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A. Piper Burgi is the award-winning author of several non-fiction books, and recently added six historical fiction novels to her ever-expanding collection of published writings. Her novel, THE COUNTRY GIRL EMPRESS was a Firebird Book Award winner {Category: Historical Fiction}, and Readers' Favorite Book Reviews named her women's fiction novel IN THE SHADOW OF HER MAJESTY "...a rollicking good read, full of humor, intrigue, tension and darkness behind the velvet and lace elegance of early Elizabethan England. "
Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite
At the Castle of Dreams is the fifth book in A Country Girl Empress series by A. Piper Burgi. Crown Prince Rudolph is found dead at his hunting lodge along with his mistress. Devastated and grief-stricken, Sisi and Franz have no idea what really happened. While losing their son is torturous for the couple, the scandal that ensues is even worse for them. While Sisi attempts to figure out how and why her son died, she also has to think about the Heir Presumptive after Sisi and Franz are gone. But things are not that simple and they are never going to be. Sisi has to come to terms with her loss, her grief, and the end of her dreams before she can do anything about the future that awaits the Danube monarchy.
Sisi is such a strong character. She is a pillar of strength and character, exactly what you would expect from a monarch and a leader. She takes charge of the situation even when she was crumbling with grief. The narrative reveals a lot about Sisi as a woman and her own dreams rather than a monarch who leads her people with grace. The pace is perfect and so are the descriptions. They are detailed and rich, which is expected from a historical fiction novel of this caliber. A. Piper Burgi pays close attention to details, each sentence is art and has an almost lyrical flow. At the Castle of Dreams has a rhythm that you will enjoy and feel. I loved it!
