Having enjoyed Anya Bergmans writing in The Witches of Vardo, and been intrigued by the synopsis for this novel, I started this ARC with eager anticipation. It should be the sort of novel I would get lost in. Unfortunately on this occasion I did not feel invested in the story, and found the level of description unnecessary. After a slow, and slightly confused start due to the time jumps, I never reached a point where I was rooting for the characters, or felt particularly interested in the outcome (which was rather predictable).

Having said that, this is my personal opinion, and perhaps at another time I'd have enjoyed it more. Seeing other early reviews I know I'm in the minority, and on publication I'm sure others will enjoy this historical fiction story. I am grateful to netgalley, publisher and author for the oppurtunity to read this ARC.

What an absolute joy this book was to read, this has instantly gone to my favourite book of the year!

This story covered themes of love, loss, betrayal and belonging each with such heart. I felt each emotion deeply as the character felt it. I enjoyed the dual perspectives from Lenormand and Caitlin, and how the story unfolded with the teachings of the different kind of tarot readings leading us to the next part of the story. I have always been intrigued by tarot but knew little of it myself so greatly enjoyed learning of each through Caitlin's diary entries.

The relationship between Lenormand and Caitlin was beautifully written. Caitlin's character development throughout was thoroughly enjoyable, and I found myself riding the waves of her emotions and split loyalties. I enjoyed the mystical elements of the story and Lenormand's guidance from the spirits. I also loved the true historical elements that were woven in with the fictional and felt this was very well done. I enjoyed reading of the French Revolution through Lenormand and Caitlin's experiences, offering a peek behind the curtain to Marie Antoinette's experience during this time.
The descriptions of both Paris and Ireland were thoroughly immersive and helped bring the whole book together into a truly thrilling read. I feel this book would appeal to any fans of historical fiction and mysticism.

I cannot wait to have a physical copy of this book and read again with the tarot illustrations included!

Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK for the advanced e-copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

A deeply researched historical fiction novel and a really unique take on the French Revolution. That said, I think I knew too much about the time period to find it gripping - since there's a lot of explanation - and I really struggled with the 'telling not showing' the author does, skipping ahead months and having the characters say 'I felt X' instead of diving into their heads. I found it hard to really engage with them as characters since it felt like we skimmed the surface. That said, the idea is really interesting and I did enjoy it.

I love historical fiction with a magical twist, which means this book should have been perfect for me. However, there was something about it that just fell flat, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

The writing was beautiful, but I found the beginning a little confusing as we were skipping back and forth in time. The diary was a good device to keep the two voices distinct and giving it a reason to go from first person to third person, but Caitlin didn’t convincingly sound like an Irish kitchen maid in my opinion. I know Reilly tutored her, but she sounded very educated and not all that different to El.

Part of the problem was likely that the author was trying to cover far too much time in a single book. Huge swaths of time were skipped and events summarised in a sentence. I did not believe Caitlin’s and El’s affections for each other, as their developing feelings were skimmed over. Much more time was spent building up Caitlin and Reilly. He came across as an awful and manipulative person, and Caitlin was not very likeable either as she was stringing both him and El along. To be honest, none of the characters were likeable — the prose and the idea were good enough to keep me reading, but I didn’t feel like I was rooting for anyone.

It was also hard for me to believe in anyone’s motivations, particularly Reilly’s at the end. Sacrificing himself felt very much out of character and just a device to get the boy out of prison.

The real life connection between the Irish and French struggle for independence was fascinating, and something that I did not know about. However, the supernatural element to the plot felt more like a shortcut to squeeze in information at times. The ending was rather disappointing, and I felt that it was too abrupt. I’m not expecting a happy ending given the subject matter, but the story feels a little incomplete to me. I also did not enjoy the parts where the tarot spreads were explained and felt they could have been cut without losing anything from the novel.

Overall, it was an interesting premise but not quite the one for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. All opinions in this review are my own.

Thank you to Anya Bergman, Bonnier Books UK | Manilla Press, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Anya Bergman can do no wrong! Another stunning, transportive historical fiction. Full review to come!

This had all the elements I should love. Magic! Irish pagan goddesses! French revolution! Irish independence! The description hooked me in immediately and the two heroines were fantastically flawed. It felt well researched and covered an interesting and lesser known part of history, which was very satisfying. The tarot spread descriptions were beautifully written and imaginative.

