You may not know Marie-Louise Christophe but once you have met her, you won’t forget her. Vanessa Riley’s historical novel feels timely and relevant, commemorating a time when Black women were queens.” — Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Full of intrigue, scandal, and romance…Highlights the life of a notable Black woman, Queen Marie-Louise of Haiti.” — Good Morning America
"A sweeping look at the political, social, and romantic intrigue surrounding Haiti’s first and only queen. Riley’s depiction is richly imagined and wholly original." — Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Palace
"Queen of Exiles is the riveting account of Marie-Louise Christophe, Haiti's first and only Queen. Bold, ambitious, historically sound and beautifully told." — Sadeqa Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of The House of Eve
"Fans of Regency romances and stories of strong Black women will find Haiti’s Queen Marie-Louise irresistible." — Kirkus Reviews
"Riley’s inventive and vivid depiction of a vital piece of Haitian history is well researched and absorbing. Queen Marie-Louise will enchant readers." — Library Journal
"From the very first page, I was drawn into the Kingdom of Hayti and into the life of Marie-Louise Christophe. This book is majestic from the characters that were so well written it seemed as if 1 could feel each one's heartbeat, to the travel between the decades where I felt the joy of her triumphs as the queen, to the pain of her exile. Queen of Exiles is one novel that you will never want to put down. It should be required reading." — Victoria Christopher Murray, New York Times bestselling author of The Personal Librarian
"A gripping tale of triumph and tragedy. . . The immensely talented Vanessa Riley traces the little-known yet crucially important life of this real-life, nineteenth-century woman, immersing readers in Queen Louise's inspiring history. A tour de force!" — Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The Mitford Affair
“Riveting and transformative…evocative and immersive...by turns vibrant and bold and wise…discovering Dorothy’s story is a singular pleasure.” — New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice) on Island Queen
“Dazzling...compelling...Riley combines in-depth research with passionate and frank storytelling, The experiences and achievements of powerful women, especially those whose lives began among the enslaved, are too often overlooked, and Riley’s richly engaging novel is a ringing reminder of how much we miss when these stories remain untold.” — Booklist on Island Queen
“This book is not only a one-sitting read, it’s a slice of history that needs to be told. Utterly brilliant, powerful, and inspiring.” — Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author, on Sister Mother Warrior
“An impeccably researched, powerfully reimagined tale of sacrifice and success, love and selfishness, and war and independence...Riley’s storytelling skills shine.” — Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sister Mother Warrior
“Sweeping, powerful...Riley has written a well-researched gripping novel about an enslaved people gaining freedom, with the emotional connections among the main players as its beating heart.” — Library Journal (starred review) on Sister Mother Warrior
2023-05-09
Haiti's only queen gets the royal treatment in this novel of race, revolution, and female resistance.
Like Netflix’s glittering take on the Bridgerton novels, this provocative story spotlights Black aristocrats navigating the class system and color lines during the Regency era. Riley, who also wrote about indomitable women and the Haitian Revolution in Sister Mother Warrior (2022), applies her talent for creating compelling, history-inspired characters to the story of Marie-Louise Christophe, crowned queen of Haiti in 1810 following the Haitian Revolution. For 10 years, she and her husband, King Henry I, rule the Northern Hemisphere’s only free Black nation until their kingdom is overthrown and Henry commits suicide. Marie-Louise and her two daughters take the family jewels and flee to England, where they hope to live in comfort as royal refugees. Against the backdrop of Haiti’s tumultuous history and the growing global disgust with slavery, Riley unfurls Marie-Louise's story in a languid and captivating style as the exiled queen reclaims her family’s vast fortune, tirelessly protects her daughters, and champions her husband's legacy. In flashback chapters set in Haiti, Riley contrasts Henry’s obsession with power and wealth with Marie-Louise's sensible focus on doing what's best for the Haitian people. In exile in England and on the European continent, Riley’s engaging characters pull us into the world of privileged royals, their stately homes, breathtaking wealth, and, deliciously, their romances and illicit affairs. Acutely aware of the challenges facing a Black queen, Riley deftly builds a portrait of a proud woman who commits her life to showing the world “that it was possible to be royal, Black, and have a happily-ever-after life.”
Fans of Regency romances and stories of strong Black women will find Haiti’s Queen Marie-Louise irresistible.