historical figures.

The Empress tells the story of Empress Elizabeth of Austria and her courtship with Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria.
Elizabeth was a girl ahead of her time in thinking that she wanted to marry someone who respected her for her values, opinions and love, not just for her pretty face or manners.
Raised in a less the "normal" home, Elizabeth loved writing poetry, being outside and her horse. Her mother however always saw her as less than ideal and did not have hopes for a good future for her.
This is the story of two people trying to their duty and still be true to themselves. Very interesting read about a period in history I knew little about. This book had me researching other family members and reading about this time frame.
thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in advance.

I’ve never done a review for a book based on a collaborative effort between the publisher, Netflix, and the IP owner before. Keeping in mind that this is Gigi Griffis’s first adult historical fiction debut and that the freedom for content wasn’t as flexible as if she’d come up with the plot, researched it and written it all herself, this was a good read. As I understand it, Griffis had little say over what content went into the book. It’s based on a Netflix show.

While I feel it may have ended abruptly, I need to keep in mind that this is a tie-in to an epic historical TV series coming from Netflix soon.

While I don’t often read, nor appreciate reading, about nipples, buttocks and three to a bed in my historical fiction, I need to keep in mind that this is what the original author and the screenwriter had agreed on. Griffis is simply writing what she sees.

While I feel it may have too much ‘fluff factor,’ I need to keep in mind that it was written from Netflix and needed to have a balance between romance and historical facts in order to appeal to a wide TV viewing audience.

While I feel it has been modernized, I have to keep in mind that it definitely has - sex sells!

Marketed as a dazzling reimagining of the courtship between one of history’s beloved couples, Sisi and Franz of Austria, this tale is about falling in love and finding one’s voice.

The first half of the ‘re-imagining’ was compelling. The second half, more of a harlequin romance, I skim read.

I’d love the opportunity to read another of this author’s books - one that she has written entirely herself. I feel I could write a more accurate review.

The Empress by Gigi Griffs is a great take on royal love story. I have to say I had never heard of Princess Elisabeth “Sisi” of Bavaria and her life. So everything about the book was interesting. I enjoyed the setting. The time period. The wows of women in the time period. It is a page turner. The writer style is amazing and keep you on the edge of your seat until her wedding. It appears the book is a series from how the book ended but definitely worth a read. If you love historical love stories and lives of the past you will love this book.

A sweet love story about two people destined to be apart trying to make it work together. It’s a bit predictable and a little annoying (rich privileged people complain about being rich and privileged) but the couple is really nice and the poems throughout were very romantic and I enjoyed reading it.

I first heard of this when I saw that netflix was making a show about it.

I enjoyed the story, and will probably watch the show once it airs.

It was a great blend of plot, romance and some spice. I really liked the chemistry between Elizabeth and Franz.

I couldn’t put it down! Aside from my love of all things historical fiction, it was such a great story! Beautiful and well written. Full of hope, and dreams, and love. Elisabeth is the second daughter. Allowed to be free and run wild in her Royal Bavarian household. Helene, her older sister has been chosen to marry the Emperor and is all things an Empress should be. But when Franz, the Emperor, and Elisabeth meet by chance, love is instant. Elisabeth risks losing her sister to marry for love. Can she be tamed in order to be an Empress? I loved this story!!

Gorgeous and evocative. I was particularly interested in the show and was excited to receive an arc from netgalley. My students will be able to read this as an aside to their courses on Bavaria and the region, finding the romance fun and enjoyable and heart wrenching while learning about Sisi, an important figure for the region. It's a great addition to what will likely be an interesting show.

Elisabeth "Sisi" of Bavaria has been very clear: she will wait for the sweeping, head-over-heels kind of love. Just because her older sister Helene has chosen the line of duty, does not mean Sisi also needs to subject herself to such a passionless, regimented existence. Meanwhile, in Austria, the Emperor is recovering from an assassination attempt. In a bid to keep the peace, Franz has recommitted himself to his imperial duties. When Sisi and Franz meet unexpectedly in the palace gardens, away from the prying eyes and relentless critique of their families, their connection cannot be denied. And as their illicit conversations turn into something more, they must soon.
I enjoyed the beginning of the book because it was realistic historical fiction. The last half of the book sadly felt more like a tv drama than a historical fiction book. Think more romance, less historical. I loved Sisi’s character and from what I read; it seems like they kept her character real. This book has a realistic portrayal of Sisi’s relationship with her mother. The multiple point of views was a nice touch, although I would have preferred more of a focus on Sisi. Overall, if you are looking for a loose interpretation of historical events and plenty of drama, check this one out when it come out on October 11th.

