In her latest novel, Kate Mosse returns to the theme of religious persecution in France. Set in Carcassonne and Toulouse, this story is set against the background of the persecution of the Huguenots in the sixteenth century by the established Catholic Church. With a strong cast of well drawn characters, an attention to descriptive detail and a complex plot, this is an absorbing and satisfying read with a tantalising hint that the repercussions are still being felt 300 years later. The next book perhaps?

It’s always good news when Kate Mosse brings out a new book and this one is no exception. I enjoyed the Labryinth series and I am pleased to hear that this is the first of the trilogy. The book has been thoroughly researched and the attention to detail in time, place and character are remarkable. Her characters are vivid, believable and fully rounded. Roll on book 2

Kate Mosse, just as you hope for.

As a long time Kate Mosse fan, it was with excitement that I opened this book and embarked upon another epic tale of life in a France torn apart by religious bigotry. It didn't disappoint.

The first in a new trilogy, it brings us more families living in fear of religious persecution and helps us understand just how this situation came to be. As always, a strong heroine drives the action, with an excellent supporting cast of friends and family and...of course...a romantic interest.

The characterisation is excellent. We are drawn deep into each character's motivations for their behaviour, whether this be religious fervour, revenge for humiliations past, desire to escape the constraints of society, madness, or, quite simply, stepping up when times get tough. Not one person is black hat or white (except our heroine, obviously!) and by seeing behind the actions to the reasons we connect more deeply with everybody we meet; even those we dislike have their reasons and while we judge them in the light of our own century's freedoms, at least we can appreciate what drove them to act the way they do.

A great success, again, and i can't wait for the next installment.

This is a true Kate Mosse style novel and as a follower of her I simply loved this one as much as I loved her other books. Set in the 16th century during 5he time of great religious strife. The characters and scenes are so real and established in the period setting. Kate has managed, as usual, to bring so many facts into her fiction that it becomes a gripping story that enfolds at a good pace keeping the reader on his or her toes and wanting to find out more. I fell in love with Minou and her bravery displayed throughout.
Great book by a great author depicting French history in a lovely way.

A very enjoyable read. As always Kate Mosse describes everything is great detail evoking a real sense of the period. Set in the 16th century during the wars between Catholics and Huguenots, the story follows the lives of Catholic Minou and Huguenot Piet. Unfortunately, the plot is somewhat predictable and the outcome a little too tidy. Despite that, it was a good read.

Set in 16th century France, in the landscapes of Toulouse and Carcassonne, The Burning Chambers is another tour de force from Kate Mosse. Minou Joubert's existence holds a secret, a secret that she doesn't yet know but which threatens to destroy her and all those she holds dear. The wars of religion between Catholics and Huguenots form the historical background to Minou's story and the love she fights to hold on to. A great and gripping read, highly recommended.

I absolutely loved Kate Mosse’s Languedoc trilogy (Labyrinth, Sepulchre and Citadel) and the atmospheric The Winter Ghosts. The author returns to the setting of previous novels – Carcassonne – but this time without the dual time structure of Labyrinth and Sepulchre. Instead the reader is plunged into the sights and sounds of 16th century France, a time of religious strife between the Catholic Church and Protestant Huguenots. ‘The threat of being denounced terrified everyone; a man could be strung up for uttering the wrong prayer, kneeling at the wrong altar.’ However, as one character observes, “A war of faith is always about more than faith.” In this case, for some, it’s about power and influence.

The Burning Chambers contains all the elements a reader has come to love and expect from a Kate Mosse novel: strong female characters, secrets passed down through generations, an inheritance, a forgery, a Will, a labyrinthine but totally absorbing plot. There is love, passion and betrayal. There is murder, treachery and brutal interrogation. And, when it comes down to it, who can be trusted, even amongst those you believe your closest friends?

The story lines involving Minou and Piet are interspersed with extracts from the testimony of an unnamed woman who reveals herself as something of a Lady Macbeth character, prepared to stop at nothing to achieve her aims. Eventually, the various story lines and leading characters converge on the place that holds the key to one element of the mystery before building to a dramatic climax. However, ‘old crimes cast long shadows…’ so this is a feud that could continue down the generations.

