Antoinette's Sister

In Naples, Queen Charlotte, Marie Antoinette's sister, battles to free her from the revolutionaries who want to kill her. Her sister's execution alters history and leads to the collapse of her own empire. Charlotte must marry King Ferdinand IV in her sister's place and navigate a complex political landscape, where her husband's regent, Tanucci, is pushing the country to ruin. She seeks help from her brother, Leopold, the Holy Roman Emperor, and John Acton, a military man. Charlotte must gather strength to take control of the country and protect those she loves in this tale of family, court intrigue, and power.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 10 March 2022
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

As Marie Antoinette breathed her last breath as the Queen of France in Paris, another formidable monarch, Antoinette's dearly beloved sister, Charlotte, was hundreds of miles away, in Naples, fighting desperately to secure her release from the revolutionaries who would take her life. Little did Charlotte know, however, that her sister's execution would change the course of history and bring about the end of her own empire.

You are the queen. You are the queen that Antoinette wanted to be.

Austria, 1767: Maria Carolina Charlotte, the tenth daughter and one of sixteen children of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, knows her position as a Habsburg archduchess will inevitably force her to leave her home, her family, and her cherished sister, Antoinette, whose companionship she values over all else. But not yet. The Habsburg family is celebrating a great triumph: Charlotte's older sister, Josepha, has been promised to King Ferdinand IV of Naples and will soon take her place as queen. Before she can journey to her new home, however, tragedy strikes. After visiting the family crypt, Josepha contracts smallpox and dies. Shocked, Charlotte is forced to face an unthinkable new reality: she must now marry Ferdinand in her sister's stead.

Bereft and alone, Charlotte finds that her life in Naples is more complicated than she could ever have imagined. Ferdinand is weak and feckless, and a disastrous wedding night plunges her into despair. Her husband's regent, Tanucci, a controlling and power-hungry man, has pushed the country to the brink of ruin. Overwhelmed, she asks her brother Leopold, now the Holy Roman Emperor, to send help—which he does in the form of John Acton, a handsome military man twenty years Charlotte's senior who is tasked with overseeing the Navy. Now, Charlotte must gather the strength.

As the months pass, Charlotte begins to see the potential in her new country. She meets with the local nobility and learns about their struggles and aspirations. She also meets with John Acton, who becomes her confidant and ally. Together, they work to stabilize the country and improve the lives of its people.

But their efforts are not without challenges. Charlotte faces opposition from Tanucci and other members of the regent's court, who see her as a threat to their power. She also struggles with her own emotions and doubts, wondering if she is truly capable of being a queen.

Despite these obstacles, Charlotte remains determined to succeed. She uses her intelligence and charm to navigate the political landscape and build alliances with other powerful figures. She also begins to gain the respect and admiration of the people, who see her as a symbol of hope and change.

As the revolutionaries in France continue to threaten the stability of the country, Charlotte realizes that her own empire is in jeopardy. She must make a difficult decision: to stay in Naples and fight for her country, or to return to Austria and risk everything she has worked for.

In the end, Charlotte makes the decision to stay in Naples and fight for her country. She knows that it will be a long and difficult road, but she is determined to make a difference and secure a better future for her people.

Years pass, and Charlotte becomes known as a hero and a champion of the people. She works tirelessly to improve the lives of her subjects and promote democracy and freedom. Her legacy lives on, and she is remembered as one of the most influential and inspiring queens in history.

As for Antoinette, her execution in Paris remains a controversial and tragic moment in history. While some see her as a symbol of the excess and corruption of the French monarchy, others recognize her as a victim of political oppression and a woman who loved her country deeply.

In the end, Charlotte's story is a testament to the power of determination, resilience, and the ability to make a difference in the world. She may have been forced to marry a king she did not love, but she used her position to create a better future for her people and inspire generations to come.

As Marie Antoinette breathed her last breath as the Queen of France in Paris, another formidable monarch, Antoinette's dearly beloved sister, Charlotte, was hundreds of miles away, in Naples, fighting desperately to secure her release from the revolutionaries who would take her life. Little did Charlotte know, however, that her sister's execution would change the course of history and bring about the end of her own empire.

You are the queen. You are the queen that Antoinette wanted to be.

Austria, 1767: Maria Carolina Charlotte, the tenth daughter and one of sixteen children of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, knows her position as a Habsburg archduchess will inevitably force her to leave her home, her family, and her cherished sister, Antoinette, whose companionship she values over all else. But not yet. The Habsburg family is celebrating a great triumph: Charlotte's older sister, Josepha, has been promised to King Ferdinand IV of Naples and will soon take her place as queen. Before she can journey to her new home, however, tragedy strikes. After visiting the family crypt, Josepha contracts smallpox and dies. Shocked, Charlotte is forced to face an unthinkable new reality: she must now marry Ferdinand in her sister's stead.

Bereft and alone, Charlotte finds that her life in Naples is more complicated than she could ever have imagined. Ferdinand is weak and feckless, and a disastrous wedding night plunges her into despair. Her husband's regent, Tanucci, a controlling and power-hungry man, has pushed the country to the brink of ruin. Overwhelmed, she asks her brother Leopold, now the Holy Roman Emperor, to send help—which he does in the form of John Acton, a handsome military man twenty years Charlotte's senior who is tasked with overseeing the Navy. Now, Charlotte must gather the strength.

As the months pass, Charlotte begins to see the potential in her new country. She meets with the local nobility and learns about their struggles and aspirations. She also meets with John Acton, who becomes her confidant and ally. Together, they work to stabilize the country and improve the lives of its people.

But their efforts are not without challenges. Charlotte faces opposition from Tanucci and other members of the regent's court, who see her as a threat to their power. She also struggles with her own emotions and doubts, wondering if she is truly capable of being a queen.

Despite these obstacles, Charlotte remains determined to succeed. She uses her intelligence and charm to navigate the political landscape and build alliances with other powerful figures. She also begins to gain the respect and admiration of the people, who see her as a symbol of hope and change.

As the revolutionaries in France continue to threaten the stability of the country, Charlotte realizes that her own empire is in jeopardy. She must make a difficult decision: to stay in Naples and fight for her country, or to return to Austria and risk everything she has worked for.

In the end, Charlotte makes the decision to stay in Naples and fight for her country. She knows that it will be a long and difficult road, but she is determined to make a difference and secure a better future for her people.

Years pass, and Charlotte becomes known as a hero and a champion of the people. She works tirelessly to improve the lives of her subjects and promote democracy and freedom. Her legacy lives on, and she is remembered as one of the most influential and inspiring queens in history.

As for Antoinette, her execution in Paris remains a controversial and tragic moment in history. While some see her as a symbol of the excess and corruption of the French monarchy, others recognize her as a victim of political oppression and a woman who loved her country deeply.

In the end, Charlotte's story is a testament to the power of determination, resilience, and the ability to make a difference in the world. She may have been forced to marry a king she did not love, but she used her position to create a better future for her people and inspire generations to come.

Weight: 604g
Dimension: 163 x 235 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538720127