The Queen of the Night

By: Alexander Chee

Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan

From a ferociously talented writer, praised as "the fire, in my opinion. And the light" by Junot Diaz, comes a blazing portrait of one woman's rise from courtesan to world-renowned diva.

Lilliet Berne is a sensation of the Paris Opera, a legendary soprano with every accolade except an original role, every singer's chance at immortality. When one is finally offered to her, she realizes with alarm that the libretto is based on a hidden piece of her past. Only four could have betrayed her: one is dead, one loves her, one wants to own her. And one, she hopes, never thinks of her at all. As she mines her memories for clues, she recalls her life as an orphan who left the American frontier for Europe and was swept up into the glitzy, gritty world of Second Empire Paris. To survive, she transformed herself from hippodrome rider to courtesan, from empress' maid to debut singer, all the while weaving a complicated web of romance, obligation, and political intrigue.

Featuring a cast of characters drawn from history, The Queen of the Night follows Lilliet as she moves closer to the truth behind the mysterious opera and the role that could secure her reputation - or destroy her with the secrets it reveals.

©2016 Alexander Chee (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Interesting historical novel

Was a good book to fall asleep with and able to pick up on the plot easily.

BEST READER EVER!

Great Story. A bit verbose but a good read none the less. The narrator, however, makes this audiobook phenominal. Definitely worth the credit.

Not my typical choice

Excellent listen. Great narrator and kept me listening. Clueless as to most of the historical figures represented, but this did not take away from my enjoyment.

Beautiful!

Great story! A real "page turner". I loved every minute! Very dramatic, also very cool historical fiction.

The Queen Of The Frost

I thought this book would never end, and I adore historical dramas. Told by the title character as a passive narrator, we never get a chance to care about Liliette. The author is determined to fit in as many real-life characters as possible, but none of them are drawn to life with much passion. If you love opera, huge chunks of chapters are devoted to recounting the plots of different operas in great detail, but they never truly tie in to Liliet's life in a meaningful or profound way. I was shocked at how dispassionately this tale was told, because it looked so exciting on paper. But it's as cold as ice, and the ending was far too calculated and pat to be satisfying. The lead is loosely based on the life of Jenny Lind, and I think that if you like this type of novel, skip this one and just go straight to a bio of Lind or the Countess De Castiglione instead.

Thought it would never end

It was just way too drawn out and the ending was very anticlimactic. .unsympathetic characters

An epic for opera aficionados

What did you love best about The Queen of the Night?

I most enjoyed the historical aspects of the book. The book does not shy away from history and gives vivid detail about the Franco-Prussian war.

Would you recommend The Queen of the Night to your friends? Why or why not?

I would hesitantly recommend this book. It is a good story but the listener/reader must be willing to commit quite a bit of time and brain power to enjoying this book.

Which scene was your favorite?

When she sings and rides horses at the circus.

If you could rename The Queen of the Night, what would you call it?

The unbreakable falcon.

Great book until ending.

Loved all 19 hours but the last 7 minutes were disappointing. Still would recommend book.

Interesting but detached and long

Would you try another book from Alexander Chee and/or Lisa Flanagan?

not sure

Do you think The Queen of the Night needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

no

Any additional comments?

The story was interesting but too long. I never felt truly connected to the main character.

Pretty good

interesting story, could have been edited down some as it bogged down at times. The author was clearly enchanted with his heroine, however they never really gave us reason to agree.