To Crown with Liberty
In 1795, Alix de Morainville Carpentier is haunted by the crumbling world she left behind. A former lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoinette, the ill-fated French queen, Alix now resides in the Spanish colony of Louisiana. An aristocrat by birth, she is married to Joseph, her family’s former gardener. Her goal is to maintain a low profile and to avoid being discovered by any supporters of the violent French Revolution. The truth is that Louisiana is a place where she feels like she doesn’t belong. Amid the colorful and exotic New World, she feels like a fish out of water. No matter where she goes, haunting memories of the revolution are not far behind.
To Crown with Liberty is an expertly crafted tale about resilience and survival. This book is separated into two timelines: the Ancien Régime/the French Revolution and the Spanish colony of Louisiana. I found the characters, both fictional and historical, to be exceedingly well written. The character that most stood out to me was Alix because, despite facing adversity, she remains admirable and strong. Ullo’s writing also shines in the impressive amount of historical detail; she must have done a considerable amount of research.
Not only is the prose gorgeous, but it’s steeped in rich historical images that truly bring the story to life. In the author’s note, she explains her inspirations and the real historical facts. Overall, this is a fantastic read.
