"Sumptuous . . . Nothing in this story disappoints." --Publishers
Weekly
As seen on Netflix, The Empress is a captivating, vivid, and
remarkably modern tale about falling in love and finding one's voice.
The year is 1853, and Princess Elisabeth "Sisi" of Bavaria has been very
clear: She will wait for the head-over-heels love the poets speak of, or
she will have no love at all. Just because her older sister, Helene, is
eagerly heeding their mother's advice and preparing to marry Emperor
Franz of Austria does not mean Sisi must also subject herself to such a
dutiful existence. Sisi knows there is more to life than luncheons and
corsets--if only someone would let her experience it all firsthand.
Meanwhile, in Austria, the emperor is recovering from an assassination
attempt that left him wounded and scared. In a bid to keep the peace,
Franz has recommitted himself to his imperial duties--and promised to
romance the pliant Helene of Bavaria at his upcoming birthday
celebration. How better to unite the empire than with the announcement
of a new empress?
But when Sisi and Franz meet unexpectedly in the palace gardens, away
from the prying eyes and relentless critique of the court, their
connection cannot be denied. And as their illicit conversations turn
into something more, they must soon choose between the expectations of
their families and standing up for what they truly believe in . . .
