Milady

By: Laura L. Sullivan

Narrated by: Elizabeth Knowelden

From the glittering ballrooms of 17th Century England to the dangerous intrigues of the French court, Laura L. Sullivan brings an unlikely heroine to the page, turning on its head everything we’ve been told about The Three Musketeers and their ultimate rival.

I’ve gone by many names, though you most likely know me as Milady de Winter: Villainess. Seductress. A secondary player in someone else’s tale.

It’s finally time I tell my own story. The truth isn’t tidy or convenient, but it’s certainly more interesting.

Before you cast judgment, let me start at the beginning, and you shall learn how an innocent girl from the countryside became the most feared woman in all of Europe.

Because we all know history was written by men, and they so often get things wrong.

Critic reviews

Praise for Milady:


“Laura Sullivan’s Milady is an enthralling historical novel, beautifully crafted and richly detailed. Its fascinating, utterly real characters and spellbinding plot twists will keep readers breathlessly turning the pages.”—Jennifer Chiaverini, New York Times bestselling author of Resistance Women

“As sharp and merciless as a Musketeer’s blade, Milady is the historical adventure I’ve been waiting for, one that will leave you gasping to the very last page. Adventuress, assassin, and provocatrix, Milady de Winter is an unforgettable heroine, more than a match for any adversary. This is the story Dumas should have told.”—Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author of A Dangerous Collaboration

“A woman's place is no longer in the subplot and Milady de Winter is a 17th century heroine destined for the 21st century. With bold, witty writing, and a narrative that rips along, Laura L. Sullivan crafts a compelling novel for a character deserving of her own story. I loved it!”—Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author of The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter

“Sullivan’s adult debut is a rousing tale of spies, love, sex, and death. It is a delight…This is truly entertaining historical fiction, an imaginative retelling of a classic from a new viewpoint.” —Library Journal (starred review)

"A devious, delectable historical spy confection in which an icing of lavish court intrigue slyly masks heady doses of ripe feminism and lethal social commentary. Milady snared me in its web from the first pages and I'll be first in line for the film premiere."--Lyndsay Faye, Edgar-nominated author of Jane Steele and The Paragon Hotel

“There’s nothing more satisfying than a riveting tale with a swash-buckling, cunning female spy at its center. Milady is a worthy addition to the canon of The Three Musketeers, told with well-paced, elegant prose and a keen eye for historical detail. I couldn’t put the book down!”–Heather Webb, Internationally bestselling author of Last Christmas in Paris and Meet Me in Monaco

“The clever ending is certain to delight both Dumas fans and newcomers who enjoy historical fiction featuring smart, adventurous, determined women.” —Booklist

"Penned by one of the best historical novelists we can claim today…This is historical suspense at its finest, which is exactly what this author is fantastic at delivering.” —Suspense Magazine

There was never a dull moment

Loved this story. The author holds the story very well and created a very believable story.

Excellent story, characters, and narration

This book was even better than I expected it to be! I couldn’t stop listening. I love the story of the Musketeers. I never put much thought into Milady’s history. This book is well-written, intriguing, unexpected, and well narrated. Highly recommend!!

I couldn’t put it down

When I first read the Three Musketeers, I was struck by how the female characters were portrayed. They were one dimensional and either considered pure, perfect, submissive virgins or alternatively, evil, promiscuous manipulators. I couldn’t understand how this story had become so popular and had a myriad of representation in pop culture and media. I realized that no adaptations truly showed the misogynistic truths of the original, and if they did, the story would immediately fall prayed to cancel culture. I strongly dislike the original Three Musketeers. However, one of my favorite books of all time is the Count of Montecristo, written much later in Alexander Dumas’s life. It is clear that his understanding and view of women drastically changed and evolved during his life time. This book is phenomenal. I could not put it down. It rectifies the misogyny and one dimensional platitudes of the original story and manages to create intricate multidimensional female characters and to turn the original story on its head. It takes away the floored language of Dumas and reveals his heroic masculine characters, for who they truly are. This novel concocts the idea that a strong clever woman, can take her own fate into her hands and shape her own destiny, despite the incredible challenges women faced at the time and regrettably, still face sometimes today. I can’t wait to read more books by this author.

Mlady

Excellent narration - she made the characters come to life. I would highly recommend this narration of Mlady.

Loved every minute

Exceptionally written. Super entertaining and unpredictable story. Twists and turns all the way to the very end. I have never read the three musketeers, and had no problems following this story. The performance was a little breathy, but I was riveted and got used to it. Would highly recommend!