Banished from France by King Louis XIV, once royal favorite Sylvienne d'Aubert must make the dangerous ocean crossing with a group of young women eager to secure husbands in the French colony of Quebec as Filles du Roi (Daughters of the King). Sylvienne, however, scarred by an abusive, arranged marriage in France, vows never to wed again. She is determined to one day return to her beloved homeland and to her lover, Etienne.
Clinging to hope that her true love still lives, she must first survive hardships and challenges unique to the Canadian frontier and rebuild her life in a young colony that is at once welcoming and dangerous. She finds friendship in unexpected places and allies among the Native people while developing a resilience she didn't know she possessed.
But the king's reach is long, and Sylvienne's past haunts her at every turn in this saga of new beginnings, survival, and determination of the heart.
"I'll find a way back, I vowed. I'm not leaving forever."
As the towers of La Rochelle fade into the distance, Sylvienne – on a ship sailing for New France – vows to return one day, to search for her beloved Etienne. If they both survive...
Having thoroughly enjoyed Sylvienne's story at the court of Louis XIV in Courting the Sun, I was delighted to see Braving the Dawn released. And as expected, Sylvienne's continued adventures kept me highly entertained.
Following the death of her husband, the cruel Duc de Narbonne, King Louis XIV offered Sylvienne a choice: retire to a convent or join the filles du roi on their journey to Quebec. Sylvienne would be expected to marry, in order to claim the royal dowry allocated to the young women willing to cross the wild Atlantic in search of a new life. But now, on board, her doubts begin to grow.
During her journey, she encounters Claudette – who, as a young girl – caused Sylvienne's eviction from their convent school with her lies. Had her old adversary changed her ways? And why was she risking her life on such a dangerous journey voluntarily?
Following their arrival, the women are ushered to the Ursulines’ convent, to prepare them for life in Quebec, and for their husbands. Whilst her fellow arrivals are busy snatching up eligible men, Sylvienne declines all offers of marriage. Pregnant in the early stages with another man's child – the duc's or Etienne's? – she doubts any man would accept her offspring, but she eventually finds her match.
But as she settles into her new home, the past is catching up with her, as her closely-guarded secrets begin to unravel.
Will Sylvienne find a way out of the dilemma, without revealing the truth?
Braving the Dawn is an epic historical adventure that sweeps you across rough Atlantic waves to faraway Quebec. I'd vaguely heard of the filles du roi – young women who mostly came from poor backgrounds – and I found Sylvienne's detailed experiences following her arrival in the colony fascinating. How brave – or desperate – must these women have been!
In Courting the Sun, we witnessed Sylvienne's naivety, especially when faced with court intrigues and royal decrees. However, she is coming into her own in Braving the Dawn, if at first out of necessity. I found her character's slow transformation, and her growing self-confidence, remarkable, as the story progresses. At first, she clings to old hopes and dreams, but with a baby on the way, she soon realises that she'd struggle without a man.
I absolutely enjoyed Sylvienne's encounters with the Wendat – a group of friendly natives who are threatened by the troublesome Iroquois. Not for her, the blatant hatred many French settlers feel towards all natives. She is genuinely interested, and through her openness, friendships and trust blossom. It was a delight. But through her, we also discover the natives’ stark choices in face of a colonial, Catholic power like France. Even after conversion, the prejudices by certain groups of settlers never abated.
Armand Gervais is a dear! The captain of the guard is a handsome, reliable, and fair man. His strength of character is one reason for Sylvienne's new-found contentment, when she realises her future is in the New World. He allows her space to grow, and supports her unquestioningly. Such a paragon is rare, especially in an untamed environment like 17th-century Quebec.
Then there's Jacques Farley, who will capture any female reader's heart. A fiercely independent coureur des bois, his close links to the Wendat and other friendly natives make him a prime target for the authorities, even when he doesn't even break French laws. Happier in the wilderness than in towns, Jacques is the rogue paragon we'd all love to meet!
There is a constant sense of unease that weaves a subtle but noticeable thread through the plot. Sylvienne may have escaped France, but she keeps secrets – and there are people in town who know them. Unwilling to give in to blackmail, her situation becomes more and more precarious. She must use her wits to stay one step ahead, or her new life would unravel.
When things come to a head through a series of cruel traps, Sylvienne finds herself scrambling for a way out. The suspense of the build-up is mesmerising, and you keep turning the pages late into the night. Try not to hold your breath as events unfold!
Incredibly well-researched and expertly plotted, Braving the Dawn is a must-read for lovers of thrilling historical fiction. It draws you into an untamed world full of breathtaking beauty and dangers, but also of friendship, loyalty, and trust. With a plot full of secrets, threats, and a romantic quandary, this is a novel that should be savoured like a good quality French wine (which you may indulge in whilst reading, for authenticity purposes, of course). And prepare for an ending that has you gasping for breath!
Braving the Dawn is an enthralling, fast-paced, and utterly addictive historical adventure that sweeps you off your feet in a whirlwind of earth-shattering events. I can’t wait for the next instalment in Sylvienne's escapades.
Highly recommended.
Cathie Dunn
The Coffee Pot Book Club
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Black Rose Writing
Peggy Joque Williams
Award-winning author Peggy Joque Williams writes historical fiction inspired by her love of genealogy and her deep historical research into her European, French-Canadian, and Ojibwe ancestors.
Prior to Braving the Dawn, she first penned Courting the Sun: A Novel of Versailles, a prequel following her character Sylvienne’s rise and fall at court. She has also co-authored two contemporary mystery novels: On the Road to Death’s Door and On the Road to Where the Bells Toll.
A retired elementary school teacher, Peggy has both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education. She enjoys travel, gardening, and spending time with family. She lives Madison, Wisconsin.
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