Following on from the bestselling The Burning Chambers, Kate Mosse’s The City of Tears is the second thrilling historical epic in The Burning Chambers Series.
The City of Tears is a historical fictional tale, based on events known to have happened between 1562 and 1598, the time of the Wars of Religion in France. And it is epic in every way. The book carries you back to 16th century Paris, Chartres, London and Amsterdam. And, the reader is drawn deep into a tale of love, revenge, persecution and loss.
Review of The City of Tears
The City of Tears is a sumptuous story: love, honour, passion, betrayal, loss, revenge and mourning. Kate’s writing style is beautifully elegant with her signature style of rich detail from start to finish which helps you paint a picture of medieval Europe in your head. Travelling between France and Amsterdam, the story sweeps you along, the abundant descriptions of places and events, of emotions and characters, allow you to imagine you are there and living every tense moment with the two main characters Minou and Piet. In Paris for a Royal Wedding intended to bring peace to France after a decade of of religious wars. But within days of the marriage, thousands will lie dead in the streets and Minou’s family torn apart. Kate Mosse is a story teller extraordinaire
There are lots of small plots that appear among the larger story itself. It really makes the book a page turner. And, although politics and history isn’t everyone’s cup of tea when it comes to sitting down with a good book, the gripping story pulls you in. It holds you tight, through the suspense of what is happening, especially to Minou’s daughter, an adventurous and fiery little girl who wanders off alone in the middle of a trip to Paris for a Royal Wedding.
There is also a slightly darker side to the story, with Vidal, a relic hunter, an enemy who haunts the lives of Minou and Piet. Throughout the story Minou’s perseverance and courage is always there. Quite often her own resilience takes her by surprise yet allows her to carry out the most awful of tasks with a sense of pride. You get a sense of really knowing the character.
The City of Tears had me hooked from start to end. I absolutely loved the descriptive writing and rich historical facts as well as the genuine love story between Minou and Piet. Feeling hidden below the surface and behind the politics, their story waits to be found and to carry the reader into their lives…
The City of Tears, the second of the four novels in The Burning Chambers Series, will be published 19 January 2021 and is available for pre-order. Kate Mosse suggested that we recommend you pre-order from small and independent bookshops to give them – and our high streets – much needed support in these challenging times.
Read our interview with Kate Mosse
