Chronicles the affair b/w Marie Mancini & King Louis XIV& their power struggle w/ Cardinal Mazarin. Strong sense of place tho some motivations ascribed to Marie don’t feel genuine. Refreshing to see a hf about the Mazarinettes ★★★½

Star-crossed lovers - a weak king and hot-blooded niece of one of the most powerful men in the French history.

Marie Mancini was one of the Mazarinettes, as were the Mancini sisters - and what is more important, the nieces of the infamous Cardinal Mazarin - known at the court of King Louis XIV of France. Controlled by the powerful uncle always seeking just his own good, the sisters struggle - and Marie, the most educated and wildest amongst them, fights her uncle the most - backed by the love of the king himself. But Louis is not the strong ruler he could be...

This was an interesting read, well-researched and full of facts (and I love the nod to the Three Musketeers´ fame as Charles d´Artagnan is mentioned several times). I have not known about the infamous Mancini sisters before - but they are definitely interesting figures, worth to know more of (if wild and of questionable morals).
The environment is rich - the court, habits, powerful figures, dresses, power, times...you are there and I enjoyed the ride. The authoress had definitely did her homework, if I might say that!
But the troubles lies within the characters for me. Unfortunately the love between Marie and the king is not believable here. It is well-established historical fact and I am not denying that - but I do not believe in their love here in the novel.
Marie might be smart, the master of intrigues and wit, but I can not connect with her. King Louis is pitiful character, a pupil in the hands of the master and maybe more, as the novel is playing with the unproved paternity of Cardinal Mazarin - and his weakness I can definitely believe to, if not sympathize with.

The topic of witchcraft and occult and its power over the lives is questionable and I am taking the star out of my review just because of its sensational character.