The School of Mirrors

Trigger warning after review

I was drawn to this Historical Fiction novel by its gorgeous cover and its 18th century French setting. The story centres on two women - Veronique, a young girl who is chosen to be groomed at a young age to be a mistress of King Louis XV and Marie-Louise, Veronique's daughter, who becomes a midwife decades later.

Clearly, there was a lot of research done for this book and I appreciated the vivid descriptions of the times - particularly the discrepancies between the classes and the role of midwives. The topic of the oversexualization and blatant child sexual abuse against these young girls will be uncomfortable for some readers, but while it was very difficult to read, I respect the historical accuracy. 

The story, which is broken up into two large sections, is filled with lengthy, descriptions which set the tone for the era. But it was how the story was told that detracted from my enjoyment. The pacing is extremely slow, often long-winded and I never felt an emotional attachment to the characters. And when these two story lines and characters finally come together after 400 pages, the ending felt lackluster, less emotional than expected and too abrupt.

The School of Mirrors gives readers an interesting look at the lives and roles of women in 18th century France as the French Revolution plays in the background. Readers will easily imagine the rumblings and turmoil between the classes - from the greedy and entitled to the have-nothings who demand reform. This story was too slow burn for my tastes and felt like it was longer than it had to be, but it is a story that should appeal to Historical Fiction fans who like a slower paced story who want to be immersed in the lives of two women who are at the mercy of societal rules and the limited resources given to women at the time. 

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to DoubleDay Canada for providing me with a complimentary paperback of this title in exchange for my honest review.

Trigger Warning: Child sexual abuse

My Rating: 2.5 stars 

Author: Eva Stachniak

Genre: Historical Fiction (France)

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from publisher

Publisher: DoubleDay Canada

First Published: February 22, 2022

Opening Line: 1755 - My mother didn't tell me much.

Book Description from GoodReads: A lush, engrossing tale of love, deception and scandal in the 18th century French court of King Louis XV.

Against the tumult of 18th century France, King Louis XV has tired of courtly intrigues and becomes a connoisseur of innocence. On the grounds of the Palace of Versailles lies Deer Park, a hunting ground that also offers another pleasure: a mansion where his young mistresses are housed. But when these girls first arrive at Deer Park, it is under the guise of a different role. They are promised employment in the household of a count, and, eager to improve their stations, they leave their families to serve him.

Veronique is one such girl. She is introduced to the count, and young and naive as she is, she never doubts his identity. And as he begins to bestow affection on her, she quickly becomes consumed with love for him. It is too late when she realizes who he really is, the stakes of their affair and what she will have to give up to survive.

In vivid detail and with a breathless pace, Eva Stachniak captures the story of a fast-changing France, where the once beloved Louis XV is losing ground, his grandson the Dauphin Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are sickening the country with their opulence and the French Revolution is stirring. It is in this France that Veronique's young daughter, Marie-Louise, will grow up searching for answers about her birth. With stirring insight and dazzling intrigue, this novel questions the true meaning of legacy.