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Daughters of New France #2
Duty to the Crown
The first Canadian colonies offer a challenging future for three women in this historical novel by the author of Promised to the Crown. In 1677, an invisible wall separates settlers in New France from their Huron neighbors. Yet whether in the fledgling city of Quebec or within one of the native tribes, every woman's fate depends on the man she chooses—or is obligated—to marry. Although Claudine Deschamps and Gabrielle Giroux both live within the settlement, their prospects are very different. French-born Claudine has followed her older sister across the Atlantic hoping to attract a wealthy husband through her beauty and connections. Gabrielle, orphan daughter of the town drunkard, is forced into a loveless union by a cruel law that requires her to marry by her sixteenth birthday. And Manon Lefebvre, born in the Huron village and later adopted by settlers, has faced the prejudices of both societies and is convinced she can no longer be accepted in either. Drawn into unexpected friendship through their loves, losses, and dreams of home and family, all three women will have to call on their bravery and resilience to succeed in this new world . . .Praise for Duty to the Crown “The reader is treated to a picture of what it must have been like to reach maturity in such a world. It is a novel of both love and loss, and we come away in admiration for the women striving despite mistreatment and abandonment. I found myself sorry when I reached the end of the book, since Manon, Claudine, and Gabrielle had become like good friends of mine.” —Historical Novel Society
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2016
About the author
Aimie K. Runyan
14 books1,313 followersAimie K. Runyan writes to celebrate history’s unsung heroines. She has been honored as a Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice selection, as a three-time finalist for the Colorado Book Awards, and as a nominee for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer of the Year. Aimie is active as an educator and speaker in the writing community and beyond. Her next books, The Castle Keepers (in collaboration with J'nell Ciesielski and Rachel McMillan) and A Bakery in Paris will release in 2023 from Harper Collins. Also from Harper Collins, Aimie's contemporary Women's Fiction debut, The Memory of Lavender and Sage, will release in early 2024. She lives in Colorado with her amazing husband, two (usually) adorable children, two (always) adorable kitties, and a dragon. To learn more about Aimie, please visit www.aimiekrunyan.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
September 15, 2016
Duty to the Crown by Aimie K. Runyan is the second in a series which follows the lives of early settlers to Canada, then known as New France, between 1677 and 1680.
Very early in the novel, I realized that Runyan had done scanty research on the complex historical period in which she had set her novel. Fiction allows for the stretching of facts. However, in the case of historical fiction the reader should be prepared for how much license the author has chosen to take, which wasn't the case here. As a Canadian I was looking forward to an account of life then and how these hardy individuals managed under what would have been trying conditions. And, as a Canadian, I became uncomfortable with Runyon's representation of Québécois and Huron relationships during this period; overall the French were allies as much as possible with all tribes. The Iroquois had plans of their own and were frequently on attack but there was not the animosity about land described in the novel.
So many details were misrepresented, that I found myself becoming very frustrated. The characters and plot could not have the significance it should have had with such flaws. The "habitants" or peasant farmers, about 80% of the French population, leased but did not OWN their parcel of land, paid a nominal tax and part of their crop annually to the seigneur contrary to a reference in the novel. Homes of those times were very basic; if there were such places as bedrooms, one would have to walk through another's to get to their own, nothing like we envision today. Craftsmen were few in the new colony, and furniture usually was spare; very little was imported from France due to the outrageous expense. The luxury of owning TWO desks would realistically only be possible at least a century later, making Alexandre's possessions out of sync with the timeline. So too with mattresses- they were rare items, certainly not owned by poor shop girls and people generally slept on matting. Books were very difficult to acquire and only the wealthiest would have a library. Mamon's access to medical books is incredible fiction. The Huron tribes actually lived hundreds of miles northwest of Quebec City in 1677; they had been living on the St. Lawrence in 1534 when Jacques Cartier sailed into the area but were gone by 1600. There was a small group in Lorette, on a mission reserve of land set aside for the Wendat tribe, to farm and be given Catholic instruction for conversion as sanctuary from the Iroquois who had decimated their numbers, but they would not be any example of where Mamon walks off to find the Turtle Clan in the forest.
The French were limited by Royal decree from encroaching onto Indian lands. The scene with the intimidating farmer threatening Mamon, cursing her aboriginal heritage while she tries to gather medicinal plants just wouldn't have happened.
The reversed disrespect shown by Mamon, when upper class Nichole is doing a charitable food drive on the peasant farmers' plots, is out of place as well.
"This whole exercise of Nicole’s would be unnecessary if you lived as a tribe, but you do not look beyond your own families and closest companions.",
- but to the contrary, the manner in which the seigneurial land parcels were divided along the St. Lawrence and elsewhere actually contributed to a strong sense of community among the tenants, the grid-like pattern providing access to one another as supportive neighbours.
Aimie Runyan has taken a present tense concept of land claim disputes and modern aboriginal grievances to frame 1677 attitudes in Duty to the Crown. To top that off, she has added old fashioned "noblesse oblige", the great duty that the well-to-do must fulfill for those less fortunate: Deign to give to lesser beings, in this case the Huron girl and her brother. In the midst of her mixed up settings, conflicting political perspectives and absent research, the tales of numerous young women are offered as they suffer the indignities of having no rights, are forced by law to marry, experience brutal childbirth, and gain the realization that a good and safe life is only available as the wife of a decent man. The author managed that fairly well, but without a clear historical context, Duty to the Crown missed the mark.
I could have given the book around three stars, maybe, as a passable romancey bit of fluffery BUT....
