The Queen Of The Night

The Queen of the Night is a lush, beautifully written second novel by Alexander Chee. Set in the world of opera, Lilliet Berne is a popular American born opera singer living in France during the Third Republic. With a past she keeps shrouded in mystery Lilliet is at first surprised then disturbed when she receives a play that seems to follow the hidden roads of her life. Only a few people know about her past, and only a few have a chance of ruining her.

Dipping into Lilliet’s past, first with her childhood on the American frontier, then as a circus performer, and soon as a spy, Chee treats the reader to a grand story with an elegant backdrop, seductive writing, and helmed by an intriguing cast of characters.

The Queen of the Night is not a book for anyone looking for a fast paced read of scandals and hi-jinks, it’s more of a mellow but still dramatic tale building to an almost tragic crescendo and very much like the operas Lilliet preforms. Definitely a book for operatic fans and history buffs.