This is an engrossing read filled with meticulous historical detail that carries on from the first book in the series, The Burning Chamber left off. Minou Reydon, now married to her childhood love, Piet and the mother of two children, lives contentedly in the south of France as chatelaine to the estate that was surprisingly her birth right. Underneath her contentment lies a slight unease that her enemy, Vidal, now a powerful Catholic cardinal, and who had nearly succeeded in killing her and usurping her inheritance might strike again, despite her husband’s assurances. But Piet has his own fears and concerns that are wrapped up in the politics of the Huguenot religion and the conflict with the Catholics that are momentarily at a simmer after years of war. A peace of sort has been negotiated in the form of a marriage between the Navarre prince and the royal princess. And as a prominent member of the Huguenots Piet feels he must go. The wedding and the Reydon family attendance sets off a series of events and catastrophes that last for years and forever change the course of one family’s history and that of a nation.

Kate Mosse’s storytelling excellence comes into play yet again in this riveting tale of politics, religion and revenge. She weaves in so much fact and detail with a wonderful tale you know you are in the hands of someone who understands how to keep a reader engaged. If you loved the Burning Chamber you’ll love this sequel.

Kate Mosse is an expert in historical research and then reeling the reader into those lands of long ago and making them real again. This is historic fiction at its best.

I reread 'The Burning Chamber' just to refresh my memory, but in all honesty the story can be picked up straight from 'The City of Tears'. France, 1572 , and the Wars of Religion are 10 years old. Amid political and religious intrigue the lives of the Joubert family are torn apart by an old enemy ,Vidal.

I knew very little about this era of history before reading these novels but know I am heading for the history section to find out more before the last of the trilogy is published.

I really enjoyed this follow on from The Burning Chambers - the story of Piet and Minou set against the religious wars between Catholics and Huguenots. This historical landscape is brought vividly to life - you can feel yourself there. I was invested in the story of the family and their troubles during the period. Their story is set against the hatred of Vidal for Piet - a hatred which haunts both men and dictates the final outcome of the novel.

A cracking story - full of action and feeling.

I am a fan of Kate Mosse and she never disappoints. I would recommend this to anyone who hasn’t ever read any of her books. Her writing is really smooth and she Stella a great story that just evolves. Well worth purchasing!

It was great to read The City of Tears and find out what happened to Piet and Minou after The Burning Chambers.

I really enjoyed the book and it was so well researched, you felt instantly transported to 16th Century France.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a review.

Exciting historical novel with plenty of action and in-depth research

This is the first Kate Mosse book that I've read and will not be the last. This is the second in a series and I hadn't read the first. However enough of the events of the first book are made clear throughout the book. This is the story of Minou, the chatelaine of Puivert, and the events that guide her life in the late 16th century during the Wars of Religion in France and in the Netherlands. Her family are at the centre of historical events but it's their personal story that dominates. There's loads of interesting and well-developed characters and the pace is good and exciting. It reminds me of the work of Alexandre Dumas and Sir Walter Scott in the way that it puts ordinary people in a historical context in an action-packed story. Highly enjoyable and recommended.

A really good book. As always Kate's books are well researched and beautifully written. It is the second book in a trilogy, so you do need to read Burning Chambers first. I'd read it ages ago and it took me a little while to remember it as Kate drip feeds information about their past rather than give a a lot of information in the first few chapters. It is a little slow in parts but still makes a great read.

The City of Tears, this wonderful book transports you back in time to France in 1572 following the dramatic events of a family caught up in the devastating religious wars. Kate Moses weaves a story rich in detail which tugs on you heart strings as you follow the twists and turns of the plot. Unputdownable !

Having really loved The Burning Chambers I was eager to read this sequel and I wasn’t disappointed. Life in 16century France was tough, especially for those such as Minou and Piet, who had enemies in high places - the odious and devious Vidal. This superbly researched book takes reader not just to the the story and background and much of France and Holland, but to the sights and smells of the settings too, and offers a really immersive experience. I think had I not read the first book it might have taken a while to really get involved in The City of Tears, but for me it was pretty much without fault and I can’t wait for the next book.

Love and courage during the Wars of Religion in 16th century France. I've enjoyed Kate Mosse's previous books, especially The Burning Chambers. Reading this follow-up was not a disappointment, though it was a bit slow to get going. Piet and Minou have so far survived the long-lasting wars in France between the Catholics and Protestant Huguenots. They are happily married and living in the Languedoc area with their young and spirited daughter, Marta. But the wars are far from over. A strong story of bravery in the face of adversity and the damage that religious strife can do to a community. Love the striking but simple cover.

