Wow. This book blew me away. The creativity of weaving magic into history was stunning.

I loved the way the author told the story of these two sisters, queens and magicians, falling apart and then falling back together. Heartbreaking, but beautiful.

I would not pass this book off to a young teen: too much of sex and marital disloyalty for me to be comfortable. The system of magic also relies upon sacrifices, which are often blood.

If we rank books on being brilliantly written, this gets a 5 star review. If ranking it on how well I liked the story, the rating would be lower. But I'm rating on brilliancy of the writing here, and giving the disclaimer: this book is sad and quite miserable. The writing is well done, and to be applauded. Again, I just was fascinated by the creativity with which Kate Heartfield wove magic into history!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

If you like 18th Century European Women, Court Intrigue, Historical Characters, and a sprinkle of magic this might be a fun read for you. I want to say this his a Historical Fiction, but its more like a Magical Historical Fiction. Almost like a retelling, but with whimsy! The Embroidered Book stars Marie Antoinette and her sister, Maria Caroline and a book full of spells and magic. Both women have big dreams for their futures but as we know… obstacles pop up all over the place. The story really becomes, about the sisters finding themselves on opposite sides of a conflict and they will make decisions that will determine the fate of many.

Kate Heartfield writes beautifully. That being said, this book felt so long. It’s a long read with a slow build. If you enjoy this type of content and especially historical fiction with magic, this might not bother you. I found myself skipping and skimming to get to the big reveals. The pacing was just too slow for me. I did enjoy the concept of this book, it just seemed like it was never going to end. I found myself almost anxious at times because i had so much book left.

I say this while also acknowledging how talented the author is. I think this might be a case of great book, wrong reader. I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishing team for an advanced copy of this book!

I loved the first 100 pages and the last 50. Everything in between could have been condensed more. The ending was pretty satisfying, obviously I already knew what was going to happen to Marie Antoinette, but I didn’t know how magic or Charlotte would play into this story.

The beginning was more interesting because everything was still getting introduced. I found the Order fascinating and I liked how Charlotte and Antoinette went in different directions regarding their feelings towards the Order, yet they both had the same intention.

There were SO many characters in both Naples and Paris, and it was hard to keep track of how everybody was related. It was easier at the beginning of the book, as there were only a few side characters in each location, but as the book went on, more and more were added.

I don’t tend to read books about actual historical figures, so it was cool to read about the Queens of Naples and France. I got to learn more about a period in time I have only briefly learned about prior to reading this novel.

Overall, it was a pretty interesting book, but it did get a little boring at some points. If you are looking for a historical fantasy (with more historical than fantasy), I would recommend reading this book!

Thanks so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this book!

I have scheduled promotional posts around release day for this book and I will provide a full review on my Instagram once I am able to get to this read.

Rating 5 stars on Netgalley as a placeholder for me to update later once the review is complete.

Will also complete a review on Goodreads once read.

Thanks again!

Thank you Harper Collins and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

All opinions are my own.

Firstly I would say that this book is a whole lot more of a historical fiction type book than fantasy. The fantasy element of the book is there but could be removed without much harm to the story. That being said I did enjoy it. I wish there was more magic and more of a loser on the history element but that is totally personal preference from someone who reads primarily fantasy books.

I thought for a historical book there was a good balance between facts and story without it ever feeling like it was overexplaining or coming across like a textbook which some books ten to do. You can see the love the author poured into this story and that I loved to read.

Overall a good read if you like historical fiction, not as great if you are hunting for more fantasy.

