What does it mean to risk everything for faith and freedom?
Kerry Chaput’s evocative novel, Daughter of the King, follows Isabelle Colette, a young Huguenot woman whose courage and convictions propel her from the shadows of persecution in France to the uncertain promise of New France.
How could a heretic persecuted by the French king’s dragoons be chosen as a Fille du Roi (Daughter of the King) and given special privileges?
Daughter of the King tells the remarkable (fictionalized) story of Isabelle and her family, who could scarcely survive, let alone thrive, in La Rochelle in the last half of the 1600s. The novel exemplifies the fates of Protestants (known as Huguenots in France) during and after the Wars of Religion.
Throughout this novel, Isabelle must deal with many conflicts and decisions related to her religious faith, among them whether to:
• hide away at home to avoid persecution, as her mother counsels
• embrace a relationship with a sympathetic Catholic soldier
• betray her heritage and convert to Catholicism to gain a new life in New France
Chaput’s vivid characters and harrowing choices bring to life this little-known chapter of history, as Isabelle’s decisions lead to a life of adventure and an action-packed story.
Major Characters:
Isabelle Colette—protagonist, she’s a young Huguenot woman whose independent streak assists others and often endangers herself
James— Isabelle’s first love; he’s a young French soldier who, despite his Catholicism, rescues Isabelle from the dragoons
Andre—French fur trapper; his wild streak connects with Isabelle’s independence
Henri—Huguenot friend from Isabelle‘s youth in La Rochelle
Naira—young Native-American (Huron) woman with nearly incredible intuition and wisdom; she assists and bonds with Isabelle
Angelique—Isabelle’s mother; she’s a Huguenot who retreated to her home, never recovering from the losses and tragedy her family endured because of their faith
Antoinette—Isabelle’s childhood rival and later, nemesis; she haunts and challenges Isabelle
Strengths:
• Dramatic portrayal of French persecution of Huguenots
• Vivid setting details
• Well-researched historical background (about Huguenots and Filles du Roi)
Weakness:
In the opening scenes, the high tension of the persecution of Huguenots in La Rochelle is beyond my comfort zone
Content review:
This novel includes violence (including sexual violence) related to persecution and war.
My recommendation:
After the tense early scenes, I found Isabella’s adventures exciting, if sometimes hair-raising. If you favor novels from a past era about heroes persecuted for their beliefs, where survival demands both sacrifice and hope, you’ll enjoy Daughter of the King.
Reader, can you recommend a favorite novel set in France during the Wars of Religion?