This book by Juliet Grey is the second in the series of three. This book indicates that the third book would be titled The Last Ocober Sky. But the auther renamed it The last one was titled Confessions of Marie Antoinette. I enjoyed the first one immensely, possibly due to the fact that her mother had much more involvement in the governing of Austria. Marie Antoinette was not allowed by her husband or country to participate in governing.

The details of the first book seemed more engrossing but I did learn much about Marie Antoinette. She seems better prepared than her husband to govern. Because she was shut out of governing and expected only to produce heirs, remain in the shadow of her husband, her independent nature caused her to invest herself and much money in fashion, including the very high (literally) hair do that she became famous for and redecorated of the rooms where she lived.

Gossip raged as to why the couple had not produced any baby for years, later Louie's physican examined him and found why Louis was avoiding intercourse and advised on what would have to done. It seems possible that with out her insistance that he consult with the physican that they never would have had children.

The author shows the generosity of Marie Antoinette and times of thoughtless selfishness. I do feel that having read this book, I feel much more understanding and empathy for her. The author researched the facts of Marie Antoinette's life and portrayed her more honestly than what I have read in history books. The author cleaned up misapprobations and gave an in depth portrait of the Marie Antoinette. ( )

This book is a but of a mess. This story is told from the first person point of view of Marie Antoinette kind of. I think the author discovered that she could not tell a balanced story of the revolution only from Marie Antoinette's point of view so the book begins to randomly switch view points with pivotal historical characters. The effect is quite jarring. ( )

Reminds me of the 2006 movie 'Marie Antoinette'. A very light read, the book conveys more of the mood and reactions of Marie Antoinette and those around her than it does of actual events. This would be a good starting trilogy for someone who doesn't have much historical knowledge of the queen. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't been waiting for more depth. ( )

Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow is the second novel in Juliet Grey's Marie Antoinette trilogy. While the first novel in the trilogy, Becoming Marie Antoinette, follows Marie's early life from her late childhood in Austria to her days as Dauphine of France, this latest novel focuses on Marie's reign as Louis XVI's Queen.

Much like the first novel in the trilogy, Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow is full of rich historical detail. This detail brings the French court and all of its magnificence vividly to life. It also showcases just how much of Marie Antoinette's daily life was governed by strict and often stifling protocol. Although the historical detail was, at times, somewhat overdone in the trilogy's first installment, this isn't the case with the second novel. It is apparent that Grey undertook a great deal of research while writing this book, but rather than overpowering the narrative, the information gleaned from this research is used to complement it. As a result, the story flows smoothly and moves quickly.

Told from Marie Antoinette's perspective, one of this novel's greatest strengths is the characterization of Marie herself. History has not been kind to Marie Antoinette, and it is not difficult to understand why considering much of the French court and citizenry were against her. Highlighting Marie's strengths and her weaknesses, Grey paints a sympathetic portrait of France's last queen, successfully showcasing how she matured as both a person and a monarch. Grey's characterization of Louis XVI is also well-drawn, showing an uncertain monarch who very much wanted to do what was right for his people but who lacked the respect and support needed to bring about change.

Although this novel is the second in a trilogy, it can be read as a stand-alone. Recommended to fans of historical fiction interested in French history.

Marie Antoinette's story continues in The Last October Sky, which will be released in 2013. ( )

I would give this 3 1/2 stars if possible. I've read the first book in this series which was attention-grabbing and compelling. This sequel was compelling too and an interesting mix of historical fact and the author's imagination. I especially like what she did with Count Von Fersen. Still, it didn't hold my attention as well as the first and I was able to easily put it down for days at a time and come back to it. For someone who gets pulled into a novel and can read it one day, this says a lot. I would still recommend it to those who have read the first novel and anyone interested in Marie Antoinette. ( )