Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Court of Shadows  By  cover art

The Court of Shadows

By: Victor Dixen, Françoise Bui - translator
Narrated by: Carlotta Brentan
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $30.09

Buy for $30.09

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

“Dixen excels at concocting unexpected detours and jaw-dropping cliffhangers. Anne Rice fans will be especially enthralled.”―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

A fiery heroine seeks vengeance against a royal court of deadly vampires in this epic alternate history set in lavish Versailles.

Louis XIV transformed from the Sun King into the King of Shadows when he embraced immortality and became the world’s first vampire. For the last three centuries, he has been ruling the kingdom from the decadent Court of Shadows in Versailles, demanding the blood of his subjects to sate his nobles’ thirst and maintain their loyalty.

In the heart of rural France, commoner Jeanne Froidelac witnesses the king’s soldiers murder her family and learns of her parents’ role in a brewing rebellion involving the forbidden secrets of alchemy. To seek her revenge, Jeanne disguises herself as an aristocrat and enrolls in a prestigious school for aspiring courtiers. She soon finds herself at the doors of the palace of Versailles.

But Jeanne, of course, is no aristocrat. She dreams not of court but of blood.

The blood of a king.

©2020 Éditions Robert Laffont, S. A. S., Paris. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Translation © 2023 by Françoise Bui

Critic reviews

“Carlotta Brentan gives a spirited narration of this novel featuring Jeanne, a young commoner who is masquerading as an aristocrat to seek vengeance for the deaths of her family members.… Brentan portrays Jeanne as initially naïve but passionate and determined. The precariousness of her situation permeates Brentan's performance as Jeanne transforms from a frightened and subservient girl to a haughty, ruthless aristocrat. Brentan makes the moments when Jeanne's secret is almost exposed especially exciting.”AudioFile Magazine

“Dixen excels at concocting unexpected detours and jaw-dropping cliffhangers. Anne Rice fans will be especially enthralled.”Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Fantasy fans who like their speculative fiction filled with vampyre aristocrats and plenty of twists along the way will enjoy taking a bite out of this series starter.”Library Journal

What listeners say about The Court of Shadows

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    0
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Bloody good book

An interesting spin on 18th century court making nobles even more powerful. Like most blood thirsty aristocrats, this story makes it quite literal making many vampires ruled by a powerful King who has ruled for centuries as the first vampire. Mix in disgruntled commoners who want justice, you see how they try to manipulate the courts. Some work I their favor, others… not so much. Great read for spooky season.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!