If you gave Mary Berry flour, butter, eggs and sugar, you could be absolutely sure she’d create the perfect Victoria sponge cake. In the same way, in The Burning Chambers, Kate Mosse expertly combines all the ingredients necessary for a deliciously satisfying historical fiction novel…with the Prologue providing the promise of further appetising slices still to come.

I received a review copy courtesy of publishers, Mantle Books, and NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review.

This novel is set in 16th century France, during a time of great friction between the Catholic and Protestant churches. I was instantly drawn into the period and place in which this story is set, so thorough is Kate Mosse's historical research. I was also gripped by the plot from the beginning. I found it a little hard to keep track of the different characters to start with but this made it more realistic as life and indeed the story of the reformation is not confined to the deeds of a few people, and as the story progressed their relationships became clearer. The pace of the plot kept me turning pages where I would normally balk at reading 600 pages. I did feel that the episodes of fighting were a little short on detail but having heard the author speak on radio recently, she doesn't like writing about violence. There is enough information about the aftermath to bring home the tragedy of these events which actually happened. There are tantalizing glimpses into the future of the families introduced in this first volume (of three?). I'm looking forward to reading the full stories.

The Burning Chambers is the first in a new trilogy of books from Kate Mosse, which will stretch from 16th century France to 19th century South Africa. The first instalment is set in Mosse’s beloved Carcassonne, where persecution of the Protestant Huguenot e by the Catholic church and state is at its height. Young bookseller’s daughter Minou Joubert was raised a Catholic but has enormous sympathy for the plight of her persecuted countrymen and when she meets Piet, a Huguenot rebel who is on the run from the authorities, they become embroiled in a tangled web of treachery, violence and betrayal.

The burning chambers of the title were the torture cells where protestants had their confessions extracted by terrible force, a method which their deluded and fanatical tormentors saw as “the only way to save those who have turned their face from God, from salvation, from the endless damnation of their heresy”.

It’s a novel of full of tales of love, betrayal and religious intolerance. I have to admit I felt the story dragged a little half way through but towards the end the pace picked up dramatically, leading to a frantic and gripping conclusion. The story is bookended by chapters set in 19th century South Africa which are obviously snapshots of forthcoming instalments of the series. I’m intrigued and will definitely keep reading.

Nobody does the Languedoc like Kate Mosse! I didn’t realise the religious wars of France were just as viscious and prolonged as in Britain during the same time period ( Tudors and Stuarts). I was very interested to read this as I have been to Carcassonne and so could clearly visualise the scenes set there and its surrounds.
This is really the story of an everyday family living in Carcassonne with a secret. It is also a romance. The story is based in Carcassonne and then Toulouse where bitter battles were fought between the Huguenots and Catholics.
The mystery itself and the romance work quite well, but the strength of this book is Mosse’s extensive knowledge and evocative description of the beautiful region in which it is set and the intricacies of the religious problem. Within this she has created a wide cast of believable and fully drawn characters.

The Burning Chambers,  Kate Mosse

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Historical fiction

I remember reading Kate's Labyrinth years ago, but haven't read any of her books since then but I enjoy historical fiction and was keen to read this.

I don't know much about the religious divides of this time in France, I know more about UK history for this time and thought I'd enjoy reading about it. As in UK when there were religious controversies and changes, its a particularly gruesome time, where people were taken for spurious reasons and tortured at will. Its weird isn't it how we think torturing someone for a confession will bring out the truth....
Sadly though I found the book incredibly slow starting, and though the pace did pick up I never got really engrossed in the story. I felt kind of bogged down by detail at times and had to put the book aside. That's unusual for me, I love details, I love the little nitty-gritty intricacies of people's lives, but in this book I felt that it just didn't work for me.
If you've an interest in french/religious history this may appeal to you, I certainly expected I'd love it but...It's well written and has all the elements for a good read for me but was one of those where the story and I just didn't gel. I'm not really sure why, just that I found it a struggle to keep reading and eventually I was just pleased to have finished.
I won't be reading further books in this series but would happily pick up another of Kate's stories, even when you usually adore an authors work there's always the chance some won't suit.

