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.

I was much looking forward to reading this, having loved" The Witches Of Vardo. " My reaction was more mixed to this novel. The dual narration, one in the first person and one in the third seemed a little strange. It implied that the reader would feel a greater affinity with Caitlin than Lanormande but in fact I much preferred the chapters written from Lanormande's point of view. Personal choice of course! The story of how these women came to the court of Marie Antoinette was engaging but I felt that there was too much going on. The sub-plot of Caitlin working to regain Ireland's independence could have been a story in its own right. Additionally I felt there was nothing to gain from the parts which explained the tarot cards.
This all sounds very negative. I did certainly enjoy the first part of the story and felt the writing was rich and evocative.

I do appreciate being sent an ARC. Thank you

This book made me realise how little I actually know about the French Revolution and the history of rebellion in Ireland, and has left me determined to learn more.

At first, the conflicting timelines and POVs had me confused, but they became more and more intertwined as the story progressed.

I felt for the women of the revolution, who supported their men only to realise that the French Revolution was only interested in the rights of men, and white men at that.

The tarot played a really strong supporting tole in this story of uprising, espionage and love. At its core, it is a tale of two women with split loyalties, but real love for each other.

The ending felt somewhat abrupt, but not unsatisfying.

This book is a bit if a WOW.

Set in the times of the French revolution and telling the story of two amazing women, I really loved the tarot card theme.

It is an interesting read and is based on a true story. Marie has powers with the tarot and when she meets Cait and lowly young girl with some powers of her own the story gets a touch of brilliance.

This is an immersive read and takes the reader right back to the times of Marie Antoinette, it is richly descriptive and is a book I would highly recommend..

Caitlin Molloy is not destined to be a scullery-maid in Ireland. She soon finds herself in Paris, having been taken under the wing of Lenormand - The Tarot Reader of Versailles. Caitlin is passionate about Ireland’s independence and the tarot reader is a French monarchist. Will their relationship suffer because of their opposing political views?

The novel is full of historical detail. From the decadence of the French court to the wilds of Ireland, revolution and equality is a main theme. The Egyptian roots of Tarot are also explained so that Egyptian deities mingle on the page with Irish goddesses.

I really enjoyed the imagery of the sun and moon used throughout the novel. It was an effective way of communicating the importance of the relationship between characters.

I would highly recommend The Tarot Reader of Versailles to anyone who likes their historical fiction with a side of magic and Sapphic romance. I have previously read The Witches of Vardo, for me that was the stronger book. Having said that, I thoroughly enjoyed Bergman’s second novel. It’s a tapestry of mythology and history - a very enjoyable read!

Having loved a previous book by this author I was very excited for this arc and it did not disappoint.
This was so immersive and gave you a real feeling of place and time, the characters and settings were very realistic while the pacing was excellent and kept everything moving.
I loved the story and was deeply engrossed in this for three days
5 stars from me!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

This is the best novel set in the time of the French Revolution that I have ever read, and I have read as many as I could get, so I know what I am talking about. It has it all: a psychic element and great characters, especially El and Cait, a fantastic story. I would recommend it highly and would give it more than five stars if I could.
I will watch out for further novels from this author because I think she is brilliant.