Well! What a fabulous story. Kate Mosse is a favourite author of mine and this book certainly lived up to my expectations.
It is set between 1572 and 1594, in Puivert, Paris, Amsterdam and Chartres, during the time of the Religious Wars. The Catholic forces followed Francis, Duke of Guise, while the Protestants, or Huguenots supported Henri of Navarre, Henri IV.
The massacre on St Bartholomew’s Day in Paris, features near the beginning of the story. Later, the uprising in Amsterdam is the stage to the next part of the story.
The story is about life for the Joubert family through these years.
As I had not read The Burning Chambers, the first book in this series, I wondered if I would have difficulty with the story. However the book can stand alone.
I really enjoyed the mixture of historical fact and the suspense. I would highly recommend this book. Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC and also to Pan Macmillan and of course Kat Mosse.

It is now June 1572 and the Wars of Religion are in the balance.
Minou Joubert and her family are travelling to Paris for a wedding between the Catholic Crown and Henri, the Huguenot king of Navarre. It could bring peace to France.
However , Minou doesn't know that her greatest enemy, Vidal, will also be there and that at the end of the festivities she will suffer the loss of a child and the death of another family member and that they will be escaping with their lives to Amsterdam.
Second in the trilogy the Burning Chambers and had me hooked from the first page.

This is a superbly researched reflection of life in the midst of the wars between Catholics and Huguenots in sixteenth century France and Holland. The descriptions give a real feel for what is going on and provide a credible context for the family saga that is the main point of the book. Families are divided by the side they have chosen, treachery and barbaric behaviour are widespread and all is well written here. It is a book for lovers of historical fiction.

It is 1572, and there is fragile peace following the tumultuous years of the Wars of Religion. Piet Reydon, orphaned at an early age has never known who his father was and lives in hope that somebody somewhere may eventually be able to tell him. Piet has fought many battles alongside the Huguenots and is now happily settled with his wife Minou Joubert and their family on her estate in Puivert. The family are invited to Paris to attend the wedding of Henri, King of Navarre and Marguerite de Valois, and although worried about the fact that their journey from the South of France to the capital will not be an easy one, Minou knows that Piet will enjoy meeting old friends, so the invitation is accepted. Shortly after the marriage, where Minou sees an old family enemy, Vidal - now fully robed as a Cardinal, , fighting and carnage break out in the city, one of their children goes missing and a Dutch lady virtually collapses on their doorstep. The family is forced to flee in haste to Amsterdam, aided by their now Dutch friend. Piet finally discovers his father’s name. Six years later yet more information comes to light and Piet and Minou head to Chartres - known as the City of Tears. This is an epic tale of family battles, the fight to survive and the search for reunion and happiness.

I had been waiting two and a half years for this book, the sequel to "The Burning Chambers". As it had been so long since the first book I had forgotten some of the detail, but soon got pulled back in to 16th century France, with the ongoing religious wars. There is plenty of historic background in these books but, at their heart, is a tale of family, love, jealousy, revenge, and many other emotions. This second book starts 10 years on from the first so Piet and Minou's family has expanded and everyone is that bit older.

The action this time is set in Amsterdam, Paris and the Chartres area, in addition to the Languedoc. All are atmospherically described and brought to life - you can almost smell the aromas! This is historical fiction at it's best. Hopefully the third book won't be so long in arriving.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this ebook.

As I do quite often,I failed to realise I had not read the first book.
It didnt matter,this was full of the characters NOW,without feeling like I'd missed anything.
A family full of loyalty,love and courage,dragged through wars based on religion.
It spans over 20 years I think,and there were times where I held my breath as the tension mounted.
Some fantastic central characters,especially the strong females.
Marta and Minou will stay with me a while I think

Once again Kate Mosse produces another wonderful tale of France in 1572 when this story opens. Minou Joubert and her husband piet are safely residing with their extended family when an invitation arrives asking them to attend the wedding in Paris of Henri, the Huguenot King of Navarre to the Catholic princess, which has been brokered by Catherine de' Medici and Jeanne d'Albert in the hope of uniting France and bring peace. The novel brings alive the period and Paris as it prepares for the event. Mosse's skill in historical writing is excellent and the events that culminate in the massacre of Huguenots on the eve of the Feast Day of St Bartholem is to have devestating results for Minou's family and they will be scattered to the four winds! From Paris to Chatres and then Amsterdam, named the City of Tears with its range of immigrants residing. The the story gallops along with the family's enemy Vidal, lurking on the edge determined to wipe them out. This time the story focuses on Piet's origins and a long hidden secret.
Thank you for allowing me to continue this trilogy and enjoy the wide landscape of the sixteenth century that Kate Mosse brings to life in this novel.