Stars: Two and a half, I enjoyed parts but overall it wasn't a hit with me.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

Kate Mosse is hugely influential in the publishing world, largely due to to founding the Women’s Prize for Fiction. She is also a hugely successful novelist.

Mosse’s novel Labyrinth was a phenomenal success followed by Sepulchre and Citadel. The Burning Chambers takes us back to Carcassonne and Toulouse and the French middle ages.

The year is 1562, the Catholic ruling King of France is waging war against the protestant Huguenots. In Carcassonne, live the Joubert family. Bernard, the Father, Minou the eldest daughter, Aimeris her brother and little sister Alis, Madame Joubert dead five years ago.

All seemed well until Bernard returned from his travels and now refuses to leave the house, forcing Minou to take charge of his small bookshop. Life is about to get more complicated when a letter, with the word ‘SHE KNOWS THAT YOU LIVE’ is delivered to the bookshop. Just what do the words mean, who is the she?

Elsewhere trouble is brewing, there is danger in every corner, and not all can be trusted as Piet Reydon, Huguenot rebel, is finding to his cost. A chance meeting with old friend Vidal, a high ranking Catholic clergyman and the question of the lost shroud of Antiroch leave Piet fleeing Carcassonne for Toulouse but not before a fleeting encounter with Minou. Their lives will become inextricably linked when they find themselves trapped in the city when ferocious fighting breaks out between the Catholics and the Huguenots.

In the small village of Puivert, a long hidden document threatens the status of its Mistress, Blanche de Bruyere who will stop at nothing to protect herself.

If your reading this and thinking this all sounds too much, then suspend that thought. Yes, there are several strands to the novel and yes it all sounds a bit complicated don’t be put off because this novel has everything.

Lets start with how wonderful the characters are.

We have our dashing hero Piet Reydon, desperate to liberate France from the tyranny of the Catholics, to let every man chose how and what religion they wish to follow. He is brave and courageous not afraid to face those who would see him dead.

Minou is our heroine, a young naive woman forced to grow up, to face upto her past and fight for her family. She is tenacious and driven, hugley strong in the face of great adversity.

We have two wonderful villains in Vidal and Blanche De Bruyere. Vidal intent on gaining power and authority in the French Catholic church stopping at nothing to get what he wants. He has a great partner in Blanche, obsessed with finding Minou and safeguarding her status to the point of insanity.

There are numerous other characters who play their part and enhance the whole novel, some adding a lighter touch in what can be quite a dark novel.

The historical detail is just brilliant. Mosse has obviously done her research but does not swamp the reader in too much detail. There is just enough information for you to understand the complexities of the conflict and how the characters represent each side.

The imagery is amazing and I particular loved the scenes towards the end which were so vivid and real I felt I could have been there.

The novel is long at 600 pages but at no point did it feel laboured or that I wanted it to end. It is hugely fast paced barely leaving the reader time to catch their breath before the next swathe of battle and intrigue.

It is a novel with everything, war, intrigue and love and I cannot wait for the next in the series. My Mum is a recent Kate Mosse convert and she is going to love it!

Rich with historic and geographic details, based on religion wars in France this novel was a good and informative read. Secrets and mystery elements in the story keeps readers attention. My only criticism would be that it could have been shorter, if only it had less romance.
I liked the settings and would love to visit Carcassone!

The Burning Chambers by Kate Moss is a historical fiction set in the 16th Century during the religious wars. As expected from her, there are multiple aspects to the book: Family dynamics, secrets, lies, mystery, drama, romance and more. It's a big book, so it starts a bit slow, but pics up at times. The characters are really good and very well built. They make you read their story. The writing is detailed and atmospheric. Being a historical fiction, of course there's an element of being informative, which I love about historical fictions.