The book was enjoyable but superficial. When I saw that the author was a young adult writer, I understood. Being very familiar with this time period, I felt a little more explanation of cultural and societal norms of the time would of been beneficial for people not familiar with this time period. I also felt that making Sisi sound like an outspoken brat is not the same as someone who speaks her mind. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who want to dip their toes into historical fiction.

Thank you for the preview of this book! The Empress was a quick and easy read, but it felt like a lot of set up without plot and peak. It has great bones, but I ultimately felt a bit let down.

The Empress is the novelization of a show that will be premiering on American Netflix next month. I was a history major in college but have to admit I knew little of Elisabeth (Sisi) and her relationship with Emperor Franz Joseph before reading, This book made me want to do more research into their lives and relationship. Clearly, this is a fictionalized version of the story. I found it not to have a ton of depth and the writing to be somewhat simplistic. This made it an approachable read for those who don't read a lot of historical fiction. For readers who are looking for more comprehensive look into Elisabeth and Franz's relationship, this is not the book for that.

The story is told from three different perspectives: Elisabeth, Franz, and Helene. Helene had been groomed to expect she would marry Franz. After a chance encounter with Elisabeth, Franz only had eyes for Helene's sister instead. About three quarters of the way through the book, Helene becomes vindictive. I understand her hurt and disappointment but seeing it from her perspective and how she would do things to purposefully upset Elisabeth seemed weird. I could have done without her chapters. I think the "love triangle" with Maxi was forced. I am excited to watch the show on Netlfix and am grateful this book spurned my interest in doing more research. It was a fluffy read that is probably a good companion to the series but not for those interested in much actual history.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zando Projects for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #netgalley #zandoprojects #theempress #empressbook

I requested this title because I love The Great on Hulu, and was intruiged by the new show coming to Netflix.

I know nothing about Elisabeth of Bavaria or her engagement to Franz, the emperor of Austria. I don't read a ton of historical fiction, and when I do, I don't have any requirements that it be accurate. I was hoping for a good story with interesting characters, and that is exactly what this book delivered! I saw some reviews that wanted a story that was more accurate to true events, but I really enjoyed this adapation! Can't wait to see the show!

I loved the authors writing style and her ability to bring this era to life!

I think there could have been a lot more correct historical accuracy and context to this novel. The story of Sisi is so fascinating that a lot of the made up stuff or "extra" wasn't needed.

a beautiful telling of this story of Franz and Elisabeth. It wasn't love at first sight but lust that only grew more powerful. Beautiful story of finding yourself and taking the leap and not being afraid.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. I did request the book because of the cover and the Netflix sticker because I knew it was something I would watch. I am a firm believer that the book is always better than the movie. I was not expecting to be pulled in so soon. I completely loved this story! I am rooting for the Empress and her Emperor. I am even rooting for her sister! I hope there will be a second book and I cannot wait for the show!

Wonderful well written historical novel about family, jealousy and love vs duty. I this is a story that hooks you in and keeps you there until the very last page.

So this lukewarm review is partially my own fault, as I didn’t realize this was a romance novel. I love reading about Empress Elisabeth, so I just jumped on it without looking at the genre classifications. That being said, if you like romance novels, you might really enjoy this one — but I don’t, so I didn’t.

This book covers the time period from Sisi’s first meeting with Franz through the day of their marriage. The details given about styles of dress and palace architecture are wonderful, and the writing is fluid and easy to follow.

For me, however, it’s too much romance and not enough substance. Again, that’s probably fine in this genre? But Sisi is a strong and compelling historical figure, and I didn’t see any of that in this book. Granted, she’s young here, but I feel like her unique character wasn’t given enough attention. I didn’t particularly care for the chapters from Helene’s perspective, as I don’t think they added much to the story. I did love getting inside Franz’s head though.

Overall, I think this is a solid historical ROMANCE, but I’d look elsewhere if you’re interested in historical fiction centered on Sisi. Thank you to Gigi Griffis, Zando Projects, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!