DEDUCT TWO STARS FOR THE HISTORY BOTCH UP. I have never read anything so inaccurate that is trying to present itself as historical fiction.
Therefore, ONE STAR
For a partial reference:
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca...
Publishing date: October 25, 2016
ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books
Very early in the novel, I realized that Runyan had done scanty research on the complex historical period in which she had set her novel. Fiction allows for the stretching of facts. However, in the case of historical fiction the reader should be prepared for how much license the author has chosen to take, which wasn't the case here. As a Canadian I was looking forward to an account of life then and how these hardy individuals managed under what would have been trying conditions. And, as a Canadian, I became uncomfortable with Runyon's representation of Québécois and Huron relationships during this period; overall the French were allies as much as possible with all tribes. The Iroquois had plans of their own and were frequently on attack but there was not the animosity about land described in the novel.
So many details were misrepresented, that I found myself becoming very frustrated. The characters and plot could not have the significance it should have had with such flaws. The "habitants" or peasant farmers, about 80% of the French population, leased but did not OWN their parcel of land, paid a nominal tax and part of their crop annually to the seigneur contrary to a reference in the novel. Homes of those times were very basic; if there were such places as bedrooms, one would have to walk through another's to get to their own, nothing like we envision today. Craftsmen were few in the new colony, and furniture usually was spare; very little was imported from France due to the outrageous expense. The luxury of owning TWO desks would realistically only be possible at least a century later, making Alexandre's possessions out of sync with the timeline. So too with mattresses- they were rare items, certainly not owned by poor shop girls and people generally slept on matting. Books were very difficult to acquire and only the wealthiest would have a library. Mamon's access to medical books is incredible fiction. The Huron tribes actually lived hundreds of miles northwest of Quebec City in 1677; they had been living on the St. Lawrence in 1534 when Jacques Cartier sailed into the area but were gone by 1600. There was a small group in Lorette, on a mission reserve of land set aside for the Wendat tribe, to farm and be given Catholic instruction for conversion as sanctuary from the Iroquois who had decimated their numbers, but they would not be any example of where Mamon walks off to find the Turtle Clan in the forest.
The French were limited by Royal decree from encroaching onto Indian lands. The scene with the intimidating farmer threatening Mamon, cursing her aboriginal heritage while she tries to gather medicinal plants just wouldn't have happened.
The reversed disrespect shown by Mamon, when upper class Nichole is doing a charitable food drive on the peasant farmers' plots, is out of place as well.
"This whole exercise of Nicole’s would be unnecessary if you lived as a tribe, but you do not look beyond your own families and closest companions.",
- but to the contrary, the manner in which the seigneurial land parcels were divided along the St. Lawrence and elsewhere actually contributed to a strong sense of community among the tenants, the grid-like pattern providing access to one another as supportive neighbours.
Aimie Runyan has taken a present tense concept of land claim disputes and modern aboriginal grievances to frame 1677 attitudes in Duty to the Crown. To top that off, she has added old fashioned "noblesse oblige", the great duty that the well-to-do must fulfill for those less fortunate: Deign to give to lesser beings, in this case the Huron girl and her brother. In the midst of her mixed up settings, conflicting political perspectives and absent research, the tales of numerous young women are offered as they suffer the indignities of having no rights, are forced by law to marry, experience brutal childbirth, and gain the realization that a good and safe life is only available as the wife of a decent man. The author managed that fairly well, but without a clear historical context, Duty to the Crown missed the mark.
I could have given the book around three stars, maybe, as a passable romancey bit of fluffery BUT....
DEDUCT TWO STARS FOR THE HISTORY BOTCH UP. I have never read anything so inaccurate that is trying to present itself as historical fiction.
Therefore, ONE STAR
For a partial reference:
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca...
Publishing date: October 25, 2016
ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books
February 17, 2018
Duty to the Crown is an immensely compelling story, set in the colony of New France and the city of Quebec in the 17th century. It follows the lives of several young women on the cusp of womanhood, trying to find their place in this challenging new world. Manon is a young Huron girl who has been raised by a French family, and struggles with her identity; not completely fitting in with either the French or Huron societies. Gabrielle, the daughter of a drunkard who has become the ward of a loving family, must marry by her 16th birthday, and in desperation marries a man she barely knows. Claudine yearns to return to France, but in New France is forced to use her beauty and cunning to attract a rich man as a husband. These are three girls who could not be more different, in temperament, upbringing, and ambition, yet they come together in this young colony, forging friendships that see each other through the hardships and tragedies that they encounter. This book is rich in historical facts, described in painstaking detail, without taking away from a poignant story about love, friendships, and family. This is a riveting, heartfelt story, bringing to life a time and place in history filled with danger and sacrifice, and the courage of those who first inhabited it. Duty to the Crown is the sequel to Promised to the Crown, and I highly encourage you to read its predecessor, to be introduced to these young women and their families when they began the adventure of settling in New France. Having loved the first book, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this book.
September 28, 2016
I am so glad I got to spend more time in New France; while I am pulled into the character's lives on a personal level, I enjoy learning so much about their society and the challenges faced during colonial times. Runyan really embodies making the personal political, bring this historical fiction well to life!
October 17, 2016
This book was just as good if not better than the first one in this series. I love how the author captures the time and place and makes you feel as if you are a part of this story. We have all read the story of the American colonies but Aimie gives us a glimpse into the Canadian colonies. Since I know nothing of how Canada was settled it is like I am getting a fun history lesson while reading an enjoyable story. This book tells the story of three strong women and how they became close friends through their life experiences. I am not sure if us woman today could go through what they did. I can't imagine being forced into marriage or the way society treated them. I am hoping we will see another book in this series as I would like to know more about the colonists and their way of life. I have enjoyed Aimie's writing style as well as she makes the words flow off the pages. I guess I can't say enough good things about this book. Also I would recommend reading Promised to the Crown first as that is the first book in this series.