Because of its rich content, I think the book would appeal to a range of readers. It really didn't disappoint as a Kate Moss book, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Definitely recommended.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I was drawn into this epic tale from the start. This is a well researched beautifully written historic novel. Kate Mosse really knows how to write a story. The descriptions and the characters built the atmosphere. I could imagine everything. I was totally caught up in this novel.. I am so glad that it is part of a trilogy.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for my copy.

I like Kate Mosse books and always look forward to her next offering.
This one did not fail to keep me completely absorbed in the story-line and the characters were interesting and compelling.
A small niggle is I kept waiting for the book to work it's way around to where it started , in South Africa and it never did, it stayed firmly in France with no explanation at all for the South African inclusion. I even went back and re-read the beginning of the book to see if I had missed something - but I don't think I did. Odd !

I have been a fan of Kate Mosse ever since I read Labyrinth. When I received a ARC of The Burning Chambers I was delighted. What a fasinating novel! Wonderful rich characters and a gripping atmospheric plot. I'm so pleased this is to be a trilogy - what a treat to look forward to! I highly recommend The Burning Chambers, I'm sure it will be a best seller.
Thank you to Netgalley, Kate Mosse and Pan Macmillan for my ARC - I loved it!

Another great read from Kate Mosse. Just love her style of writing. IT's the kind of book you literally get lost in, and when you look at the clock, you wonder where the time went!

OMG was my immediate reaction after, and during, reading The Burning Chambers. I really just want to use superlative after superlative to describe this book but I guess that may be too much, so here is my review. I really can’t believe that it has been thirteen years since Kate Mosse released Labrynth, the book that made her famous and made me a life long fan. In her first series we were first introduced the beautiful landscape of Carcassone, scarred by the religious wars that took place there. In The Burning Chambers we are back in Carcassone but in the sixteenth century, during the Reformation in Europe. Wars in the name of Religion were still being fought and into this we follow the stories of Minou and Piet, one Catholic, the other a Heugenot whose lives cross during this time of turmoil. This is a book that has it all; a love story, action, adventure, secrets, a mysterious piece of paper, war and a fabulous cast of characters.

Kate Mosse’s attention to detail in time, place and character are remarkable. Her characters are vivid, believable and fully rounded. I loved Minou’s tenacity and naturally caring persona. She not only brings up her younger brother and sister but also during the turmoil of war has more concerns for others than herself. Piet has the belief that the two religions can work alongside each other and live together, but this belief puts him in jeopardy and makes an enemy of his friend from college Vidal, a Catholic Priest trying to climb the ranks. The other enemy is the mysterious lady whose writings describe a mysterious Will and a legacy that is slowly revealed through out the narrative. These characters jump the page making the reader invested in their outcome.

The historical research is impeccable, there is so much detail, and fact and fiction combine seamlessly in this book. This is one of my favourite periods in history, it was a time of great change, people began to question authority, especially where religion was concerned, wars were fought, and countries boarders changed frequently, a renaissance in many ways. The descriptive writing brings the sounds, sights and smells of Carcassone, Toulouse and Puivert to life.

Reading this book really made me happy, which was a mean feat after having a bad week with my health. It is a truly outstanding read, the writing flowed so seamlessly and lyrically and that made this a joy to read. I fell into this book and lost myself in it, and that is what a a good book should do; take you away from your daily troubles and take you to another place, to be part of someone else’s story for a while. It is always a bonus for me as well if I learn something when reading a book, and with the historical research I learned a lot more about this period in French history.

My final words are simple, just go and buy The Burning Chambers, it is simply a brilliant, accomplished and superb book. And the final bonus for me is that this is the first in a new series that will span three hundred years from sixteenth century France to nineteenth century Southern Africa; I think I may have gone to book heaven!!

Without a doubt, Kate Mosse is at the top of her class in this genre of historical fiction and The Burning Chambers is no exception. She has the ability to bring to life a time in our history which is so different to our own lives but we can still feel that experience through her words alone. The French setting for me is a bonus as it provides a new dimension for my own enlightenment. And, of course there is the gripping tale that always comes with such a fascinating author.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.