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Queen of Exiles by Vanessa Riley: A Book Review

Queen of Exiles
Author: Vanessa Riley
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: William Morrow
Release Date: 2023
Pages: 447
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Acclaimed historical novelist Vanessa Riley is back with another novel based on the life of an extraordinary Black woman from history: Haiti’s Queen Marie-Louise Christophe, who escaped a coup in Haiti to set up her own royal court in Italy during the Regency era, where she became a popular member of royal European society. 

     The Queen of Exiles is Marie-Louise Christophe, wife and then widow of Henry I, who ruled over the newly liberated Kingdom of Hayti in the wake of the brutal Haitian Revolution.

     In 1810 Louise is crowned queen as her husband begins his reign over the first and only free Black nation in the Western Hemisphere. But despite their newfound freedom, Haitians still struggle under mountains of debt to France and indifference from former allies in Britain and the new United States. Louise desperately tries to steer the country’s political course as King Henry descends into a mire of mental illness.

      In 1820, King Henry is overthrown and dies by his own hand. Louise and her daughters manage to flee to Europe with their smuggled jewels. In exile, the resilient Louise redefines her role, recovering the fortune that Henry had lost and establishing herself as an equal to the kings of European nations. With newspapers and gossip tracking their every movement, Louise and her daughters tour Europe like other royals, complete with glittering balls and princes with marriage proposals. As they find their footing—and acceptance—they discover more about themselves, their Blackness, and the opportunities they can grasp in a European and male-dominated world. 

     Queen of Exiles is the tale of a remarkable Black woman of history—a canny and bold survivor who chooses the fire and ideals of political struggle, and then is forced to rebuild her life on her own terms, forever a queen.

      My Review: Queen Marie-Louise Coidavid was Haiti’s only queen. She was queen for ten years before her kingdom was overthrown and she was forced to flee to England. Queen of Exiles follows Marie-Louise Coidavid’s turbulent reign as queen and her remaining years in exile. Queen Marie-Louise Coidavid must learn to live as a queen without a country.

      I have always found Queen Marie-Louise Coidavid to be a fascinating historical and tragic figure. I have even written a history article on her. In this novel, Queen Marie-Louise is reluctant to be a queen. Instead, the role was thrust upon her by her husband, King Henri I, who had grand illusions about the Kingdom of Haiti. He wanted Haiti to be an artistic and cultural kingdom that would be respected by all foreign nations. However, King Henri I was plagued by the unrest in his own country. Queen Marie-Louise had to support her husband through the crises. She must learn to play the role of queen well. When Queen Marie-Louise Coidavid is exiled, she has to forge her path anew. During this time, she must find her sense of belonging. Therefore, I sympathized with her and hoped that she would find her own happiness.

     Overall, this novel is about family, loyalty, and belonging. I thought all of the characters were very fleshed out. I also thought it was beautifully written. It felt as if I was walking alongside the queen as she left Haiti and went into exile. I did not like jumping back and forth across various timelines and thought it would work better in a more linear format. There were a few major inaccuracies in the novel that made it hard for me to overlook, and it took away my enjoyment in the novel. Nevertheless, Queen of Exiles was a very enthralling and mesmerizing read! Even though the book was long in length, I did not feel the length, and I also did not want it to end! Queen of Exiles is a feast for fans of royals! I recommend this for fans of Alison Weir, Phillippa Gregory, and Georgie Blalock!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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