Winner, EFestival of Words 2013, Historical Fiction category.Shortlisted, Writing Magazine Self-Publishing Awards, 2013.Featured in “Off the Beaten Path” recommendations, Historical Novel Society Conference, 2013.They drowned Victoire’s mother, claiming she was a witch. Then her father died beneath the wheels of a nobleman’s carriage.Forced to leave her village, Victoire finds work in Paris. But … Victoire finds work in Paris. But domestic employment comes at a high price and the orphaned girl suffers gruesome abuse at the hands of a diabolical aristocracy.
Accused of a heinous crime, they imprison her in the depraved lunatic asylum, La Salpêtrière.
With the help of ruthless seductress, Jeanne de Valois –– conwoman of the Necklace Affair that brought down Marie Antoinette –– Victoire must find the strength to join the revolutionary force storming the Bastille.
Can she survive a chilling betrayal and rise above her impoverished peasant roots to take her place in this new, post-revolutionary France?
Based on historical fact, Spirit of Lost Angels is a riveting testament to the courage of women facing tragedy, betrayal and insanity in a world where their gift can be their curse.
Francophiles will want this one and those who enjoy historical fiction that doesn’t focus on royals … Audra Book Blogger, Unabridged Chick.
5-star Goodreads rating from best-selling author, Karen Maitland.
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This book is about a powerful woman in a time when women were nothing more than property. It was like going into a house of mirrors and not being able to get out. Every once In a while you see a little light, and I do mean little, so you think ok, I will keep reading, and then bam there we are again in some unbelievable situation. Disaster after disaster. If it wasn’t so well written it would have become laughable, but it didn’t. So read it.
The French Revolution comes to life through the eyes of Victorie, who is only six years old at the beginning of the book. Victorie is of the peasant class, and the poverty of her family and the disparity with the bourgeoisie is readily apparent. The book begins with a series of tragedies; the family cottage burns to the ground after being struck by lightning, and Victories’ twin siblings die in the fire. Her father becomes a “journeyman” because there are so jobs available, and he’s no longer to farm. As he nears home after an absence of months, he is struck and killed by a noble’s coach. Finally, Victorie’s mother declares she no longer believes in God, so she is accused of witchcraft and drowned. In the course of five years, Victorie has lost everything except her brother Gregoire. When her village priest sends her to Paris to work as a scullery maid, Victorie’s life takes another u-turn, one that eventually leads to her involvement in the French Revolution when she is 25 years old. The author cleverly designed the plot so that rural as well as urban France are pictured. The reader’s heart breaks for Victorie as she deals with death, disease, rape, insanity, imprisonment, and other disasters. However, Victorie also makes amazing and nurturing friends. This is the best historical fiction I’ve read in a long time.
Good historical fiction. Makes you think about how things have changed over the years.
Excellent read about the French Revolution from a peasant woman’s view. Disturbing and interesting as the young woman deals with male dominated society and superstitious beliefs while struggling to free herself.
I have read all the Bone Angel novels and loved them. If you are looking for a gripping historical read, then don’t miss out on this series.
How can one person go through so much?
I really enjoyed a couple of these books. Very good exciting stories.
Nice mix of history woven into the story.
Different. A little bit of everything. I’m not sure how true to history the book is. Parts definitely are. Witches were drowned. Conditions in jails and insane asylums were terrible.
Amazing how author Liza Perrat brought 1700s France to life. Their hardships were so hard to imagine, yet I felt right there. We have so much to be thankful for today. This story will be in my head for a long time!
I wasn’t sure about this book, but it intrigued me and ended up really enjoying the story and fell in love with all the characters.
Liked French history vs. England. TRUE heroine.
Beautiful writing!
This was a good story.
Wow. I felt akin to how a raft might feel, dropped into a current that grows stronger, and then there are rapids and waterfalls and boulders; you are carried along, powerless. I was torn apart by V’s life story, her endurance and perseverance. Filled with the gritty details of poverty and the huge gap between the rich and the poor, the tale of the French Revolution is powerfully retold.
Well written and enlightening
SPIRIT OF LOST ANGELS, 18th Century French Revolution, Liza Perrat
Mid-1700s France reflected a high water mark dividing rich from poor. The wealthy and well-connected floated above, while the poor were downtrodden without hope of rising to the surface. Poor women were held down by a society which relied on marriage for subsistence. Victoire came from a poor village. As an employed young woman, Victoire was chattel to her employer, subjected to rape, then blamed and shunned for her pregnancy. In this brutal world, the wealthy dispensed survival at whim, and could extract a heavy price.
Victoire had survived a fire in her small home, but lost twin siblings in the blaze. Her father travelled the roads seeking work to fund rebuilding their cottage, but was killed by the carelessness of a wealthy noble. Her mother, a midwife, succumbed to depression, then was tortured and murdered as a witch. Victoire’s mother taught her herbal lore, and how to read and write. This education instilled in Victoire a sense of her own worth. She was also subject to depression, but survived through betrayals to become a wife, mother, master of disguise, and revolutionary playwright.
This story is well written. The strong women characters are interesting. The plot seems unlikely, in retrospect, but was supported sufficiently to carry this reader’s interest.
This good read adds to understanding of a fascinating period in history.
Fantastic! I cold not read fast enough. The history, the human spirit, the tragedy, the love. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Well done.
As a fan of historical fiction, I am so pleased to have discovered the work of Liza Perrat. Although Spirit of Lost Angels is the first of a trilogy, I read the third book, Wolfsangel, before this one and could not wait to read more by this writer. The order of reading made no difference, in case anyone wonders. Perrat’s evocative writing style brings the reader into the story immediately and leaves one reflecting upon it long after the end has been reached. Her amazing attention to detail and historical fact combined with a flair for character development, creates an enveloping ambiance engaging all the senses. In this book, she delivers us from the simple, hard life of rural peasants through the horrors of insane asylums and prisons to the society involved in the political intrigues of revolutionary France. It’s quite a journey! Magnifique, Ms. Perrat!
I didn’t enjoy this book. I managed to get 2/3 of the way through it, but couldn’t finish it. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters, especially the main character. The main character certainly goes through a lot of stuff, but there are scenes that are too explicit for my tastes.