September 18, 2016
This book is amazing! I received a pre-release copy and loved every bit of it. The characters and the details of their lives are so very well thought out and written. This book is the perfect follow-up to "Promised the Crown". I am not a historical buff, but thoroughly enjoyed the amount of history portrayed about an era that I had little to no knowledge of prior to reading these 2 books. I absolutely adored the development of the characters lives and those of the 2nd generation of women. There are MANY aspects of this book that kept me up late trying to finish a chapter to find out what happened to a particular character. I'm anxiously awaiting a 3rd book, because I'm completely absorbed in the world Aimie K. Runyan's of New France! #addictedtothecrown
October 25, 2016
This book was a fantastic follow up to Promised to the Crown. I love the Daughters of New France series. Their bond to each other, the land, and in some cases, their husbands is both relatable and educational. I knew very little about this section of North American history, and Runyan teaches the reader while still maintaining a sense of pure entertainment. Highly recommend!
September 27, 2016
Duty to the Crown is book two of the Daughters of New France series. It is a pretty good historical and I look forward to the next of the series.
4 stars
4 stars
January 1, 2017
Having enjoyed Promised to the Crown, I anxiously awaited the release of Duty to the Crown and it did not disappoint. Historically rich, it covers a locale and period of history that I am unfamiliar with. The Canadian frontier is a complete unknown to me, but Aimie Runyan brings it to life vividly.
The story follows the second generation of young women in frontier Quebec; girls we met in the first book. Nicole's sisters Claudine and Emmanuelle, who followed her across the Atlantic, hoping for husbands of their own. Gabrielle, a talented young seamstress, forced to marry an abusive man because although adopted by Elisabeth and Gilbert, she is considered an orphan. And Manon, a young Huron girl who, despite being adopted by Nicole and Alexandre, feels unaccepted by either society.
Perhaps my favorite part of this story is the relationships: mother/daughter, adopted father/daughter, sisters, husband/wife, and more. Relationships of any kind are rarely drama-free. They are emotional and chaotic, they are fraught with misunderstanding and miscommunication. Marriage especially, can be a maelstrom of messy emotions. But, strong relationships grow from that. The exploration of these relationships and the growth and maturity that comes from that is what makes this story remarkable.
Claudine's maturity from flightly silly girl to devoted wife and mother; Manon's discovery of who she is and where she fits; and Gabrielle's journey through a cycle of abuse to self-sufficiency breathe life and beauty into this story.
Like Promised to the Crown, this novel features strong women. Their stories are full of trial and difficulty and tragedy, but their strength is resilient and their love and faith in each other steadfast and resolute.
Second in the Daughters of New France series, this novel could stand alone, but your enjoyment of the story is far richer if you have read the first book.
The story follows the second generation of young women in frontier Quebec; girls we met in the first book. Nicole's sisters Claudine and Emmanuelle, who followed her across the Atlantic, hoping for husbands of their own. Gabrielle, a talented young seamstress, forced to marry an abusive man because although adopted by Elisabeth and Gilbert, she is considered an orphan. And Manon, a young Huron girl who, despite being adopted by Nicole and Alexandre, feels unaccepted by either society.
Perhaps my favorite part of this story is the relationships: mother/daughter, adopted father/daughter, sisters, husband/wife, and more. Relationships of any kind are rarely drama-free. They are emotional and chaotic, they are fraught with misunderstanding and miscommunication. Marriage especially, can be a maelstrom of messy emotions. But, strong relationships grow from that. The exploration of these relationships and the growth and maturity that comes from that is what makes this story remarkable.
Claudine's maturity from flightly silly girl to devoted wife and mother; Manon's discovery of who she is and where she fits; and Gabrielle's journey through a cycle of abuse to self-sufficiency breathe life and beauty into this story.
Like Promised to the Crown, this novel features strong women. Their stories are full of trial and difficulty and tragedy, but their strength is resilient and their love and faith in each other steadfast and resolute.
Second in the Daughters of New France series, this novel could stand alone, but your enjoyment of the story is far richer if you have read the first book.
October 12, 2017
Duty to the Crown by Aimie K. Runyan is the follow up story to Promised to the Crown. This book follows the lives of three very different women as they struggle to make a life in New France, present day Quebec Canada, between 1677 and 1680. Several facts in this story are not historically correct but the lives of the women show what it was like to be a female during this time of history. I would suggest reading the first book first as we do meet many of the characters in that book, but it can be read as a standalone novel.
Manon is a young Huron girl who was raised by a French family. She is struggling with her identity in this book as she feels she does not fit in with either the Huron or the French settlers. Gabrielle, the daughter of a drunk who went to work for a husband and wife who were bakers in the first book. They have taken her in as their ward, but due to laws and traditions, she must marry by her 16th birthday, and in desperation marries a man she barely knows. Claudine travelled to New France with her sister earlier, but now yearns to return to France. Unfortunately she does not have the money to do this so she is forced to use her beauty, talents and intellect to attract a rich husband. These are three girls who could not be more different, in temperament, upbringing, and ambition, yet they come together in this young colony, as friends.
I am not sure if woman today could go through what they did. I can't imagine being forced into marriage or the way society treated them. We have come a long way in many areas such as safe pregnancies and births, the ability to get educated, dealing with abusive relationships, and being able to choose who we marry, specifically marrying for love. This was a very interesting read and I have become attached to these women. I hope there is a third book in this series coming. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via netgalley.
