The King's Daughter

The finest alternate history ever, lighthearted and wise - a luminous, radiant novel
A dazzling and spirited evocation of the passions, intrigues and preconceptions of the age: an enchanting slice of what-if historical speculation * KIRKUS *
Successfully melds fantasy and alternate history to create a charming, well-written and meticulously researched novel * FANTASY BOOK REVIEW *

McIntyre has done her historical homework, as is evident in a superbly realised setting, and she executes the plot with superior skill. A splendid historical fantasy that shows sf star McIntyre admirably opening new territory

A wonderful book! Adventure, love, history, magic - it’s an engrossing story with magnificent characters, balanced perfectly on the edge between

The story thrives in the details … gives it a thematic richness and resonance that made me care deeply about the story

McIntyre vividly re-creates a Versailles poised on the cusp between alchemy and modern science. Her imaginings enliven her history with wonder, but, as in the best fantasy, they serve less to dazzle by their inventiveness than to illuminate brilliantly real-world truths - here, humanity’s responses, base and noble, when confronting the unknown

Fans of McIntyre, or simply alternate history fans and romantics who love an intelligent, compassionate heroine will devour this book, yelling in outrage at the men who belittle our heroine and sighing with delight when she finds love

One of the most enjoyable and well-written novels I have read in a long time. The novel has got splendid characterisation, a tightly-woven plot, and a fascinating story. It’s also obviously meticulously researched, and full of intricate details about the historical era in which it takes place. Read the book. It is a marvellous, fascinating, uplifting experience

An excellent alternative history

Vonda N. McIntyre (1948-2019) was a highly acclaimed writer of science fiction and fantasy, born in Kentucky. In her early life she lived in the Netherlands and Poland before settling in Seattle. As well as writing, she worked as a biologist in the field of genetics. She won her first Nebula Award for the novelette that became part of Dreamsnake; the novel itself won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. In addition she wrote a number of Star Trek and Star Wars novels and novelisations (she was responsible for giving Sulu his first name!) as well as several volumes of stories. Her historical fantasy The Moon and the Sun, set in the court of King Louis XIV of France, was made into the film The King’s Daughter, starring Fan Bingbing and Pierce Brosnan as the Sun King. The Vonda N. McIntyre Memorial Scholarship has been established to enable women writers and writers of colour to attend the Clarion West Writers Workshop.

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