Written on Silk

by Linda Lee Chaikin

Book Overview

A royal wedding masks the unfolding of Catherine de Medici's murderous plot against the Huguenots. Will any of the Huguenot princes survive? Life and death rest with two people ...Rachelle Dushane-Macquinet, couturiere from a celebrated silk-making family, has come back to the Louvre Palais to create the royal wedding gown. Recruited into the evil Queen Mother's ring of women spies, she must use her wits to preserve her honor--and the lives of her...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0310263018
• ISBN13: 9780310263012
• Release Date: February 2007
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Moving and Well-Told... For the Most Part

Don't let the quintessential run-of-the-mill Christian fiction cover and title fool you - this book is no ordinary "inspirational novel." This is the second in Chaikin's Silk House trilogy, a series written about a young Huguenot woman named Rachelle Macquinet, who lives during the sixteenth century. Never heard of a Huguenot? They were French Protestants who had responded to the Reformation, particularly under the influence of John Calvin from Geneva, by changing their allegiance from Catholicism. They faced much persecution from a Catholic monarchy. This is the moving, well-told account of one family's struggle to withstand the persecution and intrigue surrounding their life in France. The only reason I don't give the novel five stars is because the grammar is stilted and faulty at times, and the story can get overly complicated with too many subplots, confusing character names, and unfamiliar French words. However, those are minor issues - especially since some of the best fiction works in history are complicated as well. I wholeheartedly recommend this excellent and biblically sound book.

Another great addition to the Silk House series!

Murder, intrigue, betrayal in the palaces of 16th century France. Catherine De Medici, the ruthless queen regent, plots to maintain her power while trying to rid the influence of the Guise brothers who are controlling her son, King Francis II. Rachelle is caught in her path while being the maid of honour to Catherine's daughter, Margo. Linda did an excellent job on the research of the time period and the emotions and the plotting of both the historical characters and fictional characters are well-written and believeable. And now there is an announcement that there are going to be four books in this series. The story is building up...and we need to find out what happens next for Fabien and Rachelle.

A moving portrayal of French History...

I really liked this book, but am now sitting in extreme anticipation for the third book, which doesn't come out till December!! I have to agree somewhat with the other comment. This book does leave you hanging quite a bit, and I would probably also recommend waiting to read this with the third book; however, this series is supposed to have FOUR books, not three, so you might be waiting a while before you're completely satisfied. With that said, it is no wonder that the plot is built up so much in this book because a lot of things are still going to happen in the next two books. This book really moved me, and helped me appreciate what so many have gone through for freedom to worship as they wish. I also love the continuation of the relationship between Fabien and Rachelle, and the addition of James Hudson and Bertrand, though I am a little skeptical of what happens at the end, and sometimes Rachelle's behavior towards Fabien is rather maddening. Overall, though, I would say this book is thoroughly enjoyable, and I will enjoy rereading the first two books when the others come out. I also haven't minded learning a little French along the way. Linda does better with the French terms in the second book, in not using them quite as much, and using terms that are easier to figure out(because they're very similar to the English terms for the same things). I definitely recommend this book!