The Queen of the Night
NATIONAL BESTSELLER, New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, and a Best Book of the Year from NPR, Boston Globe, BuzzFeed, and others. The mesmerizing story of one woman's rise from circus rider to courtesan to world-renowned diva—"a brilliant performance" (Washington Post).
The Queen of the Night tells the captivating story of Lilliet Berne, an orphan who left the American frontier for Europe and was swept into the glamour and terror of Second Empire France. She became a sensation of the Paris Opera, with every accolade but an original role—her chance at immortality. When one is offered to her, she finds the libretto is based on her deepest secret, something only four people have ever known. But who betrayed her?
With epic sweep, gorgeous language, and haunting details, Alexander Chee shares Lilliet’s cunning transformation from circus rider to courtesan to legendary soprano, retracing the path that led to the role that could secure her reputation—or destroy her with the secrets it reveals.
“It just sounds terrific. It sounds like opera.”—The New Yorker
“Sprawling, soaring, bawdy, and plotted like a fine embroidery.”—NPR
The Queen of the Night tells the captivating story of Lilliet Berne, an orphan who left the American frontier for Europe and was swept into the glamour and terror of Second Empire France. She became a sensation of the Paris Opera, with every accolade but an original role—her chance at immortality. When one is offered to her, she finds the libretto is based on her deepest secret, something only four people have ever known. But who betrayed her?
With epic sweep, gorgeous language, and haunting details, Alexander Chee shares Lilliet’s cunning transformation from circus rider to courtesan to legendary soprano, retracing the path that led to the role that could secure her reputation—or destroy her with the secrets it reveals.
“It just sounds terrific. It sounds like opera.”—The New Yorker
“Sprawling, soaring, bawdy, and plotted like a fine embroidery.”—NPR
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
It. Was. Way. Too. Long. I started out thinking that it would rate as at least 4 stars or maybe 4.5 stars, but by the time I finished it, I felt it only deserved 3 stars and I think I’m being generous. In the end, I don’t think I really cared about what was going to happen to Lilliet, or whatever her name really was. I just wanted to be done. There was some very good writing and there were some parts of the book that were actually thrilling, but taken as a whole, too big of a whole, it was mediocre.
Alexander Chee’s The Queen of the Night is written beautifully like an opera. I love the style! It left me wishing I could actually see it on a stage. The twist-filled plot kept me hooked from the start. I remained invested in the protagonist's life the entire time. I feel as though there was always a clear and smooth transition into every role she played throughout her life. Every decision she made had a clear cut reasoning to me, even for some of the decisions I disagreed with. As someone who loves descriptors, the writing made it feel like I could really dive into the story and understand her perspective. There were times where I felt that Lilliet's stubbornness and temper got in the way of her having a good life, but I mostly understood where she was coming from and why she did what she did. She was meant to be free. She’s a woman meant to have wings to fly like a bird; like the falcon she was so often called. Anyone that tried to tame her or clip her wings deserved what they got. This ties directly into my favorite part of the novel: the arc of her and the tenor which makes up a good portion of the story. She fights him so tactfully. He is somehow the only one who completely knows and understands her, yet he so often fights her nature to keep her caged as his own. The historical figures add incredible depth, and I especially loved the Empress's arc. She was made to be so multi-dimensional. You can see she was a good woman at heart, juggling being a ruler while still just being a simple woman who can fall in love. I loved how Lilliet was always balancing her jealousy of the empress with her admiration of her.
The Siege of Paris was so thoroughly written I felt like I was there suffering with them. I know Lilliet didn’t have to experience the worst of the horrors, but the hints to the horrors surrounding her were enough to fear. The idea of them eating bark off of the trees for sustenance until all of the trees around them were bald lives in my head constantly for some reason. My least favorite part is the ending, only because it’s so heart-wrenching to see her finally get to the man she loves, to finally be free, and for him to give up on her after everything she endured. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, romance, and mystery.
I have read this book as a teen and as an adult and found different portions of the book more important than others with each read.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.