Daughter of the King (Defying the Crown)
Daughter of the King (Defying the Crown) book cover

Daughter of the King (Defying the Crown)

Paperback – December 16, 2021

by
Price
$15.95
Format
Paperback
Pages
247
Publisher
Black Rose Writing
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1684338375
Dimensions
6 x 0.62 x 9 inches
Weight
10.8 ounces

Description

2023 IPPY Silver Award Winner - Book Series - Fiction (Defying the Crown) 2022 Chaucer Book Award Finalist - Historical Fiction 2022 IPPY Gold Award Winner - Religious Fiction "I was hooked from page one by the unstoppable Magnolia and her fierce love for her younger brothers. Bolstered by Eleanor Roosevelt's words during the time of the Great Depression, Magnolia refuses to give up on the idea of keeping her siblings together, even when it means undertaking a dangerous journey alone. Kerry Chaput's research shines through as she takes us back to this tumultuous time in history, but this heart-warming novel is ultimately about the hope that comes with learning to trust and finding family in unlikely places." -Tracey Lange, New York Times Bestseller and Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist, We Are the Brennans " Daughter of the King clearly demonstrates author Kerry Chaput's complete master of the genre. A fully entertaining and compelling read from first page to last..." -Midwest Book Review "Chaput gives us a beautiful sense of both (place and time), making for a richly written book." -Portland Book Review " Daughter of the King is historical fiction at its best. It is full of important history that is delivered in an entirely readable package with characters who have immense depth." -OpenMyPages "If you enjoy swashbuckling adventure, romance and stories set in exciting and dangerous times, then you're going to love Daughter of the King ." -Naomi Lisa Shippen, women's fiction author "The story was fast-paced, the characters were well-developed and as far as I could tell, the history of the era is spot on." -Gail Olmstead, author of Landscape of a Marriage Born in California wine country, Kerry Chaput began writing shortly after earning her Doctorate degree. Her love of storytelling began with a food blog and developed over the years to writing historical fiction novels. Raised by a teacher of US history, she has always been fascinated by tales from our past and is forever intrigued by the untold stories of brave women. She lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon with her husband, two daughters and two rescue pups. She can often be found on hiking trails or in coffee shops. To learn more, connect with her at www.kerrywrites.com or Twitter @ChaputKerry.

Features & Highlights

  • "
  • Daughter of the King
  • is historical fiction at its best. It is full of important history that is delivered in an entirely readable package with characters who have immense depth."
  • –OpenMyPages
  • "If you enjoy swashbuckling adventure, romance and stories set in exciting and dangerous times, then you're going to love
  • Daughter of the King
  • ." -Naomi Lisa Shippen, women's fiction bestselling author
  • La Rochelle France, 1661. Fierce Protestant Isabelle is desperate to escape persecution by the Catholic King. Isabelle is tortured and harassed, her people forced to convert to the religion that rules the land. She risks her life by helping her fellow Protestants, which is forbidden by the powers of France. She accepts her fate - until she meets a handsome Catholic soldier who makes her question everything.
  • She fights off an attack by a nobleman, and the only way to save herself is to flee to the colony of Canada as a Daughter of the King. She can have money, protection and a new life - if she adopts the religion she's spent a lifetime fighting. She must leave her homeland and the promises of her past. In the wild land of Canada, Isabelle finds that her search for love and faith has just begun.
  • Based on the incredible true story of the French orphans who settled Canada,
  • Daughter of the King
  • is a sweeping tale of one young woman's fight for true freedom. Kerry Chaput brings the past to life, expertly weaving a gripping saga with vivid historical details. Jump back in time on a thrilling adventure with an unforgettable heroine.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(121)
★★★★
25%
(101)
★★★
15%
(61)
★★
7%
(28)
★
23%
(93)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Stunning Debut Historical Fiction

Kerry Chaput’s debut historical novel is based on the true story of the French orphans who settled Canada in 1661 as Filles du Roi. First in the series Defying the Crown, Daughter of the King introduces readers to bold peasant Isabelle Collette. Her wrist is branded with an H as a Huguenot; a French Protestant who worships in secret, fears the King and the Catholic law of France. The setting moves from La Rochelle and Rouen in France to the snowy forests of colonial Quebec, Canada. Characters, the despicable Antoinette, Isabelle’s Catholic childhood friend, and her first love, soldier James, are well developed and realistic along with the Huron skilled hunter, Naira. Chaput deftly uses foreshadowing and beautiful, emphatic figures of speech in her prose to enhance the plot and plight of characters. Delightful, detailed descriptions of drawing rooms, gilded halls, and chandeliers transport readers to the royal salons of the Sun King. Complimenting these delicious details are comparisons that leave readers spellbound and as teary eyed as Isabelle. Adding to the vivid imagery is Kerry Chaput’s breathtaking description of Isabelle’s Baptism in an ethereal white robe entering the waters of the Seine, which brings Isabelle full circle in her search for religious freedom.

Even though there are disappointing and maddening attitudes of soldiers and officers to combat, readers’ dreads and doubts are allayed when the Filles du Roi find their voice against the ruling authority. They prove they are quite capable of helping against the threat of the Iroquois and aiding the fur trade, all while populating the settlement of New France.

