Bitter Greens
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Narrated by:
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Kate Reading
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By:
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Kate Forsyth
About this listen
From internationally best-selling author Kate Forsyth comes a historical novel that gorgeously interweaves the Rapunzel fairy tale with the true life story of French novelist Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de la Force.
Charlotte-Rose has been banished from the court of Versailles by the Sun King, Louis XIV, after a series of scandalous love affairs. She is comforted by an old nun, Sister Seraphina, who tells her the tale of a young girl who, 100 years earlier, was sold by her parents for a handful of bitter greens.
After Margherita's father steals from the walled garden of the courtesan Selena Leonelli, he is threatened with having both hands cut off unless he and his wife give away their little girl. Selena is the famous red-haired muse of the artist Tiziano, first painted by him in 1512 and still inspiring him at the time of his death. Selena is at the center of Renaissance life in Venice, a world of beauty and danger, seduction and betrayal, love and superstition.
Locked away in a tower, Margherita sings in the hope that someone will hear her. One day, a young man does.
This sumptuous novel holds the stories of three women, braided together to create a compelling tale of desire, black magic, and the redemptive power of love. Bitter Greens is an impressive feat of storytelling.
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Between life and death, dreaming and waking, at the train stop beyond the end of the world is the city of Palimpsest. To get there is a miracle, a mystery, a gift, and a curse - a voyage permitted only to those who’ve always believed there’s another world than the one that meets the eye. Those fated to make the passage are marked forever by a map of that wondrous city tattooed on their flesh after a single orgasmic night. To this kingdom of ghost trains, lion-priests, living kanji, and cream-filled canals come four travelers.
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Excellent Prose, but lacks maturity
- By Michael on 08-09-15
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The Bells
- A Novel
- By: Richard Harvell
- Narrated by: Richard Powers
- Length: 15 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Moses Froben was born in a belfry high in the Swiss Alps, the bastard son of a deaf-mute woman, banished to the church tower to ring the loudest and most beautiful bells ever each day. His life is simple but content, until the day his father recognizes Moses' singular sense of hearing and its power to expose his sins. Cast into the world with only his ears to protect and guide him, Moses finds refuge in the choir of the historic Abbey of St. Gall and becomes its star singer, only to endure the horrifying act of castration....
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Excellent!!! Highly recommend!
- By Coni R on 07-31-17
By: Richard Harvell
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The Moon in the Palace
- The Empress of Bright Moon, Book 1
- By: Weina Dai Randel
- Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
- Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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There is no easy path for a woman aspiring to power. A concubine at the palace learns quickly that there are many ways to capture the emperor's attention. Many paint their faces white and style their hair attractively, hoping to lure in the One Above All with their beauty. Some present him with fantastic gifts, such as jade pendants and scrolls of calligraphy, while others rely on their knowledge of seduction to draw his interest. But young Mei knows nothing of these womanly arts, yet she will give the emperor a gift he can never forget.
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One of the most annoying narrations
- By Foodiewife on 01-28-17
By: Weina Dai Randel
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Bloodleaf
- By: Crystal Smith
- Narrated by: Nicola Barber
- Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Princess Aurelia is a prisoner to her crown and the heir that nobody wants. Surrounded by spirits and banned from using her blood-magic, Aurelia flees her country after a devastating assassination attempt. To escape her fate, Aurelia disguises herself as a commoner in a new land and discovers a happiness her crown has never allowed. As she forges new bonds and perfects her magic, she begins to fall for a man who is forbidden to rule beside her.
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Not Understanding All the Praise
- By GPChlorine on 08-23-19
By: Crystal Smith
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The Thirteenth Princess
- By: Diane Zahler
- Narrated by: Jenna Lamia
- Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Zita is not an ordinary servant girl—she’s the13th daughter of a king who wanted only sons. When she was born, Zita’s father banished her to the servants’ quarters to work in the kitchens, where she can only communicate with her royal sisters in secret. Then, after Zita’s 12th birthday, the princesses all fall mysteriously ill. The only clue is their strangely worn and tattered shoes. With the help of her friends, Zita follows her bewitched sisters into a magical world of endless dancing and dreams.
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Interesting but not complete
- By THoward on 11-18-15
By: Diane Zahler
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The Bone Doll's Twin
- Tamir Triad, Book 1
- By: Lynn Flewelling
- Narrated by: Victor Bevine, Lynn Flewelling
- Length: 16 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
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As people start to recall the Oracle's prophecy, Erius begins to quietly kill off his female relatives who pose the only threat to his monarchy. Constantly in fear for her life, Princess Ariani the King's sister, gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. But Ariani is married to Lord Rhius, the patron of the powerful wizard Iya, and Iya has sinister plans for the babes.
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Not a bad beginning, but . . .
- By bluestatereader on 12-29-10
By: Lynn Flewelling
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Wicked
- The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
- By: Gregory Maguire
- Narrated by: John McDonough
- Length: 19 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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Heralded as an instant classic of fantasy literature, Maguire has written a wonderfully imaginative retelling of The Wizard of Oz told from the Wicked Witch's point of view. More than just a fairy tale for adults, Wicked is a meditation on the nature of good and evil.
