Stevie‘s review of Milady by Laura L. Sullivan
Historical Fiction published by Berkley 02 Jul 19
While I’m familiar with the basic premise of The Three Musketeers through various media, I’ve never actually read Dumas’ original novel in any translation; not that this omission stoppped me enthusiastically requesting a review copy of a new retelling to that tale from the point of view of the main female antagonist. As I often point out, I love a good re-imagining of a well-known story, especially one that sticks to the established facts while turning their interpretation completely on its head. And that’s exactly what I got here.
Told over two time lines, almost a decade and a half apart, the story begins in 1628 with Milady de Winter beginning to grow weary of her life of deception and longing for the day when she will be free to spend more time with her lover, their son, and her best friend, But first she must make one last attempt to defeat the Musketeers and bring the new member of the group – D’Artagnan – over to Cardinal Richelieu’s way of thinking. Seeking to increase her knowledge of her prey, Milady dons a series of disguises and gains her first glimpses of both the boy and his trio of famous companions, of whom she has heard much. Her intelligence has not, however, prepared her for the discovery that one of them is already known to her under another name and from the time before she took up her destiny as a spy. Her plan suddenly altered, Milady thinks back to happier times.
The second time line to the story begins in 1615, when Clarice – as she is then known – is approaching adulthood on the Yorkshire estate of a minor English nobleman. Raised mainly by her French mother, Clarice has fond memories of growing up surrounded by the children of her parents’ servants, most particularly Denys, the son of the French falconer. Up until now, Clarice’s father has mostly ignored her on his infrequent visits home, but this time he realises that she has grown into a beautiful young woman who can be manipulated into furthering his ambitions in the court of King James. And so Clarice is educated in the arts of a spy by her father’s friend Mary Villiers and her son George (the future Duke of Buckingham, though none of them are aware of his destiny at the time).
Once trained, Clarice and George are thrust into a plot to discredit the King’s favourite, Robert Carr. Although they are successful, Clarice soon finds herself at odds with her fellow plotters and is sent away to a place where she believes none except her mother is likely to find her. Rescue is tortuously slow in coming, and Clarice is forced to rely on her wits and on the one true friend she makes while a virtual prisoner. Even when help arrives, danger and intrigue are never far behind, and Clarice learns time and again that no one is ever quite what they seem.
The two time lines alternate beautifully as Clarice cheats death in both, until at last she faces her final fate from those enemies she has made along the way. Fortunately, some of her friends have remained true to her, and her wits are still sharper than those of the four Musketeers combined.
I loved this story. All the characters appeared in both time lines. Although it was not always easy to identify their alternate identities straight away, the pieces fitted together perfectly once all became clear. In true swashbuckling style, most of them appeared to die at least once, only to reappear later. I definitely want to read more from this author and I shall be seeking out the translation of Dumas that she referred to in her notes at the book’s end.
Grade: A
Summary:
From the glittering ballrooms of 17th Century England to the dangerous intrigues of the French court, Laura L. Sullivan brings an unlikely heroine to the page, turning on its head everything we’ve been told about The Three Musketeers and their ultimate rival.
I’ve gone by many names, though you most likely know me as Milady de Winter: Villainess. Seductress. A secondary player in someone else’s tale.
It’s finally time I tell my own story. The truth isn’t tidy or convenient, but it’s certainly more interesting.
Before you cast judgment, let me start at the beginning, and you shall learn how an innocent girl from the countryside became the most feared woman in all of Europe.
Because we all know history was written by men, and they so often get things wrong.
Read an excerpt.