Unfortunately I found the rest of the execution lacking (no pun intended). The dialogue and exposition were clunky, with some details (e.g. Caitlin's mysterious future, Adelaide's unofficial title) repeated over and over again. On the flip side, crucial plot points (like El's inexplicable loyalty to the queen and the instant connection between the two women) were explained in a mere sentence or two and by a supernatural occurrence. Similarly, we zoomed past lots of potential plot holes by virtue of El's spirits telling her something or the Morrigan appearing and taking care of it.

Both the French revolution and Ireland's long struggle for independence are incredibly complicated and can make for unsatisfying story arcs by themselves. At all times the author treated them with respect and well researched detail. The terror post Revolution felt real and the Ireland parts never fell into cliche. However, I felt the fantastical elements were used as an unsatisfying shortcut for both the plot and the relationships in what tried to be a richly layered and complex story. Overall the impression I got was that it needed one more revision to polish it up.

‘The Tarot Reader of Versailles’ follows two young women has they navigate life during the political turmoil of eighteenth-century Paris undergoing revolution. Caitlin, alone in Paris after leaving Ireland to seek the man she loves as well as a way to oust the British from her home country, meets Lenormand, a young woman with a gift for Tarot and connections to the French royal family. Together, with Caitlin’s own palm reading talents, the women become wildly successful, but all the while become entangled in increasingly terrifying and deadly circumstances. Who can they trust as all around them fall? Each other, surely?

This is a long book and I enjoyed the tale from start to finish. It reminded me of ‘The Embroidered Book’ by Kate Heartfield, set at the same time and featuring Marie Antoinette, so it was nice to be back in a time and place that I have read about before.

As ever, the first half of the novel felt longer than the second, and in the first few pages I did find myself having to go back to check the dates that things were taking place and also the names of the characters, which changed frequently in the early chapters. Once I had been reading for longer, both of these became a lot easier to navigate.

I can’t say I particularly warmed to either Caitlin or Lenormand. In fact, it’s possible the opposite is true. As the story progressed, I began to like them less. Without giving too much away, I think this was because of Caitlin’s duplicitousness and Lenormand’s stubbornness. That being said, I don’t subscribe to the view that characters must be likeable for a book to be enjoyable, so my review score still stands!

I did feel that some of the mystery was lost by sharing that Lenormand knew she would live a long life from her reading of her cards; this took some of the interest in the conclusion away for me. I was intrigued, however, after finishing the book, to learn from the author’s note that Lenormand was a real person.

I have previously enjoyed the author’s first novel, ‘The Witches of Vardo’, which I would recommended above this, but the writing in both is extremely vivid and I will look forward to see whatever Anya Bergman writes next!

Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read ‘The Tarot Reader of Versailles’ ahead of its publication.

An amazing insight into the French Revolution. I had no idea about the Irish connection for Irish independence.
This was absolutely fascinating. A real gem of a book combining history myth and fantasy. The book had me hooked from the first chapter. Each chapter a different characters story had me hanging on a cliff and reading late into the night to catch up on the previous chapters story of the heroine and interspersed with tarot card spreads and their meanings adds a whole other dimension to the book. I would have given it five stars but I felt it was a little longwinded and probably could have had my attention more if it had been a little shorter but that could just be me as I don't like books to be too long. Looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. I read on my kindle for NetGalley. With thanks to the author publisher and NetGalley.

Check out this book!

Thank you NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for an advance reader copy of the Tarot Reader of Versailles. This book captivated me from the outset, it is full of love, allegiances, treachery and betrayal and it made me think about how much control we have over our own fate and destiny.

I engaged with the main characters and really enjoyed the tarot theme throughout this story. The book is set during the time of the French Revolution and it is the first book I’ve ever read that is set during this period. I love books that make the past come alive and this book really did that for me. From the opulence of the French Court, the poverty on the streets of Paris, to the wild beauty of Ireland this book really captivated me. It is inspired by the true story of Lenormand too which makes it even more interesting. Ironically, the plotting to overthrow the French monarchy and create equality between all men really did mean all men, whilst the women were kept in their place and still not seen as equal.