Another book in The Burning Chambers series, well worth the wait! I really enjoy the style of Kate Moses writing and the was she transports you back into another world. If you enjoyed the first book you will definitely enjoy this one. Brilliant read.

This is the second book in the series following Minou Joubert and her family in 16th century France. Do not even think about reading this if you haven't read the first book, "The Burning Chambers". You would be lost in seconds!
We are about 10 years on from the end of "The Burning Chambers". Minou & Piet are settled in Puivert with their family around them. Minou's Father, sister, aunt and their children. The Wars of Religion are ongoing throughout France. However, peace is in sight with the royal marriage. Minou and Piet decide to take their family to Paris to the marriage but there is still danger lurking with old enemies not far away.
As always with Kate Mosse's books this is full of historical detail. I have learnt so much about this period of history from reading her books. This is certainly not a light read and quite lengthy. Not for the faint hearted but well worth the read. Once I was immersed in the story I was loathe to stop.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

I'm going to be a dissenting voice here and say that I enjoyed this far less than the initial novel in this series; The Burning Chambers. Don't get me wrong, it is still exceptionally well written and definitely one of it's greatest strengths is how well Moss builds the historical period around you, across multiple settings and even countries. I did however feel that there was a significant amount of repetition of themes from the previous novel in terms of the narrative; the unknown inheritance for example, and that there was a shift in tone from the villains of the piece being complex, perhaps mentally unstable individuals to just being evil.

I appreciated the occasional shift of perspective to Vidal and his hunt for various religious artefacts, but felt he was a far weaker character than Minou or Piet. There wasn't enough effort made to humanise him and it made him a rather two dimensional villain, rather than a fully formed character in and of his own right. This wasn't helped by the fact that his motivations were two fold, and neither of them were particularly strong. The author also leans heavily on the character building she did in the first book, and I suspect if you tried to read this as a standalone you would really struggle to engage with the characters and the narrative. This reliance also means that new characters aren't anywhere near as deeply drawn as individuals like Minou and Piet, who come with the full backstory and history from the first novel. Secondary characters are also far weaker, and some of the historical perspective is lost. I often simply didn't really care when peripheral characters were killed off, whereas these incidental deaths really impacted me in The Burning Chambers.

That said, I really enjoyed how well Mosse moves with the historical setting and how she changes the focus from the immediate romance of Minou and Piet to a far more settled relationship. The responsibilities of land ownership and parenthood have changed the dynamics of the relationship significantly, and Mosse really does well at portraying this. I loved the dynamics of Minou and her children throughout the novel, and how fear for her children has changed her priorities. Much of the first half of the novel is slow reading, but I enjoyed it as I felt it built up these relationships and the changes that have happened in the last ten years. It also gives Mosse a chance to set the scene for the next waves of violence to grip France in this tumultuous time of war and short lived peace.

There are some things Mosse does really, really well here. Her descriptions of Paris and of how the sudden conflict once more cracks the very foundations of Piet and Minou's life are fantastic. I felt she really captured the fear that leads to becoming a refugee from a country that has your heart and your home, and yet how individuals adapt and change to meet their circumstances. If she had stuck to the historical conflict and how this impacted the family, I suspect this would have been a four or even five star novel. But the over-arching narrative of Piet's family name stole some of the shine from this novel, as it felt like a copy and pasted version of Minou's story in the first novel. Likewise, whilst the historical period and the brutal impact of civil conflict was captured brilliantly, the focus on Vidal and his obsession seemed far thinner and marred my enjoyment somewhat. I'd have preferred more to have been with Marta, as that is a tale that was all but forgotten until the end.

I will still undoubtedly be reading the third novel in this series though, as Mosse writes beautifully and have really peaked my interest in what comes next. I still have no idea what's going on with the nineteenth century prologue though. It clearly has direct relevance to events in the main story, but there isn't enough there to really make is a decent hook.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my review copy of this novel.