Milady by Laura L. Sullivan Review!

She was the greatest nemesis of d'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers--but Milady de Winter was so much more than just a villain in their swashbuckling adventures.

I've gone by many names though you know me as Milady de Winter: Villainess, seductress, a secondary player in The Three Musketeers story.

But we all know history was written by men, and they so often get things wrong.

So before you cast judgment, let me tell you of how a girl from the countryside became the most feared woman in all of Europe. A target for antipathy, a name whispered in fear or loathing.

I don't need you to like me. I just need to be free.

It's finally time I tell my own story. The truth isn't tidy or convenient, but it's certainly more interesting.

Laura's deft, thrilling, and feminist take on a classic villainess is a perfect tale for our era.

For more than 170 years since the publication of Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers in 1844, Milady de Winter has reigned as one of the great female villains of literature. Cunning, remorseless, and ruthlessly vindictive, Milady moves throughout Dumas' epic novel with such a coldblooded evil that the reader assumes, like the famous fable of the scorpion, it's in her nature. But there is more to Milady's tale. 

For the first time, hear Milady's story in her own words.

Goodreads

Laura L. Sullivan is the author of more than 40 fiction and non-fiction books for adults and kids. She lives in Florida where she likes to bike, hike, kayak, hunt fossils, and practice Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
https://lauraleesullivan.com/

My Review
Milady by Laura L. Sullivan is one of those books that the reader has a hard time putting down. I like many others have watched the Three Musketeer movies. I always thought that they were awesome, three friends going around and taking care of the bad guys. I don't remember anything about a woman assassin who takes on the Musketeers.

As the story goes one, it starts in 1628 In Paris. The first sentence "The things a woman has to do to make her way in this world" Clarice, a young widow finds herself in a whorehouse as part of a house of prostitutes run by Mrs.Fox. Thus starts the story of the life of Milady de Winter. We learn in alternating chapters the beginning of Milady's spy life. Spying for Cardinal Richelieu puts her in danger over and over. How did she become the most feared female assassin? What was her role with The Three Musketeers? She was taken from her father for his own gains. Sent to a woman who teaches her the things she needs to know to become a successful assassin for the Cardinal.

Written beautifully, in different times of her life, her loves and hopes and also her losses. It is a historical adventure of a strong, beautiful woman who is fearless and who was treated badly by  D’Artagnan. This story is told in two different timelines, 10 years apart, with her doing things that were more often than not dangerous. The book is true to the time. Very well researched. The only thing I can say is that the author has made The Three Musketeers to be villainous and all-around bad boys. I remember them to be more for the downtrodden and very romantic. Didn't find that here. Does it matter? Not to me. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it! 

I loved this book, read it in a few sittings and I received the book for review purposes!