The blurb:
“Two women. An extraordinary power. An explosive bond.
In a time of revolution, their fates will lie in the turn of a card . . .

It is the early days of the French Revolution and, on the streets of Paris, terror reigns.

Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand is a young woman with an extraordinary power - through her tarot cards, she can commune with the dead, revolutionaries and the aristocracy alike seeking her out to divine their fortunes. Lenormand is loyal to Marie Antoinette and the dauphin of France, but she has seen the queen's fate in the cards and must take care that it doesn't become her own.

Then, one fateful day, she comes across Cait, a scullery maid from Ireland who has travelled to Paris for love. Cait has powers too - she can read people's pasts as Lenormand reads their futures. The two young women share an electrifying connection, drawn to each other's abilities. But Cait is hiding something. What will she do - and who will she betray - to bring revolution to the shores of her beloved Ireland too?

Inspired by the astonishing true story of Marie-Anne Adelaide Lenormand, The Tarot Reader of Versailles is a sweeping, powerful novel where allegiances, betrayals and even fate itself can be forged or broken by the turn of a card . . .”


REVIEWED ON FABLE, GOODREADS AND WATERSTONES https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-tarot-reader-of-versailles/anya-bergman/9781786582560#write-review

My dislike for long books over about 400 pages is well known and so books are always at a slight disadvantage before I've even started them. However, not long before this, I read a 500 page book in one day because it was so good, so I know it can be done, it just has to warrant being that long. And sadly, this fell victim to this dislike. But first the positives.

I can really appreciate the level of historical research that has gone into this, it's very thorough and really helps bring everything to life. There's no doubting her love for the period and for history, and this passion is clear to see on the page.

I didn't know anything about the French/Irish connection, and so it was enjoyable learning about something new. It is a historical epic yes, but there's fantasy elements, dark supernatural touches, the odd flash of romance.

However, I found it a difficult read. There's lots of characters, lots of settings, lots of stories going on that I struggled to find the main one, and I think that's my main issue, there's too much going on, and I feel perhaps it would have been easier to read if she'd focussed on a couple of storylines rather than spreading herself too thinly.

The characters were interesting enough and full of layers, and I do love reading about women during a time when men were seen as superior. But I think the downfall here is there are too many characters and so I couldn't focus on one or two of them, and some felt superfluous to the story. But I do think, overall, the characters are where the strength lies in this book.

The fear I have about long books is evident here. I feel it rambles at times and ends up being complicated for no reason. So I feel if it was tightened up a bit, the long stretched-out bits culled slightly, it would be a much stronger read. But I did enjoy it none the less, and I have a copy of her previous book The Witches of Vardo, which I am excited to read as that's much shorter.

One of those beautifully tragic stories, set in a time of suffering and glamour, revolves around two women with gifts that will help shape a nation.

Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand can talk to the dead, hear them, accept their messages, and advise those who come to her through her tarot cards. Through this, she works her way from a penniless orphan to become one of the elite, visiting Versailles often to give readings to the Austrian Queen, Marie Antoinette. Then Cait, an impoverished young Irish woman, comes into her path, and Lenormand sees her as special because Cait can read palms and see into the heart of someone. As the two rise to such heights in Paris, revolution is brewing, and the two women must choose a side.

This is one of those beautiful stories set against the brutal and dark background of the French Revolution. It is a story of love and loyalty in all its incarnations and how two women are pushed together and pulled apart by the whims of men. Bergman's writing takes you back to that terrible time but guides you through the good and the bad of what humans are capable of.

Its the 16th April 1798 and the dying embers of the revolution. A Paris bookshop has closed for the day. Lenormand waits. She is dressed for her audience in a gown theatrically decorated with Egyptian deities, she makes a stunning spectacle. What she does is dangerous, but she has important clients who keep her safe. What is all the secrecy? What hides behind the inconspicuous bookshop ?
What Lenormand hides has many names. Sorcerer, enchantress, sibyl.... though the Tarot cards, she hears the dead and predicts the future.. During her first reading of the evening, she is joined, inexplicably by a spirit.. Marie Antoinette, the dead queen...
In Ireland Cait, a humble housemaid is blessed by a fey in the midst of a storm. From then, her future was changed. Her destiny was not to stay in Ireland, but to go to France, eventually driven there by cruelty and love. Like Lenormand, Cait had the power to read people, but unlike Lenormand she does not see people's future, but their past..
In Paris, the women cross paths and become a formidable force. But politics, revolution and betrayal are written in both their cards.

