The Empress by Gigi Griffis
(Goodreads didn't have the Audiobook option, except for Audible's, so I'm using the print template.)

BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS:
Print: COPYRIGHT: 9/15/2022; ASIN: B09YC1SJ5L; PUBLISHER: Zando; PAGES: 310; UNABRIDGED

Digital: Available

* (The version I consumed) Audio: COPYRIGHT: 9/15/2022; ISBN: ‎ 9781666622201; PUBLISHER: Zando; DURATION: 8:09:56; PARTS: 7; Unabridged; (Overdrive LAPL)

FEATURE FILM OR TV: Netflix (this book is inspired by the Netflix series - script by Katharina Eyssen)

PUBLISHER: Zando
“Zando offers a new model to connect inspiring authors to the audiences they deserve—and helps readers find new books to love. We work with a select group of beloved public figures, platforms and institutions, publishing a carefully chosen slate of books that reflect those partners’ authentic passions and interests.”

*I added this publisher section because the publisher is unique to those that are usually included in these reviews. They appear to cater to independent authors. There is no search feature on their website, but you can brows their categories of books. They seem more interested in advertising their publishing services than the books they’ve published.
Address: Brooklyn, NY
Online:
Web: https://zandoprojects.com/
Facebook: zandoprojects
Twitter: zandoprojects

MAIN CHARACTERS: (Not comprehensive)
Elisabeth of Bavaria – 16 year old - main character
Helene of Bavaria – Older sister of Elisabeth
Spatz of Bavaria – Younger sister of Elisabeth
Ludovika of Bavaria – Mother of Elisabeth, Helene, and Spatz
Franz Josef of Austria – Emperor of Austria
Maximillian – Younger brother of Franz
Sophia – Mother of Franz

SUMMARY/ EVALUATION:
How I picked it: After seeing the Netflix series, I was hoping to get more details. I didn’t. This book, it turns out, is based on the series, so it reproduces each scene, but I have to admit the descriptions are very good, and I really didn’t mind the replay.
What it was about: The scheming of Ludovika of Bavaria in getting her daughters married, and those plans going awry. If I tell you more, it would ruin it for you (unless you are already ruined by the Netflix series)
What I thought: I generally do not like books based on films, but I confess I did like this one. The author adds romance and charm to the story. The thoughts she attributes to the characters actually made me prefer this over the Netflix series. It does not cover as much time as that series—including very little of the revolutionaries, but that was a good choice. It made this one of the best, if not THE best love stories I’ve read. (Not that I’ve read many, but still.)
The narrations were quite good too.

AUTHOR:
Gigi Griffis
From Women’s Media Center website:
“Gigi Griffis is a world-traveling entrepreneur and writer with a special love for inspiring stories, new places, and living in the moment. In May 2012, she sold her stuff and took to the road with a growing business and a pint-sized pooch. She has been traveling full-time since then and is the author of Italy: 100 Locals Tell You Where to Go, What to Eat, and How to Fit In, as well as three additional guidebooks for Paris, Prague, and Barcelona.
Gigi and her work have been featured at The New York Times, Married With Luggage, Miss Minimalist, International Living, Transitions Abroad, Forbes, and more. And her new travel guides are already hitting top-100 and top-10 lists on sites like Amazon.com.
Find her work and books at gigigriffis.com.”

NARRATORS:
1. Ellie Rose Boswell
From IMDb:
“Ellie Rose Boswell is known for How to Make Her Cheat, Denzel (2021) and Trooper and the Legend of the Golden Key (2012).”
2. Dominic Burgess
From Wikipedia:
“Dominic Burgess (born 29 July 1982) is an English actor. He is known for his appearances in several television adverts and series such as Raising Hope, Doctor Who, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Feud: Bette and Joan.”

LOCATION(S)
Bavaria; Austria

TIME(S)
1853

GENRE
Historical fiction

SUBJECTS: (not comprehensive)
Love; Romance; Austria; Emperor; Royalty; Betrayal; Franz Joseph

DEDICATION:
“For my sisters, by blood and choice: RJ, Natalia, Sarah and David”

SAMPLE QUOTATION:
From Chapter 1:
“Elisabeth's mother was panic and fury, a windstorm of skirts and schnapps, rampaging through the house loud enough to wake the dead.
"Sisi!"
Elisabeth hated that nickname, and her mother knew it. It was a child's name -- and her mother's excuse to treat her like one.
Elisabeth was hiding behind an elegant sky-blue floor-to-ceiling curtain. The curtain matched the rich blues of the plush chairs in the sitting room where she was hiding, which in turn matched the rich walnut of the wood floor, which matched the richness of her mother's tastes. The rest of the house was similar: baby-blue archways and doorways, jewel=toned bedcovers, warm wood floors laid with rugs, everything with flowers or twining with vines.
Elisabeth's eight-year-old sister, Spatz, slipped behind the curtain beside her, conspiratorial. Elisabeth wiggled her eyebrows at her tiny, wide-eyed sister and pressed a finger to her lips. But Spatz didn't need to be told to be quiet. She knew the hide-from-Mother game well by now. They all did. Only Helene had recently become very serious and stopped playing.”

RATING:.
5

STARTED READING – FINISHED READING
2-26-2023 to 2-28-2023 ( )

I saw this series on Netflix and then remembered I also had the book on my TBR…of course I had to read the book first before diving into the show. I’ll also say I was unfamiliar with the story of Sisi and Franz prior to reading this, though I did look them up when I started reading. I cannot speak to historical accuracies though, I don’t know enough of their real life story to do so.

This is a reimagining of the courtship between Princess Elisabeth (Sisi) of Bavaria and Emperor Franz of Austria. Elisabeth has promised that she will have a great love, or no man at all, despite expectations of the time that she eventually marry someone of her family’s choosing. Emperor Franz is initially promised to Sisi’s older sister, Helene, but falls in love with Sisi instead. Drama ensues.

I enjoyed this. I liked Elisabeth’s character and how she had standards. I also felt for Helene when she felt that Sisi betrayed her. Maxi was an interesting character and I found him more enjoyable to read about than Franz. And having had a complicated relationship with my mother growing up, I related to Elisabeth’s relationship with her own mother. I also liked the writing style and overall prose.

Ironically, I didn’t love the love story. I didn’t feel the passion and longing between Sisi and Franz, nor did I feel their chemistry. They felt like good friends to me, than lovers. There is insta-love here, but perhaps that was how it happened in real life?

The ending was quite abrupt. And there were some things thrown in that felt like unnecessary drama - Maxi flirting with Elisabeth, Franz’s PTSD that seemed to be completely forgotten about as the book progressed, Elisabeth’s initiation into court life felt like it was very rushed - I imagine someone of her character would have difficulty adjusting to court life (as I understand, historically she did have trouble adjusting).

The story is told in third person from Helene, Sisi and Franz’s POV.

I will still be watching the show and would read future works by this author. Recommended if you enjoy historical romances, and Sisi’s story in particular. ( )

A bit Princess Diaries, a bit Bridgerton but also unique in its own way, the Empress takes you on a timeless journey of royalty, court and all the glitter and tarnish you wish to see. The characters are interesting and make the story, while the plot is all you’d hope for in a princess, or empress, story! Pick this up and be transformed to another time and place.
*I received an arc from the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review ( )