Manon is a young Huron girl who was raised by a French family. She is struggling with her identity in this book as she feels she does not fit in with either the Huron or the French settlers. Gabrielle, the daughter of a drunk who went to work for a husband and wife who were bakers in the first book. They have taken her in as their ward, but due to laws and traditions, she must marry by her 16th birthday, and in desperation marries a man she barely knows. Claudine travelled to New France with her sister earlier, but now yearns to return to France. Unfortunately she does not have the money to do this so she is forced to use her beauty, talents and intellect to attract a rich husband. These are three girls who could not be more different, in temperament, upbringing, and ambition, yet they come together in this young colony, as friends.
I am not sure if woman today could go through what they did. I can't imagine being forced into marriage or the way society treated them. We have come a long way in many areas such as safe pregnancies and births, the ability to get educated, dealing with abusive relationships, and being able to choose who we marry, specifically marrying for love. This was a very interesting read and I have become attached to these women. I hope there is a third book in this series coming. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via netgalley.
February 26, 2019
This is not a good sequel. It's not bad, but it is very, very predictable. If you read the first book, you can call every single plot "twist" in this one. There really isn't a surprise, and sometimes the characters feel very, very, very modern. Like really modern - even the characters supposedly religious and conservative feel far too modern, like they got in the Tardis or something.
But it was nice reading a book where the woman actually interact.
But it was nice reading a book where the woman actually interact.
October 25, 2016
I loved the first book in this series, Promised to the Crown and was so very thrilled to be asked to read this second book. I picked it up and it didn’t take long to find myself back in New France immersed in the lives of the second generation of women to experience the highs and lows of life in the colony.
Manon, the adopted daughter of Nicole Lefebvre is back in town with her adopted brother after being cast out by her tribe. Life has not been easy for her from the start. Not accepted by the French or the Huron she lives on a tightrope just trying to survive. Nicole loves her but most of the rest of the people in town see her as nothing more than a savage. Even Nicole’s sisters from France – until her skills show them that she is not something to be feared but rather someone to be respected.
Gabrielle has been adopted and finally knows the love of family after being abused by her alcoholic father. She and her brother live with Elisabeth and Gilbert and work in their very successful bakery but she has talents that lie in other areas. Her skill with a needle is gaining her some notice and she longs to just sew but she owes her adoptive parents for saving her and her brother from the hell of their former life. And in the colony everyone works and works hard. There is also a law hanging over her head – she must marry by the age of 16 and her prospects for a husband are not good because of the scandal of her father being the town drunkard.
Claudine left France with the rest of her family to join her sister thanks to the generosity of Nicole’s husband. She wants to find a husband and prospects were limited in the home country due to their circumstances. Hopefully now things will change.
These three women who are so different become so important to each other and their lives are bound together through love and hardship and friendship.
I loved this second book as much as I did the first. The writing just pulls you into the world created by Ms. Runyan. I’ve read other reviews about whether there is truth in this fiction but to me the book is more about the relationships than the history. I can admit to knowing absolutely nothing about Canada’s history. I probably should know more than I do but I really am more of a student of European history than anything else. I just know that once I started this book I really didn’t want to stop reading and I am hoping for further volumes but am not sure there will be more. I would love to continue on in New France. Ms. Runyan has opened up a whole new world for me to want to explore.
Manon, the adopted daughter of Nicole Lefebvre is back in town with her adopted brother after being cast out by her tribe. Life has not been easy for her from the start. Not accepted by the French or the Huron she lives on a tightrope just trying to survive. Nicole loves her but most of the rest of the people in town see her as nothing more than a savage. Even Nicole’s sisters from France – until her skills show them that she is not something to be feared but rather someone to be respected.
Gabrielle has been adopted and finally knows the love of family after being abused by her alcoholic father. She and her brother live with Elisabeth and Gilbert and work in their very successful bakery but she has talents that lie in other areas. Her skill with a needle is gaining her some notice and she longs to just sew but she owes her adoptive parents for saving her and her brother from the hell of their former life. And in the colony everyone works and works hard. There is also a law hanging over her head – she must marry by the age of 16 and her prospects for a husband are not good because of the scandal of her father being the town drunkard.
Claudine left France with the rest of her family to join her sister thanks to the generosity of Nicole’s husband. She wants to find a husband and prospects were limited in the home country due to their circumstances. Hopefully now things will change.
These three women who are so different become so important to each other and their lives are bound together through love and hardship and friendship.
I loved this second book as much as I did the first. The writing just pulls you into the world created by Ms. Runyan. I’ve read other reviews about whether there is truth in this fiction but to me the book is more about the relationships than the history. I can admit to knowing absolutely nothing about Canada’s history. I probably should know more than I do but I really am more of a student of European history than anything else. I just know that once I started this book I really didn’t want to stop reading and I am hoping for further volumes but am not sure there will be more. I would love to continue on in New France. Ms. Runyan has opened up a whole new world for me to want to explore.
November 29, 2016
4.5 stars. "Duty to the Crown" is the second book in the "Daughters of New France" series by Aimie K. Runyan. The colony of New France is a little more established when the book opens up but still feels like a new frontier for many of its residents. I loved the first book in this series and was anxious to get back to Runyan's New France, still a very new setting for me and one that I really loved seeing through this book. Although New France is no longer new to the main characters in this book, it still makes for a fascinating setting where even a place that the characters think they know well can totally change their lives.
