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The Embroidered Book

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About this listen

*Winner of the Aurora Award for Best Novel*

‘Spellbinding’ JJA Harwood

‘An entertaining and dark read’ Stylist

‘An absorbing novel’ Guardian

‘Beautifully written’ Elizabeth Chadwick

‘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.

©2022 Kate Heartfield (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Coming of Age Fantasy Genre Fiction Historical Science Fiction Fiction

Critic reviews

‘The Embroidered Book is superb from its opening scene to its heartbreaking end … Politics, magic, love, and sacrifice compete on equal terms in a sweeping, absolutely splendid epic novel about two sisters and familial love. If you like historical feminist fantasy, you will love The Embroidered Book’
Lisbeth Campbell, author of The Vanished Queen

‘Sacrifice, family, dreams, and deep, dark magic, The Embroidered Book is a triumph’
Julie E. Czerneda, author of The Gossamer Mage

‘Seamlessly weaves together real historical events into a stunning narrative that I'm sure will grip readers from the very first page to the very last. I could almost believe the book itself had been enchanted!’
Ann Sei Lin, author of Rebel Skies

‘What can I say about this book? It is extraordinary. I didn't know how deeply I needed a story about sisters Charlotte and Antoine (later Marie Antoinette) and their complicated, courtly, beautiful, magical world’
E. Catherine Tobler, author of The Necessity of Stars

PRAISE FOR KATE HEARTFIELD:

‘Heartfield's scenes brim with excitement’
Booklist

‘Written with arresting detail and challenges literary tropes about women’
Publishers Weekly
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I think this is a really interesting take on the story of Anne Boleyn, normally I like a good fantasy x historical fiction book but this one dragged on a bit.

An interesting take on the story

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The book kept me interested throughout despite being so long highly recommended. Was fully immersed in the story - 5/5

Brilliant narration

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A stunning book, vivid and bold. The fantasy world is so cleverly woven into a story so historically well known. A very moving and tragic retelling of all the lives involved.

Powerfully written..

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I hadn't realised that the story of the two sisters would be literally mixed with a fantasy story of them practicing magic. For me, the real story is fascinating and the magical subplot a strange distraction.l. Others will love it but I found that the fantasy elements diminished the historical story..

Historical fiction plus magic

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Absolute adored this book, I’ve reread it twice since. Beautifully written and a wonderfully told. You won’t be disappointed.

Loved loved loved!!!

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