Really enjoyed this book which was a good insight to the court of Louis XIV in the 1600s. Clever, grown-up writing with a dark side. 3.5 stars rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really enjoyed reading this. It was witty, warm and clever. It felt very different to many historical novels that are currently available and was really engagingly written

Firstly, I would like to clarify that I did not finish this book. I managed to get 33% (around 82 pages) of the way through before deciding that this book is not for me.

The description of the book intrigued me very much. I have not read a lot of literature surrounding Louis XIV or historical France so when I saw this, I thought it would be exciting to explore something different. I am a big fan of fairy tales and the whole notion that these rich, decadent nobles would attend a salon every week and share fairy tales whilst there was an undercurrent of drama and intrigue was very enchanting to me. Sadly, this is not what this book was for me.

The fairy tales themselves were very interesting and I enjoyed reading them. They were, for me, the best part of the small percentage which I read. They were whimsical, different, a bit off-putting at times but exciting to read. However, the rest of the book (which out of the 82 pages I read was a high percentage) was around the lives of the nobles, and individuals who attend these salons and they were just... bland.

The writing style did not feel magical. It felt long and ardous to read. In some respects it was overly vulgar (which I appreciate is one of the reviews following this book - "elegent and decadent, vulgar and clever" - but I found the language sometimes very jarring. It would rapidly pull me out of the flow of the writing style and make me put the book down for something different.

All in all, it's not a book for me but I can imagine others would enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin General UK, for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love fairy tales ! Thanks NetGalley for allowing me to read this for free for an honest opinion.

I enjoyed diving ton regency tongued faerie tales . Retelling of Red riding hood especially.

I do however feel this book is quite Niche and some might not understand that it’s not for children and very much for an adult reader.

Although I did enjoy adult scare tales and more advanced language at a young age I’m certain it wouldn’t stop some .

Set during the reign of the Sun King, Louis XIV, Modern Fairies centers on a group of storytellers whose fairy tales are now well-known classics. I loved learning about the origins and writers of these fairy tales, especially how these salons were spaces for women to gather and be creative.

The writing at times felt academic but also was written in a way that we the reader are being told the story of these people in the tone of a fairy tale. There is an attempt to make these historical figures more modern/likable in the way they are presented and adding mystery & forbidden romance to make the story more interesting.

While I was interested in the history and the original fairy tales, I didn’t find the story engaging and didn’t care much for the personal lives of the characters. They felt too superficial and at times made stupid decisions that were almost comical.

This was a really interesting premise! I enjoyed the mix of fantasy and history though it did make it seem episodic as it went on. Despite that i enjoyed this! The tone was great and so was the writing style. It fit the time period but was also very readable. I'd definitely try something else from this author!

I thought this was a very interesting novel. It's set in 18th-century Paris and Versailles, and the prose both evokes modern literary writing as well as a dreamy fairytale-esque style. It is quite unique and I enjoyed it a lot.
However, I failed to really get a feel for all of the characters because there were so many, and that made it a little disjointed sometimes.

Charming and mysterious - The Modern Fairies follows a group of storytellers in 1600/1700s France with a grim mystery on their hands.

Set in the salon of Madame Marie d'Aulnoy, the friends gather to share old wives tales, later termed contes de fées (fairy tales) and to share salicious gossip about themselves and the royal court at Versailles. Tensions rise when the court is subject to a series of poisionings - later to be known as the Affair of the Poisons. The group suspects a spy among their ranks.

I loved seeing the characters express theirselves and their lives through the fairy tales that they told. The added mystery as to who the "fly" was, was an additional bonus I didn't expect.

A great read for lovers of historical fiction and mystery!

This is based on real events involving Perrault and the women around him, and how they crafted his famous fairy tales around the reign of Louis XIV. It’s an interesting take, and a shorter novel that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Pollard is definitely a writer I’ll be reading from again!

This is a novel of the goings on at the salon of Marie where fairy tales are told, but they are set against a wider background involving the Sun King's Court as well as Paris, where the salon is held.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that this novel contained so much colourful description and little known facts, such as the fact that nostalgia is a Greek word meaning the ache from an old wound. The author tells the stories current at Versailles with equal enthusiasm and I felt as if I was actually there, in Versailles, which is what a novel is meant to do, transport one to a place of their imagination as if it is real. Needless to say that I enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it.

Sadly I did not find this book engaging or enjoyable. The characters lacked the depth and complexity they would need for me to care about them. The bawdiness seemed to be there for no good reason, without the seduction any writing of this nature needs to engage the reader. It was too baldly stated and left me unmoved. I found myself skimming some of this in the hope it might get more appealing but that didn’t happen. Such a shame, because the description was what made me want to read and review it.

Very very enjoyable.
The magic of fairytale, and the darkness of fairytale of old, non of your Disney stuff here!
Great to pick out bits of stories now do familiar to us.
The goings on at court were also dark, and lust filled and more than a touch saucy!!
This book has a lot going for it.
It's quite a short book, and I could have happily read more.

4 star reading from me. Loved this book so much. So so so good! I recommend everyone this book. Lovely reading.