Antoinette's Sister

By: Diana Giovinazzo

Narrated by: Marisa Calin

As Marie Antoinette took her last breath as queen of France in Paris, another formidable monarch - Antoinette’s dearly beloved sister, Charlotte - was hundreds of miles away, in Naples, fighting desperately to secure her release from the revolutionaries who would take her life. Little did Charlotte know, however, that her sister’s execution would change the course of history - and bring about the end of her own empire.

“You are the queen. You are the queen that Antoinette wanted to be.”

Austria 1767: Maria Carolina Charlotte - 10th daughter and one of 16 children of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria - knows her position as a Habsburg archduchess will inevitably force her to leave her home, her family, and her cherished sister, Antoinette, whose companionship she values over all else. But not yet. The Habsburg family is celebrating a great triumph: Charlotte’s older sister, Josepha, has been promised to King Ferdinand IV of Naples and will soon take her place as queen. Before she can journey to her new home, however, tragedy strikes. After visiting the family crypt, Josepha contracts smallpox and dies. Shocked, Charlotte is forced to face an unthinkable new reality: She must now marry Ferdinand in her sister’s stead.

Bereft and alone, Charlotte finds that her life in Naples is more complicated than she could ever have imagined. Ferdinand is weak and feckless, and a disastrous wedding night plunges her into despair. Her husband’s regent, Tanucci, a controlling and power-hungry man, has pushed the country to the brink of ruin. Overwhelmed, she asks her brother Leopold, now the Holy Roman Emperor, to send help - which he does in the form of John Acton, a handsome military man 20 years Charlotte’s senior who is tasked with overseeing the Navy. Now, Charlotte must gather the strength to do what her mother did before her: take control of a country.

In a time of political uprisings and royal executions and with the increasingly desperate crisis her favorite sister, Queen Marie Antoinette, is facing in France, how is a young monarch to keep hold of everything - and everyone - she loves? Find out in this sweeping, luxurious tale of family, court intrigue, and power.

©2022 Diana Giovinazzo (P)2022 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

"The political landscape of Southern Italy during the period of the so-called Kingdom of the Two Sicilies is one of the most complex and daunting in the history of the Italian peninsula. But Diana Giovinazzo weaves a clear path for us through the historical minefield in her latest historical novel, Antoinette's Sister. Though the eyes of Maria Carolina Charlotte, queen and de facto ruler of Ferdinand I’s kingdom, we experience the personal struggles, tragedies, and triumphs of one of the most remarkable women of the eighteenth century. A fascinating biographical portrait as well as an engrossing, bittersweet tale." (Laura Morelli, art historian and USA Today best-selling author of The Stolen Lady)

"A sweeping tale of power, love, and the bonds of family, Antoinette's Sister is a compelling coming-of-age story set to the backdrop of one of the most volatile periods in Europe. Giovinazzo has deftly weaved fascinating and rich details through the narrative, and in Maria Carolina Charlotte, created an endearing yet strong protagonist who must learn the demands of a monarch to save her country from ruin. I couldn't put it down!" (Heather Webb, USA Today best-selling author of The Next Ship Home)

"Diana Giovinazzo's Antoinette's Sister is a fast-paced, dramatic retelling of the life of Maria Carolina Charlotte, Queen of the Two Sicilies. Giovinazzo deftly brings to life this fierce and brilliant Queen, who uses her prowess to become a savvy leader of Naples while trying desperately to save her beloved sister, Marie Antoinette, from disaster in Revolutionary France. With uprisings, love affairs, and plenty of court intrigue, this juicy historical story is like a rousing Philippa Gregory novel, only set under a warm Italian sun." (Stephanie Storey, best-selling author of Oil and Marble and Raphael, Painter in Rome)

This was awesome!

I usually am hesitant when a book is new and doesn’t have many reviews yet and I am unfamiliar with the author’s work but I took a chance on this because it was suggested to me based on my historical fiction interest, especially in Marie Antoinette, and I’m glad I did! It was really interesting learning about her sister, who also had a very intriguing life, and to have parts of the story woven in from Antoinette’s timeline that I was already familiar with. I recommend!

Great Great Book!

Best Book ever!! I learned so much about the history of that time period!! The author is Fantastic! The narrator is wonderful!! I highly recommend this book!
Leslie M

Full of glamor and intrigue

A peak behind the curtain of royal courts in the 1700s. Full of manipulation and maneuvering this book was interesting and enlightening.

Enchanting!!

I was hesitant to purchase as this author is new to me, but I am so glad I did! I loved the storyline, the characters, the history interwoven throughout, and the narration was beautiful. 10/10 recommend!! I was entranced by the story and did research into the characters. I had no idea how powerful Austria was at the time, nor did I know much about the two Sicilys.

Started off good, but I lost interest as time went

I'm a huge historical fiction fan and I was so interested in this book because I didn't know anything about Maria Charlotta of Naples. The author did a great job of explaining the history. I guess, however, as it went on, I just started to lose interest I hate to say this, but once Marie Antoinette was executed, it just went on too long. That may be unfair of me. Interesting... but pretty good- not great.

New perspective on history. Engrossing.

Definitely a different slant on both Charlotta and Antoinnette. A new appreciation for monarchy lineage.

Great one!

One of the most interesting stories of duty, love, war and royal families long ago.

Phony accents made listening painful

The narration ruined this book for me. The phony accents were painful to listen to. In some instances the Italian accent sounded more like a count Dracula than Neapolitan ruler.

Very interesting

This story was an interesting look into other members of this famous family. Though I won't read it a second time, it inspired me to go deeper into research.

As smart and sexy as the cover

I admit it, this cover absolutely drew me in, but the voice captured me immediately. And thank goodness, for I really didn’t know how spicy and capable Antoinette’s sister was. Love learning something new while being entertained—and this story well qualifies. It’s just such a damned shame that women’s stories like this have lain so hidden. Not anymore—well done Diana Giovinqzzo! Also, the audio really adds to the story, excellent narration.