I find myself in the position of being bored with the plot and, in particular, not as interested in the magical elements as I initially assumed I would be. Honestly, I’m just really tired of historical fiction where the women are always subjugated because men are always tyrannical pigs. Perhaps it’s a worldview issue but I don’t look at history, or our current times, that way; there’s more to life than “men are beasts and women should run the world.” I think this book has an audience but it’s not me; and at 25%, I am choosing to DNF “The Embroidered Book.“

I highly recommend this fiction tale. I love that there are elements of real names and real ways of history. Add a little sorcery and it's all you'll ever need in a book. Technically I feel like what's happening isn't really magic to me. Idk I can't make sense to you why I feel like it. Maybe because I associate magic with catch phrases 🤣🤣 I'm childish. Anyways I felt so horrible for these kids and how they couldn't be children and have a nice childhood. Being born out of obligation and your whole life has expectations! Just not what I would want to do. Every decision has a motive. An unending cycle. I like all the details about the siblings and side characters. Even the mother. Everyone has feelings but they don't show any feelings. It's crazy! When something happens (don't want to give spoilers) and someone meets someone the story gets even more interesting and things take a turn. At a point I realize these 2 are dangerously being foolish. I won't give spoilers but it's a good read and I highly recommend it. The cover is absolutely beautiful! Thank you. Netgalley!!

An attempt was made… I had such a difficult time getting into this book. It was a slower paced historical fiction with “modern” characters. I received this eARC from NetGalley for my unbiased opinion. Thank you.

The Embroidered Book, a historical fantasy, follows the Hapsburg girls, Maria Carolina and Marie Antoinette from childhood to becoming monarchs of Naples and France respectively. This is a well-researched volume which takes the history of these two women and binds it with the idea that magic is part of their world. As youngsters, they find a book of magic spells with an embroidered cover that belonged to their governess after she is killed in her bed. The two girls study the spells and gradually become magisters or mages.

As they assume their duties as royalty, Carolina works to suppress the actions of Ferdinand, her weak and profligate spouse. Marie Antoinette, whose husband Louis the XVI takes seven years to consummate their marriage, is prevented from doing much due to the rigorous protocols established by the Sun King, Louis XIV. They both try to deal with the growing use of magic in their countries with the old-school Order trying to keep magic to themselves and the rogues trying to free magic to be used by all.

This is a historical fantasy, but I found the fantasy elements kept me from being completely gripped by this book. I’ve found the French Revolution fascinating since reading Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities in high school. Since then I’ve read The Journey by Antonia Fraser, Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette and The Fountain of St. James Courtby Sena Jeter Naslund, The Fatal Friendship by Stanley Loomis, and Becoming Marie Antoniette, a trilogy by Juliet Grey, so I needed no prompting to keep u[ with the vast cast of characters. Unfortunately, The Embroidered Book doesn’t fully live up to the others. Several times in the 655 pages I wondered if the book would ever end.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I really enjoyed this twist on a historical fiction, even though it is not my normal genre. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

This book is so amazing. I am still thinking about it. I loved the fact that Katie took real history and mingled it with fiction and fantasy so well. This was an absolute stunning book.
I just reviewed The Embroidered Book by Kate Heartfield. #TheEmbroideredBook #NetGalley
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The Embroidered Book was an interesting twist on the lives of two well-known daughters of the Habsburg empire, Charlotte, the Queen of Naples and Antoine, better known as Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France.

This novel follows Charlotte and Marie from the last few months of their childhoods in Austria through the events of the French Revolution which saw Marie dying by guillotine at the hands of the French people.

Seen as little more than pawns in the dynastic schemes of their mother, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, Charlotte and Antoine are thankful for a mysterious book of spells left behind by their murdered governess. After Charlotte finishes the embroidery on the cover of the book, the spells become known to the girls who then begin to dabble in magic. As they are sent off to their prospective husbands, each sister will continue to grow and hone their magical knowledge, albeit in different ways, to both fantastic and devastating effect.

As time and differences in ideology pull the sisters further and further apart and the world's political climate changes, both are left to wonder if all the sacrifices their magic required were worth it.

Ms. Heartfield very clearly put a lot of time and effort into her research of the historical period covered by the events of the Embroidered Book. Her descriptive prose paints a stunning picture of this decadent era of history with a world on the brink of collapse. The swift changes of the political climate of the time form the perfect backdrop to this story of love, loss, and sacrifice. We see Charlotte and Marie each struggle with similar situations, choosing vastly different paths, and are forced to watch alongside them as the consequences of their actions play out on a global stage where we, the reader, already know the outcome.