During the perilous crossing from France to Canada Isabelle releases a satin ribbon to the wind, in memory of a young Huguenot woman and as a salute to the hopes and fears of those in the future. With Kerry Chaput’s foreshadowing: “A simple protected life will come to an end soon enough,” readers of Daughter of the King will be anxious to find out who of the Filles du Roi survives a life of secrets and lies in book #2 in the series: Defying the Crown. Join Kerry Chaput and Isabelle in Daughter of the King – “Finding FAITH in the hunt for TRUTH
5 people found this helpful
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A part of history I knew nothing about

I heard about this book on TikTok and was intrigued because I'd never heard about the King of France sending women to Canada to be wives and populate the area. Especially that he gave them money and allowed them the choice of mates and the ability to end the marriages if they didn’t work out.
I'd also never heard about the Huguenots, early protestant Calvinists, and the terrible things that happened to them because of that same Catholic king. The history was fascinating. The only reason I didn't give this book five stars was a personal preference. There was too much torture and sexual abuse for me. Be warned. It is probably very accurate historically but could have been more implied then described in detail.
Other than that, it was quite interesting.
3 people found this helpful
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Poorly written

This book is not well written. It plods along with repetitive violence, hoping to capture your interest. There’s little to no imagery and several errors that even disinterested readers will catch. It’s a good first draft but I’m surprised anyone published it. The historical event this is about is fascinating but the prose is just awful. Save your money and read historical novels by Kate Quinn and Mary Sharratt and Diana Gabaldon and Margaret Frazer.
2 people found this helpful
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Beautiful and Breathtaking

Beautiful and breathtaking--I gripped the pages and held on until the very end.

Kerry Chaput moved such a powerful plot along quickly without letting the historical details become too heavy and convolute the emotions of the main character.

I felt everything. The hot metal branding her skin. The pain of loss. Every assault. Every tear that rolled down her cheek. The cold of winter. All of it.

This novel is such a fresh take on historical fiction as it explores a topic amd time in historical not often (if ever) spoken about. The Filled du Roi is a group of 800 or so women that immigrated to New France in the 1600s and were sponsored by the king. These women were pivotal in the creation of French Canada and many American towns because there were few female colonists and women were needed to create a viable colony. But their stories are sacred and often riddled with tragedy, persecution, and a desperate need for freedom.

Isabelle is a persecuted protestant living in France in 1661. After being attacked, she knows the only way to save herself is to flee to Canada as a daughter of the King. Abandoning her beliefs and the only life she's ever known, Isabelle travels to the wild land of Canada where her journey of faith, love, and rebellion truly begin.
1 people found this helpful
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I wanted to like it.

I was extremely excited to read "Daughter of the King." I was attracted to the book by the cover, along with the story blurb. I thought I was prepared to read about the dark times of 1661 France. Let me be honest here - I struggled reading this book - it felt clunky and stilted. The characters were one-dimensional. I craved to see them better but was only met by the violence and darkness of the period that kept being shoved in my face through choppy dialog and details. When I finally got the rhythm of the writing, the story itself became darker, when I was hoping it would get down to brass tacks a bit and lighten up.. I didn't believe the handsome Catholic soldier was attracted or cared about a dirty protestant girl, even though he had roots in the same faith. I wanted to care about Isabelle but only saw her as a selfish, stubborn, bullheaded woman who admired many others, but little tolerance for one closest to her. I only got as far as the fourth chapter and put the book down. The story takes place in La Rochelle, France, 1661, in a very dark period in French history. When reading the book, I was in bed fighting off COVID. Maybe a more lighthearted story would have been helpful. I don't doubt the book's research was very well done because it was indeed dark, violent, and believable - so much so that I couldn't continue reading it. I almost feel my rating is unfair because I didn't finish the book and go on the journey to New France. Maybe I will pick "Daughter of the King" up again and give it another go, but I will let it sit for now.
1 people found this helpful
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So good I finished in 2 days

Loved this book! Had it read in 2 days.
1 people found this helpful
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Interesting read based on a true story of the daughters of the king program.

This one took me a little bit to get into, but once I did- it was such a great, fast paced read! I learned a lot from this novel, and had never heard of the Daughters of the King, and how this was enacted to help colonize Canada by giving the women most of the power for decisions if they agreed to do this.

Isabelle has been looked down on and tortured most of her life for being a Huguenot. They get harassed, punished, harmed and often every day living is harsh for them. It is a daily fight to just find food to stay alive each day. Rumblings that they are no longer safe, Isabelle and her mother attempt to escape persecution and finds herself an orphan not long after this journey starts.

Unlike many others, Isabelle has found a place that helped her find a position and to get back on her feet. The fear of her past is still on top of mind, and just when she is settling into this new life, she finds herself on the run again. This time the opportunity presented sounds too good to be true but there is a trade off. She must give up everything in her past and convert. Once she converts she will become a Daughter of the King and will sail to a new world to help colonize the front. But it is not for the feint of heart.

Isabelle, having been raised to fend for herself is not in the least turned off by this proposal and although hesitant to all she will receive, she agrees. Off to a new world she sails- a new woman, a new beginning and a new religion.

Thank you to the author for the free book, and Suzy Approved Tours for the invite. I don’t believe I would have found this author or novel otherwise and it was a very intriguing read about the settle of Canada.
1 people found this helpful
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Buckle up and hold on for this fascinating and adventurous story.

This is a grab you by the collar and read into the wee hours of the morning kind of novel. I did my best to savour every chapter as the story follows the life of a young Huguenot woman. Adventurous, engaging, and inspiring, Daughter of the King taught me something new about both French and Canadian history while the protagonist captivated me through the whole novel.
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I Couldn’t Put it Down!

I absolutely loved this story! It had me on the edge of my seat with all the feels until 3 am when I finally finished it. I learned a part of history I hadn’t known before through Isabelle’s story.

For the reviews that complain that the story is dark, it’s history. History, unfortunately, was very dark at times. I appreciate Kerry for not sugar-coating it.

There is love within the story and at times I found myself swooning, which is a bonus!
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Great truthful historical novel.

A great historical novel that revealed so much about religion freedoms that I was not aware of. There is so much we can learn from reading these types of novels. I love the way the author weaved so much truth and history into the story. I look forward to rereading this one and reading more from this author. That you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

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