I loved The Witches of Vardo so my hopes were high for this. This turned out to be another historical masterpiece inspired by a true story.
Sumptuous and lavish. A story of fey, mystery and ancient magic, of power, danger, strength and love.

Thank you so very much to netgalley Bonnier Books and Anya Bergman for allowing me to read this gorgeous book ahead of it's publication on 19th June 2025

Suse

Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand has an extraordinary gift. Through the use of her tarot cards, she can commune with the dead. Despite her staunch loyalty to Marie Antoinette and the dauphin of France, Lenormand's reputation is such that both the members of the aristocracy and the revolution flock to her to seek out their fortune.

On the reverse side of the coin lies Caitlin Molloy. A scullery maid from Ireland drawn to the beauty of Paris for love, Cait has powers too, although she chooses to conceal these.

A blossoming attachment against the backdrop of bloody revolution, how with the lives of Lenormand and Cait unravel whilst beset by tragedy, betrayal and romance?

I have been a devoted fan of Anya Bergman since I was lucky enough to have early access to her outstanding previous work, The Witches of Vardø. After an evening of listening to the author discuss her work in my hometown of Edinburgh and getting my hardback signed, I knew that I would be a lifelong fan from that point onwards.

The Tarot Reader of Versailles is a remarkable tale. Gloriously enthralling with deeply compelling characters, Bergman's narrative is as rich and captivating as the halls of Versailles itself.

While there were fantasy-based elements sprinkled throughout this novel with the powers of our two heroines, do not allow yourself to fall ignorant of how masterful the author is in crafting a unique historical world. Built with tension, drama, and most importantly, believability, it often felt as though I was stepping into the period each time I began to read.

Another outstanding success from Anya Bergman, I will be eagerly purchasing this when it comes out in printed edition.

This was historical fiction at its best, with a sprinkle of mystic and female love. Charting the early days of the French revolution, throughout the height of the Terror to moments beyond, it was a delight to read. Don't go into this thinking its fantasy - there are fantastical elements, but the focus here is the setting, the world and the way in which these two very different female characters try and chart their own destinies.

I knew nothing about the French/Irish connection, and it is always a joy to uncover some hidden part of history, so that was enjoyable to me. The beauty of both Ireland and France are captured within these pages, and the setting is certainly a strong point.

The ending was the weakest part for me, I'm not sure I liked how abruptly it ended or that it didn't really wrap up the stories, but then again, it was a good place to pause, a moment to catch breath amid all the horror and Terror that had happened. So much blood had been split, so much lost and gained, and throughout it all, the love these characters have - for their Queen, for Ireland, for family, found and blood. Love outlasts it all - I just wish we could have spent more time with them, that they got the reward they deserved after everything that had happened.

Rich, atmospheric, and utterly compelling, The Tarot Reader of Versailles by Anya Bergman is a masterfully woven tale of fate, love, and rebellion. Set against the turbulent backdrop of the French Revolution, this book conjures the opulence of Versailles and the charged streets of Paris with dazzling detail.

Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand, a young woman with the extraordinary ability to commune with the dead through tarot, finds herself in a precarious position as both revolutionaries and aristocrats seek her guidance. Though loyal to Marie Antoinette and the dauphin, Lenormand has glimpsed the queen’s grim future in her cards, and must tread carefully if she is to survive.

The arrival of Cait, an Irish scullery maid with her own mystical gift for reading the past, brings a spark of hope and friendship. Their bond is immediate and deeply felt, but Cait harbours secrets and a fierce loyalty to her homeland, setting the stage for an emotional and political reckoning that neither can avoid.

Anya Bergman's writing is sumptuous, her prose lush without ever becoming overwrought. She brings both the grandeur and the decay of the period vividly to life, while weaving in the magic of myth and the mystery of tarot. The emotional weight of the story is balanced beautifully with moments of joy and wonder, making this a truly immersive read.

The Tarot Reader of Versailles is a spellbinding story of loyalty, sacrifice, and the powerful ties that bind us, even when history conspires to tear us apart. I was utterly transported and did not want it to end.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This was a beautifully told story of two women during the French Revolution, from both their perspectives. Really interesting information about the Revolution, but also about tarot reading, so it was a real winner for me. Fascinating, good characters, excellent pace. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review of the book.