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It's not easy being green
- By PangaeaReads on 07-30-08
By: Gregory Maguire
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The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock
- A Novel
- By: Imogen Hermes Gowar
- Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
- Length: 17 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1780s London, a prosperous merchant finds his quiet life upended when he unexpectedly receives an unusual creature - and meets a most extraordinary woman - in this much-lauded, atmospheric debut that examines our capacity for wonder, obsession, and desire. One September evening in 1785, Jonah Hancock hears an urgent knocking on his front door near the docks of London. The captain of one of Jonah’s trading vessels is waiting eagerly on the front step, bearing shocking news. On a voyage to the Far East, he sold the Jonah’s ship for something rare and far more precious: a mermaid.
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Gave up
- By Isabella Piestrzynska on 10-27-18
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The Woodcutter
- By: Kate Danley
- Narrated by: Sarah Coomes
- Length: 7 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Deep within the Wood, a young woman lies dead. Not a mark on her body. No trace of her murderer. Only her chipped glass slippers hint at her identity. The Woodcutter, keeper of the peace between the Twelve Kingdoms of Man and the Realm of the Faerie, must find the maiden’s killer before others share her fate. Guided by the wind and aided by three charmed axes won from the River God, the Woodcutter begins his hunt, searching for clues in the whispering dominions of the enchanted unknown. But quickly he finds that one murdered maiden is not the only nefarious mystery afoot....
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Fantasy for fairy tale lovers
- By A. Sines on 03-25-15
By: Kate Danley
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Katherine
- A Novel
- By: Anya Seton
- Narrated by: Lorna Bennett
- Length: 29 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Set in the vibrant fourteenth century of Chaucer and the Black Death, the story features knights fighting in battle, serfs struggling in poverty, and the magnificent Plantagenets—Edward III, the Black Prince, and Richard II—who rule despotically over a court rotten with intrigue. Within this era of danger and romance, John of Gaunt, the king’s son, falls passionately in love with the already-married Katherine. Their affair persists through decades of war, adultery, murder, loneliness, and redemption.
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my favorite novel brought to life
- By Heather on 10-04-23
By: Anya Seton
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Luck in the Shadows
- Nightrunner, Book 1
- By: Lynn Flewelling
- Narrated by: Raymond Todd
- Length: 18 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Spy, rogue, thief, and noble, Seregil of Rhiminee is many things, none of them predictable. And when he offers to take on Alec as his apprentice, things may never be the same for either of them. Soon Alec is traveling roads he never knew existed, toward a war he never suspected was brewing. Before long he and Seregil are embroiled in a sinister plot that runs deeper than either can imagine and that may cost them far more than their lives if they fail. But fortune is as unpredictable as Alec's new mentor.
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Fantastic Series! Homophobes, shut up!
- By Ted on 09-23-11
By: Lynn Flewelling
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Excellent story and beautifully narrated
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What listeners say about Bitter Greens
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Hippeeatheart
- 02-27-19
One of the best book ever
I loved this book!! seriously one of the best books I've read/listened to. I highly recommend it
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- Anonymous User
- 11-09-23
Astonishing storytelling
Easily the best beesion of this story I’ve ever heard. 19 hours went by in a flash! A beautiful and violent tale.
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- BuddyRemy
- 12-22-24
A Very Good Book
I don’t wish to spoil anything - but if, like myself, you are interested in the court of Louis XIV, Renaissance Venice, strong female characters with courage, strength (and foibles), and an excellent story, you will be quite happy to have this book in your library. Excellently narrated as well.
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- Angie Golish
- 12-30-16
AMAZING.
I LOVED Bitter Greens, and it was easily a favorite this year. Kate Forsyth re-tells the story of Rapunzel in a richly historical way that both follows the fairy tale and elaborates on it. This book is filled with mystery, ties to the past, and lore so rich it both feeds your nostalgia for the tales of youth and sucks in your inner adult. Such a fantastic read!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Veronika
- 01-10-17
A Fairytale True story, magically told!
What did you love best about Bitter Greens?
Too hard of a question, I love Everything about this book!
Would you recommend Bitter Greens to your friends? Why or why not?
YES! Great story, based on truth, written great, and told magically by the reader!
What three words best describe Kate Reading’s performance?
Beautiful, Heartfelt, perfect!
If you could take any character from Bitter Greens out to dinner, who would it be and why?
The Witch of course, I'd pick her brains for spells!!!
Any additional comments?
I love learning about history in well written historical novels, and this is one of the best ones, read by one of my most favorit Readers. The Author is an incredible and talented author obviously, and the Reader for this audio book was chosen wisely. Anyone else, and they would have not been able to bring the story as alive as Kate Reading did.
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- Two Black Cats
- 08-13-23
So good
I’ve been disappointed in almost every free selection audible has, but this one is perfection. Captivating and smart. The narrator is wonderful too.
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- SandyD
- 05-02-24
3 stories in 1
Good....but too much. 3 stories sad till very very very end. Took way to long to get there. Each woman's story could have stood alone, Telling their back stories all at same time was abit confusing, I will try more books from this author. Good writing but this story was not quite there for me.
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- Joy Beth DeWitt
- 07-14-17
Starts slow, gets better later
The beginning three or so hours were slow, and I thought about stopping listening, but it picked up and the later part of the book was very good.
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1 person found this helpful
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- RueRue
- 04-17-22
Enthralling
Loved this retelling of the fairy tale Rapunzel, love this narrator ! The story was just a little too long, and most of the bodice-ripping scenes were not necessary to the plot.
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1 person found this helpful
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- PB
- 02-16-23
Loved loved loved this story!
You won't regret listening to this book! I hope there are more like it to listen to!
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