While characters from the first book appear, this book largely focuses on the next generation of women in New France. There is Claudine, the sister of Nicole from the first book who wants to find her husband. Gabrielle is a young woman that is forced into a loveless and abusive marriage and will have to rely on herself in order to make her situation better. Then there is Manon, a young woman who walks the line between the settlers and the natives, two groups who don't get along all the time. Through each of these characters, the author explores what it was like to live in New France during this time period. Each of the stories are interesting in their own way and I appreciated getting so many different perspectives. I loved how the author was able to create really different voices for each of the characters.
The world building and historical detail in this book are fantastic and I loved being immersed in the world of the characters. Settlement life is not glamorous and readers get many doses of reality throughout the book. I appreciated that the author did not shy away from the realities of settlement life even if it was difficult to read some parts of the book after becoming attached to some of the characters. Overall, this was a great follow up to the first book!
While characters from the first book appear, this book largely focuses on the next generation of women in New France. There is Claudine, the sister of Nicole from the first book who wants to find her husband. Gabrielle is a young woman that is forced into a loveless and abusive marriage and will have to rely on herself in order to make her situation better. Then there is Manon, a young woman who walks the line between the settlers and the natives, two groups who don't get along all the time. Through each of these characters, the author explores what it was like to live in New France during this time period. Each of the stories are interesting in their own way and I appreciated getting so many different perspectives. I loved how the author was able to create really different voices for each of the characters.
The world building and historical detail in this book are fantastic and I loved being immersed in the world of the characters. Settlement life is not glamorous and readers get many doses of reality throughout the book. I appreciated that the author did not shy away from the realities of settlement life even if it was difficult to read some parts of the book after becoming attached to some of the characters. Overall, this was a great follow up to the first book!
June 18, 2024
In this sequel to Promised to the Crown (5 stars), a story about the women who heed King Louis XIV's call to leave France and populate New France/Canada continues with Manon, Claudine, and Gabrielle.
After devouring Promised, I just had to read Duty immediately. Not only did I get to find out even more about the lives of Rose, Nicole, and Elisabeth, who were introduced in Promised, but I also got to follow Nicole's adopted daughter, Manon, Nicole's sister, Claudine, and Elisabeth's adopted daughter, Gabrielle, as they matured to the marrying age and embarked on their own adventures.
Once again, I was transported and engrossed in the trials and tribulations of these women as they shared strong friendships, grieved losses, and celebrated happy moments. Just like with the first, it continued to evoke fond memories from my childhood of devouring the Little House on the Prairie series!
If you're looking for more great books written by this author, then I would highly recommend Daughters of the Night Sky (4 stars) and Girls on the Line (4 stars)!
"But the people who love you know your motives, and that’s all that truly matters."
Location: 1677-1680 Quebec City, New France/Canada
After devouring Promised, I just had to read Duty immediately. Not only did I get to find out even more about the lives of Rose, Nicole, and Elisabeth, who were introduced in Promised, but I also got to follow Nicole's adopted daughter, Manon, Nicole's sister, Claudine, and Elisabeth's adopted daughter, Gabrielle, as they matured to the marrying age and embarked on their own adventures.
Once again, I was transported and engrossed in the trials and tribulations of these women as they shared strong friendships, grieved losses, and celebrated happy moments. Just like with the first, it continued to evoke fond memories from my childhood of devouring the Little House on the Prairie series!
If you're looking for more great books written by this author, then I would highly recommend Daughters of the Night Sky (4 stars) and Girls on the Line (4 stars)!
"But the people who love you know your motives, and that’s all that truly matters."
Location: 1677-1680 Quebec City, New France/Canada
July 18, 2018
Find this and other reviews at: https://historicalfictionreader.blogs...
Lysander reflects that “The course of true love never did run smooth…” in Act 1, Scene 1 of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The play is not my favorite, but the line speaks to a truth few writers are willing and/or able to recreate. We all know that ‘happily ever after’ endings sell like hotcakes, but the reality of love is far more complicated than most fiction suggests.
Romantic love is obviously the most popular, but familial, parental, spiritual, and communal love, are equally powerful and important which is what Claudine Deschamps, Gabrielle Giroux, and Manon Lefebvre discover in Aimie K. Runyan’s Duty to the Crown. Each faces a unique set of challenges, but when all is said and done, it is the relationships they form along the way that see them through.
I give Runyan a lot of credit for tackling a number of complex social issues through the trials and tribulations for her three heroines and I don’t mean to downplay the historic value of the novel in any way, but it was her illustration of Quebec’s greater community of women that captured my imagination. It is obvious that a great deal of research when into this piece and that the author has a lot of respect for both French and Canadian culture, but the strength and fortitude of the nation’s founding mothers is first and foremost among her chosen themes and I greatly appreciated how she chose to display and explore those ideas through her fiction.
Duty to the Crown is the second book the Daughters of New France series and while it isn’t entirely necessary to read the novels in order, I’d definitely recommend tackling the volumes chronologically.
Lysander reflects that “The course of true love never did run smooth…” in Act 1, Scene 1 of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The play is not my favorite, but the line speaks to a truth few writers are willing and/or able to recreate. We all know that ‘happily ever after’ endings sell like hotcakes, but the reality of love is far more complicated than most fiction suggests.
Romantic love is obviously the most popular, but familial, parental, spiritual, and communal love, are equally powerful and important which is what Claudine Deschamps, Gabrielle Giroux, and Manon Lefebvre discover in Aimie K. Runyan’s Duty to the Crown. Each faces a unique set of challenges, but when all is said and done, it is the relationships they form along the way that see them through.
