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Lauren Groff’s Matrix meets Ophelia Field’s The Favourite in this wry, sexy, and sharp historical novel inspired by true events, featuring an elite group of Parisian intellectuals whose fairy tales will transform literature and endanger both their lives and their secrets.

Why don’t they tell you that the beautiful princess becomes the evil queen; that they are just the same person at different points in their story?

Removed from the machinations of Louis XIV’s Versailles, an intellectual circle of mostly women gathers in Parisian salons to share what Marie D’Aulnoy, their hostess, calls contes de fées—fairy tales. Recently expelled from court and grieving his wife’s death, Charles Perrault finds solace and creative inspiration among these storytellers. Marie, an impressive and enigmatic figure, has her own dark past: sold into marriage to a cruel baron, imprisoned, and now, despite scandal and gossip, she’s managed to return to polite society and host her salon.

As winter casts its chill, a wave of poisonings at Versailles ignites fear and suspicion. The King’s paranoia grows, and it seems no one is safe, not even within the salon’s walls. Someone within their circle is a spy, reporting their clandestine activities and threatening to unravel their lives and the salon itself.

Modern Fairies is a dazzling, provocative novel of tales within tales, blending wit, wisdom, and a touch of the bawdy. It reimagines familiar fairy tales with fresh perspectives, perfect for fans of Jenny Offill, Deborah Levy, and Angela Carter. 📚❤️

Item description from the seller

Lauren Groff’s Matrix meets Ophelia Field’s The Favourite in this wry, sexy, and sharp historical novel inspired by true events, featuring an elite group of Parisian intellectuals whose fairy tales will transform literature and endanger both their lives and their secrets.

Why don’t they tell you that the beautiful princess becomes the evil queen; that they are just the same person at different points in their story?

Removed from the machinations of Louis XIV’s Versailles, an intellectual circle of mostly women gathers in Parisian salons to share what Marie D’Aulnoy, their hostess, calls contes de fées—fairy tales. Recently expelled from court and grieving his wife’s death, Charles Perrault finds solace and creative inspiration among these storytellers. Marie, an impressive and enigmatic figure, has her own dark past: sold into marriage to a cruel baron, imprisoned, and now, despite scandal and gossip, she’s managed to return to polite society and host her salon.

As winter casts its chill, a wave of poisonings at Versailles ignites fear and suspicion. The King’s paranoia grows, and it seems no one is safe, not even within the salon’s walls. Someone within their circle is a spy, reporting their clandestine activities and threatening to unravel their lives and the salon itself.

Modern Fairies is a dazzling, provocative novel of tales within tales, blending wit, wisdom, and a touch of the bawdy. It reimagines familiar fairy tales with fresh perspectives, perfect for fans of Jenny Offill, Deborah Levy, and Angela Carter. 📚❤️