Book Review | All That Glitters

From gambling at Versailles with a touch of magic to crafting hot air balloons that drift over the French countryside, All That Glitters has something for everyone. There’s magic in the air, and Camille knows how to shape it. It takes a toll on her and her family, but it’s their best shot at escaping the poverty that plagues Paris.

I originally read this novel when it was published as Enchantée, and it was certainly enchanting, to say the least! The novel follows Camille Durbonne as she traverses the intricacies of court during Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette’s reign in France. Using dark magic to make ends meet, Camille sets her sights on Versailles amid the political turmoil that threatens the status quo. She takes a gamble and rolls the dice, pursuing a better life for herself and her sister.

Amid the glittering palace and the games of leisure, there’s the mischief of machinations at work. The drastic contrast between the wealth and wonder of the nobility and the passion and innovation of the common folk draws Camille into the middle of it all. Ensnared by the allure of dark magic, the cost will force her to choose a side sooner than later.

This darkly beautiful journey gripped me with every page. You can never go wrong with Paris and magic, especially when intertwined. Every moment has you rooting for Camille and her abilities. The way that magic and lies eat away at the characters carries you from chapter to chapter until it all boils over (as it always does).

All magic comes at a price, as do secrets that can lead to ruin. Delving deeper into the heart of France, Gita Trelease creates a breathtaking tale of love, loss, and luck. Set in a tumultuous time where the cards are stacked against Camille, the stakes rise higher and higher as she is swept into a world that both fears and hungers for the power she masks.

Anyone with a love of French history will adore this novel, especially if magic entices you to keep reading. Without romanticizing the aristocracy, Trelease recognizes the safety it brings to her characters while reflecting on the dramatic drawbacks and downfalls that come with the manipulation games at court. With the added element of magic, a dark source of power that turns the tables in Camille’s favor, this is one novel you won’t want to pass up.