I give Runyan a lot of credit for tackling a number of complex social issues through the trials and tribulations for her three heroines and I don’t mean to downplay the historic value of the novel in any way, but it was her illustration of Quebec’s greater community of women that captured my imagination. It is obvious that a great deal of research when into this piece and that the author has a lot of respect for both French and Canadian culture, but the strength and fortitude of the nation’s founding mothers is first and foremost among her chosen themes and I greatly appreciated how she chose to display and explore those ideas through her fiction.
Duty to the Crown is the second book the Daughters of New France series and while it isn’t entirely necessary to read the novels in order, I’d definitely recommend tackling the volumes chronologically.
March 10, 2018
This is the follow-up book of “Promised to the Crown”.
This book is as interesting, if not more so than the first one.
The author, Aimie K. Runyan did an awesome job at incorporating fiction with historical events. The story revolves around three “Filles du Roi” AKA: “The King’s Daughters” who we were introduced to in the first book.
In this book, we follow the lives of those three women, their siblings and their children. When the women stepped off the ship, they were expected to marry, as soon as possible. Unlike many women at the time, the Filles du Roi were allowed to choose their husbands. The women met potential suitors in a series of chaperoned, interview-like “dates." “Speed Dating 1600s style”. We are talking about very young adolescent women. The program led to a population explosion unlike anything Canada has ever seen. Two-thirds of today's French-Canadians can trace their ancestry back to one of those original 800 Filles du Roi. These women had to marry by the age 18. Subsequent girl children, born in Quebec, had to marry by the age of 16. Large families were expected and 10 to 12 children was the norm. Life expectancy was between 40-50 years old.
I was born in Quebec and these books brought me back to elementary school. It was nice to relive the history I learned through these characters. Not only the King’s Daughters but also the colonization of “Nouvelle France”, the Jesuits and nuns, the attempt to indoctrinate the First Nations, the fur traders and explorers. The book gives good insight into that history. This series really hit a chord for me.
This was a great read. I’m hoping Aimie K. Runyan writes another sequel to this series.
This book is as interesting, if not more so than the first one.
The author, Aimie K. Runyan did an awesome job at incorporating fiction with historical events. The story revolves around three “Filles du Roi” AKA: “The King’s Daughters” who we were introduced to in the first book.
In this book, we follow the lives of those three women, their siblings and their children. When the women stepped off the ship, they were expected to marry, as soon as possible. Unlike many women at the time, the Filles du Roi were allowed to choose their husbands. The women met potential suitors in a series of chaperoned, interview-like “dates." “Speed Dating 1600s style”. We are talking about very young adolescent women. The program led to a population explosion unlike anything Canada has ever seen. Two-thirds of today's French-Canadians can trace their ancestry back to one of those original 800 Filles du Roi. These women had to marry by the age 18. Subsequent girl children, born in Quebec, had to marry by the age of 16. Large families were expected and 10 to 12 children was the norm. Life expectancy was between 40-50 years old.
I was born in Quebec and these books brought me back to elementary school. It was nice to relive the history I learned through these characters. Not only the King’s Daughters but also the colonization of “Nouvelle France”, the Jesuits and nuns, the attempt to indoctrinate the First Nations, the fur traders and explorers. The book gives good insight into that history. This series really hit a chord for me.
This was a great read. I’m hoping Aimie K. Runyan writes another sequel to this series.
Read
October 19, 2016I'm unable to leave a starred review as I was unable to finish Duty to the Crown. This is an issue of preference and not so much about the quality of writing. I went in with the expectation of historical fiction that had at least a minimal amount of research, but did not anticipate the author's liberties to the contrary to be so superfluous . I appreciate the opportunity to review the book and am certain it will resonate well with an audience who is looking for less historical backdrop, and more pure fiction.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley.
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley.
November 3, 2016
Duty to the Crown is a wonderful story about the French Canadian colony of Quebec in 1677. The story revolves around French Canadian women who were close friends with a Huron woman, their quests for finding a mate and starting families of their own. I really enjoyed this book and found it to be well-written and interesting. I definitely recommend Duty to the Crown for anyone who loves historical fiction.
Duty to the Crown by Aimee Runyon is now available by Kensington Publishing Corp. an egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
Duty to the Crown by Aimee Runyon is now available by Kensington Publishing Corp. an egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
October 13, 2017
thought I'd got a bit of fluff but this completely surprised me and turned out to be fantastic!!
November 22, 2020
A great follow-up to the first novel. Great storyline and smooth writing.
October 10, 2022
Enjoyed reading this while cruising through Canada....learned about life in New France and enjoyed the story.
March 15, 2018
Historical fiction. I greatly enjoyed this book and the history behind the settling of immigrants from France to Canada. Well worth the read.
March 13, 2018
Beautifully written
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the previous book in the series. Well written and evocative of times past. I will enjoy reading more of the author’s books.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the previous book in the series. Well written and evocative of times past. I will enjoy reading more of the author’s books.
December 27, 2017
Excellent look into the lives of New France
Compelling story with detail to hold you captive until the end. Here's hoping there is another installment to learn how the lives of the characters develop.
Compelling story with detail to hold you captive until the end. Here's hoping there is another installment to learn how the lives of the characters develop.
December 4, 2016
1 star and that is being generous ----
Would rather have a lobotomy than read something this trite and fluffy. And, riddled with historical errors, then weighed down with the leaden p.c. approach to sex and marriage and Indians and anything else that can be reduced to simplistic jargon. Plunked into a 17th century setting but the author didn't bother to research it and merrily has her early Quebec settlers living in houses with full libraries, hallways, and 'velvet' or 'plush' armchairs.
