The Empress

More about the book

Set in 1853, this dazzling reimagining explores the courtship of one of history's most iconic couples, Elisabeth "Sisi" of Bavaria and Emperor Franz of Austria. Sixteen-year-old Sisi is determined to wait for a love that mirrors the passionate tales of poets, rejecting the idea of a passionless life like her older sister Helene, who is set to marry Franz. Sisi yearns for more than the constraints of court life filled with corsets and dull suitors. Meanwhile, in Austria, Franz is recovering from an assassination attempt, grappling with fear and the weight of his imperial duties. To maintain peace, he has pledged to court Helene at his upcoming birthday celebration, believing that announcing a new Empress will unite the country. However, when Sisi and Franz meet in the palace gardens, away from their families' scrutiny, an undeniable connection sparks between them. As their secret conversations deepen into something more profound, they face a pivotal choice: adhere to the rigid expectations of the court or embrace the passionate desires igniting between them.