A beautifully written historical novel with an original and compelling look at this bloody era.

I LOVED this one! I found the two voices equally engaging and thought they were masterfully layered. I hadn't previously been aware of the links between the fight for Irish independence and the French Revolution, so that was wonderful to learn about, and sent me scurrying for some background history.

Both Caitlin and Lenormand were sympathetic and believable protagonists, and I thought the two settings of Paris/Versailles and rural south-west Ireland were persuasively and elegantly conjured.

I thought the love and attraction between the two women and the way this became at odds with their personal and political differences created such a brilliant tension, which kept me guessing till the last page. Overall the pacing was very swift, which kept the story moving and never stagnating, but at times we moved so fast that events were recounted in a way that felt like summary - but that's the smallest of niggles.

Huge congratulations to the author, and many thanks to the publisher for sharing the ms on Netgalley in return for this honest review. I'm going to seek out the author's other book immediately.

A sumptuous and complex history of women’s revenge
—
The accusation of ‘witch’ has had more force in the past than now, but in whatever time it’s a condemnation of women’s powers and knowledge, of women in patriarchal societies and how a woman taking charge of her destiny is treated as anathema. In Bergman’s return, Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand, the eponymous Tarot Reader, must navigate the early days of the French Revolution, relying on the secrets she knows and the people who don’t want her to tell. Drawn to Paris for love, Caitlin Molloy seeks the woman shown to her by the Morrigan, carefully shielding her own powers from strangers and allies. As politics, violence and dark plots revolve around them, Lenormand meets Cait, united in their secret powers, powers that might save them or damn them, depending on whose loyalties they depend. Will Lenormand and Cait get out of this alive, and what of their growing relationship?

Sumptuous in its history, with two capable leads, the plot is a complex mix of vivid present, tense past and uncertain future, which some might find challenging. I found it a breath of fresh air in historical fiction, albeit with a fantasy tinge, where historical fiction has its great writers as well as its everyday ones: in this novel, Bergman makes the reader work to keep the storylines in order, which is one of the few distractions. What Bergman also brings, however, is a practitioner’s eye for Tarot, which makes this novel sing, and the mix of Egyptian and Irish mythology is another unique point in this lovely book.

One to savour: four and a half stars.

Set during the fall of Marie Antoinette and the French revolution, The Tarot Reader of Versailles is an interesting read about the different factions and the Terror that followed the deaths of the monarchy and particularly focuses on the women’s stories from that period of history which I liked. The first chapters switch between French Lenormand, who is the eponymous Tarot reader (and based on a real person) and the Irish maid and revolutionary Caitlin. This switching made it harder to connect with or gain insight into either character and this continued for me throughout the book: I wanted to care more about these central characters; to care about their losses and motivations. There is a lot about Tarot card reading and a supernatural theme both of which added little to my enjoyment of the book. The writing often ‘tells’ what is happening so rather lacked in a sensory , emotional or immersive reader experience. In some ways this is quite a straightforward plot-driven book and it has many of the elements that would make a strong read. But I found it hard to engage with and lost interest in the characters early on. I always want to finish a novel and I struggled a bit with this one.

3.75
I would say this book is a historical fiction with a dash of fantasy/paranormal because of the Tarot reading, talking to spirits etc, however it is loosely based on real people and events that happened. This story is set during the French revolution and explores the links to Irish also seeking independence and equal rights. Before reading this book I had no idea that there was any link between the french revolution and Ireland so I feel like this book taught me a little and I am now interested in reading a bit more about the history of both aspects.
In terms of the writing of story for maybe the first third or so of the book I was getting confused about who was who regarding the main two female characters (I had to write a little post it to keep with me telling me identifying points about each lady). It is an aspect of the story that these two characters are very intertwined though so perhaps this is intentional to emphasise their connection. I did also get a little confused by some of the time jumps - some chapters are like glimpses into a year or so ahead and then we go back to the original timeline, but when these happened it sort of felt like I'd missed a chunk of story until it was explained later on in the book.
Overall I do enjoy this authors writing and the historical elements of the story without finding the story too complicated to follow.