One stellar example : refers at around page 215 in the trade paperback (Kensington, 2016) , to a "silverplated hairbrush". That is just WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, for so many reasons of the date, the particular setting and that character and socioeconomic reality, and so forth. It is stunning this author was so careless--- or deliberately ?---to say the hairbrush in 1679 in frontier Quebec was silverplate instead of silver. It would not be any sort of silver but rather wood, most likely; perhaps ivory but again that's too posh. (Note: French silver didn't use the sterling hallmark then or later, but the author would only be confused by that point! ) A further example: rather than spend 3 minutes on google to determine accurate styles and wood for early Quebec furnishings, 'mahogany' is used several times. Wrong, Wrong, Wrong. It would be a waste of time and energy to list all the examples of extreme carelessness---this novel is a product of the Hillary Clinton School of Negligence In HF. Is there no editor at Kensington astute enough to catch these? The entire breathless, chatty, nauseating tale is riddled with anachronism of setting, large and small. As another review notes, little attention is paid to the political or economic realities in 1600s New France.
Unfortunately, this novel reflects a hideous tendency in HF from big Phat Commercial Publishers to push romance novels as researched and edifying. The romance subgenre rarely are either researched or edifying, and in some cases are capable of damage. A 21st century suburban housewife reading this trash, her own education less than adequate, can be deceived into thinking that 17th century Quebec is simply a made-for-tv soap with a slightly different setting than her own existence, that it has slightly different wallpaper and of course the characters have a french-y accent, doncha know?
The page layout and size of this edition make it uncomfortable to read. The plot is so insipid that anyone of even dull to normal intellect who reads more than 5 pages is boiling mad, so the bad fit for hands merely adds fuel to the fire. END OF RANT
Would rather have a lobotomy than read something this trite and fluffy. And, riddled with historical errors, then weighed down with the leaden p.c. approach to sex and marriage and Indians and anything else that can be reduced to simplistic jargon. Plunked into a 17th century setting but the author didn't bother to research it and merrily has her early Quebec settlers living in houses with full libraries, hallways, and 'velvet' or 'plush' armchairs.
One stellar example : refers at around page 215 in the trade paperback (Kensington, 2016) , to a "silverplated hairbrush". That is just WRONG, WRONG, WRONG, for so many reasons of the date, the particular setting and that character and socioeconomic reality, and so forth. It is stunning this author was so careless--- or deliberately ?---to say the hairbrush in 1679 in frontier Quebec was silverplate instead of silver. It would not be any sort of silver but rather wood, most likely; perhaps ivory but again that's too posh. (Note: French silver didn't use the sterling hallmark then or later, but the author would only be confused by that point! ) A further example: rather than spend 3 minutes on google to determine accurate styles and wood for early Quebec furnishings, 'mahogany' is used several times. Wrong, Wrong, Wrong. It would be a waste of time and energy to list all the examples of extreme carelessness---this novel is a product of the Hillary Clinton School of Negligence In HF. Is there no editor at Kensington astute enough to catch these? The entire breathless, chatty, nauseating tale is riddled with anachronism of setting, large and small. As another review notes, little attention is paid to the political or economic realities in 1600s New France.
Unfortunately, this novel reflects a hideous tendency in HF from big Phat Commercial Publishers to push romance novels as researched and edifying. The romance subgenre rarely are either researched or edifying, and in some cases are capable of damage. A 21st century suburban housewife reading this trash, her own education less than adequate, can be deceived into thinking that 17th century Quebec is simply a made-for-tv soap with a slightly different setting than her own existence, that it has slightly different wallpaper and of course the characters have a french-y accent, doncha know?
The page layout and size of this edition make it uncomfortable to read. The plot is so insipid that anyone of even dull to normal intellect who reads more than 5 pages is boiling mad, so the bad fit for hands merely adds fuel to the fire. END OF RANT
February 13, 2018
I did like this book as a sequel to "Daughters of the Crown." Spoiler alert: I am hoping that there is a third book to continue onward. There were loose ends that need to be tied, especially for Claudine's children, as well as Gabrielle and Manon. Readers will like the characters, they all approach their lives so differently. Good historical fiction choice.
February 14, 2018
Sadly accurate
The characters were well-developed. A very well done picture of the challenges women faced until the very recent times. Yes they still do but we do have more choices now
The characters were well-developed. A very well done picture of the challenges women faced until the very recent times. Yes they still do but we do have more choices now
October 25, 2016
"People are capable of far more than they give themselves credit for. Once you start on the impossible journey you'll be amazed at how far you travel."
I think I am starting this review the same way I started the previous book, Promised to the Crown, by stating my love of Canadian historical fiction. It's a location as well as a time period not easily found. I was super excited when book one was first released in May and that I didn't have to wait long for book 2 (hopefully there will be a book 3).
Where book one introduces us to Rose, Nicole and Elizabeth, their journey and introduction to New France, Duty to the Crown continues in 1667 focusing on Claudine Deschamps, Gabrielle Giroux and Manon. Though this book does work as a standalone I highly recommend starting with book one, the journey that was originally made as well as the connections will further enhance the enjoyment of this one.
The author's writing style made it very easy to get lost in this story. While these three young women come from totally different life styles and social classes they form a special bond through the trials that women faced during this time period. They lives aren't their own, with little rights and the ability to decide their own future. This special friendship was conveyed in a believable and unique manner making this reader connect not just with those 3 women but others in this book as well.
