“An engaging, engrossing debut.”—Greer Macallister, USA Today bestselling author of The Magician’s LieBound for a new continent, and a new beginning.In her illuminating debut novel, Aimie K. Runyan masterfully blends fact and fiction to explore the founding of New France through the experiences of three young women who, in 1667, answer Louis XIV’s call and journey to the Canadian colony.They … women who, in 1667, answer Louis XIV’s call and journey to the Canadian colony.
They are known as the filles du roi, or “King’s Daughters”—young women who leave prosperous France for an uncertain future across the Atlantic. Their duty is to marry and bring forth a new generation of loyal citizens. Each prospective bride has her reason for leaving—poverty, family rejection, a broken engagement. Despite their different backgrounds, Rose, Nicole, and Elisabeth all believe that marriage to a stranger is their best, perhaps only, chance of happiness.
Once in Quebec, Elisabeth quickly accepts baker Gilbert Beaumont, who wants a business partner as well as a wife. Nicole, a farmer’s daughter from Rouen, marries a charming officer who promises comfort and security. Scarred by her traumatic past, Rose decides to take holy vows rather than marry. Yet no matter how carefully she chooses, each will be tested by hardship and heartbreaking loss—and sustained by the strength found in their uncommon friendship, and the precarious freedom offered by their new home.
“An absorbing adventure with heart.”—Jennifer Laam, author of The Secret Daughter of the Tsar
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This is one of those books that you wonder why you keep reading it. I kept slogging through, thinking “it has to get better”, but it never did. To add insult to injury, it has a non-ending, as if the author just got tired and stopped writing. A promising storyline, but the book doesn’t deliver.
Seems like it was written for a very young audience. The dialogue seemed filled with platitudes and felt contrived. I quit after 3 chapters.
Excellent book – her characters came alive and you felt their struggles along with them.
Part of the pleasure of this book is that these women face adversity with courage and succeed. Not true of all “filles du roi”, I’m sure, but still a convincing view of a story that needs telling.
Loved it
The experiences of these three women were realistic and I enjoyed the historic aspect of the book.
Didn’t care for this book. Moved al over the place. Characters were strange. Just couldn’t finish it
I really enjoyed learning about colonial times in French Canada with engaging characters and fascinating stories!
I couldn’t put it down. It was a time I wasn’t aware of.
I liked the three principle women. There lives were interesting and they managed very well in adapting to their new life.
I would read more stories like that.
Enjoyable read
It moved slowly & I lost interest.
A delight! I learned so much about the settling of our neighbor to the north through the portrayal of these believable characters, who endured through amazing and equally believable hardships.
Thought this would be a realistic look at history.
Helps me get a sense of my ancestors, one of whom was a “fils de roi”
The first chapter seemed promising, but it quickly became unimaginative and uninteresting.
A fictional story based on a historical event. One of my favorite genres.