However, this does not take away from the magnitude of the story. Although the fates of Charlotte and Marie are by now part of our history, I found myself living these events fresh through their eyes. There was never a dull moment while reading this book!

My only criticism would be the length of the novel. I don't think I went into this realizing just how expansive a tale I was taking on. This left me feeling a little like I would never reach the conclusion. That being said, I did read until the end and I am glad I did. This story will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you NetGalley, Kate Heartfield, and Harper 360 for the advanced copy of The Embroidered Book.

I really wanted to love this book. It featured Marie Antoinette, the use of magic, and was in the historical fiction genre. Honestly, this was not the book for me. The writing was underwhelming, the conversations didn't feel connected, and it was too long for what it was.

Kate Heartfield's The Embroidered Book is an enthralling work of historical fiction that follows the journey of Charlotte and Antoine, two sisters who use a spellbook to seize control of their lives amidst the treacherous court politics and societal changes of 18th-century Europe. Charlotte, the daughter of the Habsburg Empress, sets off for Naples to marry a stranger, while Antoine is dispatched to France and renamed Marie Antoinette. Although the spellbook they discovered in childhood proves to be a potent instrument, each spell exacts a price. Their love soon becomes a bitter rivalry contributing to Europe's descent into revolution.

Heartfield's prose is elegant and vivid, whisking readers away to the lavish courts of 18th-century Europe. The characters are intricately developed, with Charlotte and Antoine's sisterly bond being a particular highlight. The inclusion of magic lends a fresh and captivating spin to the historical fiction genre, and the consequences of each spell keep readers on tenterhooks.

Overall, The Embroidered Book is a spellbinding and gratifying read that will appeal to aficionados of historical fiction and magical realism.

This book was a DNF at 15% for me. I have read a handful of historical fiction pieces, but none like this. The premise drew me in, but it was incredibly difficult to get past the unsharpened writing. The magnitude of characters and the way in which they spoke to each other, almost as if they left everything unsaid and as the reader you never got the entire premise of their conversations.

I still want to give the author a shot and will add one her their books to my TBR list.

The Embroidered Book by Kate Heartfield is a stunning ,thrilling, powerful story of sisters Carolina, Queen of Naples and Marie Antoinette Queen of France. As magisters, practitioners of magic, they seek to use their blossoming skills to benefit their nations. As time advances and their power grows, Carolina joins the ancient Order of 1326, a brotherhood of magicians who seek to control all magic and exterminate other practitioners who they label rogues. Meanwhile in France her sister Antoinette herself is a rogue who seeks to build her own network of power. The story that unfolds will pull the sisters apart and tear Europe asunder. The Embroidered Book is magnificent. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read it.

Very enjoyable retelling of a favorite, Marie Antoinette, the Hapsburg and Charlotte of Naples. Well researched historical drama that kept me invested following the lives of the sisters. It was beautifully detailed and even though the paced slowed at times, I found it very enjoyable!

The story of two sisters, Marie Christine and Marie Antoine who would find fame and immortality, not with magic, but as Queen of Naples and Marie Antoinette of France.

A magical and intriguing book about a woman who can stitch stories into reality. The book is full of twists, secrets, and surprises. It made me feel curious and enchanted. A great read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

"'Power is not something you are given. Power is something you take. When you are a woman, it is a little more difficult, that's all'

1768. Charlotte, daughter of the Habsburg Empress, arrives in Naples to marry a man she has never met. Her sister Antoine is sent to France, and in the mirrored corridors of Versailles they rename her Marie Antoinette.

The sisters are alone, but they are not powerless. When they were only children, they discovered a book of spells - spells that work, with dark and unpredictable consequences.

In a time of vicious court politics, of discovery and dizzying change, they use the book to take control of their lives.

But every spell requires a sacrifice. And as love between the sisters turns to rivalry, they will send Europe spiralling into revolution.

Brimming with romance, betrayal, and enchantment, The Embroidered Book reimagines a dazzling period of history as you have never seen it before."

Historical fiction with magic, there is nothing more my jam than this.