Duty to the Crown is a wonderful story of friendship, heartache and family - whether blood related or not. With its many layers and different story lines it was easy to visualize the setting and feel the emotional part of this book. A compelling story steeped with rich details brought the time period to life. While the conclusion was fitting my connection had me wanting to read more and can only hope that the Daughters of New France series continues in book #3.
Definitely a series I highly recommend.
I think I am starting this review the same way I started the previous book, Promised to the Crown, by stating my love of Canadian historical fiction. It's a location as well as a time period not easily found. I was super excited when book one was first released in May and that I didn't have to wait long for book 2 (hopefully there will be a book 3).
Where book one introduces us to Rose, Nicole and Elizabeth, their journey and introduction to New France, Duty to the Crown continues in 1667 focusing on Claudine Deschamps, Gabrielle Giroux and Manon. Though this book does work as a standalone I highly recommend starting with book one, the journey that was originally made as well as the connections will further enhance the enjoyment of this one.
The author's writing style made it very easy to get lost in this story. While these three young women come from totally different life styles and social classes they form a special bond through the trials that women faced during this time period. They lives aren't their own, with little rights and the ability to decide their own future. This special friendship was conveyed in a believable and unique manner making this reader connect not just with those 3 women but others in this book as well.
Duty to the Crown is a wonderful story of friendship, heartache and family - whether blood related or not. With its many layers and different story lines it was easy to visualize the setting and feel the emotional part of this book. A compelling story steeped with rich details brought the time period to life. While the conclusion was fitting my connection had me wanting to read more and can only hope that the Daughters of New France series continues in book #3.
Definitely a series I highly recommend.
August 26, 2018
Duty to the Crown was an enthralling read. I started out with a bit of hesitancy as it is a sequel, but follows new characters, although they are all related to the original trio. I came to really appreciate each of the point of views. This book is quite a bit darker and more tragic than the first. While in the first, each character definitely has their own struggles, mistreatment, depression, and loss are much more prevalent. Of course there were the happy moments which made me smile, and others which made me laugh. The variety of emotions which this book engendered in me made it all the better.
My only complaint is the lack of Henri, Rose’s husband. I do believe he actually only spoke once in the entire novel! This disappointed me a bit as I adored Rose and Henri in the first book. I understand it, as none of the major POVs are connected to them, but still. I felt as though Rose and Henri were upper class enough to have been at some of the major social occasions, though they were rarely mentioned. Rose does have a bit of a role as she has a connection with Manon and later Claudine, but Henri is rarely mentioned, let alone seen.
Some of the opinions expressed by the characters in this novel grated on me a bit, but overall I still enjoyed this book. Just like the first, I could not put it down!
My only complaint is the lack of Henri, Rose’s husband. I do believe he actually only spoke once in the entire novel! This disappointed me a bit as I adored Rose and Henri in the first book. I understand it, as none of the major POVs are connected to them, but still. I felt as though Rose and Henri were upper class enough to have been at some of the major social occasions, though they were rarely mentioned. Rose does have a bit of a role as she has a connection with Manon and later Claudine, but Henri is rarely mentioned, let alone seen.
Some of the opinions expressed by the characters in this novel grated on me a bit, but overall I still enjoyed this book. Just like the first, I could not put it down!
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December 14, 2016This book follows Manon, Gabrielle and Claudine who we met in the last book.
All the girls are from different backgrounds but they all have their lives intertwined. Manon is back with the Lefebvre family after being cast out by her Huron village. Both the Hurons and the French treat her with suspicion. Claudine becomes to live with her sister at the Lefebvre mansion and has big dreams about finding a young, handsome and rich husband. Gabrielle works at her adoptive parents’ bakery and dreams about becoming a seamstress.
I loved to see how the girls changed during the time. Claudine became from a silly girl into a devoted mother and realizes that she might have to lower her standards with life and getting a husband. Gabrielle went from an alcoholic and abusive father to an abusive husband but manages to change her life and finds love in her life. Manon finds her life between two very different worlds and found love and family.
I really loved this book and I’m hoping there will be a 3rd book.
All the girls are from different backgrounds but they all have their lives intertwined. Manon is back with the Lefebvre family after being cast out by her Huron village. Both the Hurons and the French treat her with suspicion. Claudine becomes to live with her sister at the Lefebvre mansion and has big dreams about finding a young, handsome and rich husband. Gabrielle works at her adoptive parents’ bakery and dreams about becoming a seamstress.
I loved to see how the girls changed during the time. Claudine became from a silly girl into a devoted mother and realizes that she might have to lower her standards with life and getting a husband. Gabrielle went from an alcoholic and abusive father to an abusive husband but manages to change her life and finds love in her life. Manon finds her life between two very different worlds and found love and family.
I really loved this book and I’m hoping there will be a 3rd book.
April 27, 2018
This is a continuation of the Daughters of New France series. It is better to read the first one, Promised to the Crown.
Women were originally sent to New France to provide wives for the male settlers. This story focuses on 3 women living in Quebec in 1670s and '80s. One woman was born in France, one born in New France, and one is Native Indian. Their lives have lots of challenges and joys as they grow up and marry. This is a period that I really know very little about - New France is usually given a few paragraphs in US history books - so there is lots to learn about.
The book is well-written and the characters are well drawn. I throughly enjoyed it.
Women were originally sent to New France to provide wives for the male settlers. This story focuses on 3 women living in Quebec in 1670s and '80s. One woman was born in France, one born in New France, and one is Native Indian. Their lives have lots of challenges and joys as they grow up and marry. This is a period that I really know very little about - New France is usually given a few paragraphs in US history books - so there is lots to learn about.
The book is well-written and the characters are well drawn. I throughly enjoyed it.
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