I was drawn to this novel when I read it was set during Napoleon’s Battle of Waterloo, a great opportunity to learn more about that. Well, this is not the book for that purpose— while the Battle is the frame for the story, this is really a romantasy about two sisters, separated in early childhood, seeking reunion during this tumultuous backdrop. Romantasy is a genre mashup of romance and fantasy, and we have plenty of both. The daughters have skills with flowers that go beyond natural explanation. The flowers channel emotional communication, both receiving and sending information, resulting in extreme displays, since neither woman has mastery of this ability.

The girls’ mother left them in the care of their cruel, sadistic uncle. He kept the older daughter, Cornelia Shaw, and raised her, seeing the potential to draw a suitor who would improve his financial situation. The younger daughter, Lijsbeth Shaw, was taken to Brussels, to an orphanage, where a family took her in as a companion for their young son, Isadore. When this was no longer needed, she was to fulfill the role of maid and servant, always subject to the sexually threatening predations of that son. Neither woman knows the true story of their parentage, nor the fate of their sibling, although both harbor hopes of being reunited with their mother.

The story is told in alternating chapters, following the story of each woman, and the cataclysm that will bring them together. Cornelia escapes her uncle when he plans to force her to marry an obviously abusive man, in order to enrich himself at her expense. She travels to Amiens, France, meeting Napoleon’s forces, who are in transit to fight the British and other opposing armies. Seen as an asset for Napoleon, her skills as an artist of flowers would be worthwhile in documenting nature, an interest of the emperor.

Cornelia takes the alias of Collette, correctly fearing her fate if she is found out to be English. This is where the novel takes a gratuitous turn— Collette falls in love with both her guard, the noble, handsome Henri, and the camp’s laundress, Sophie. She draws each together to form a trouple, to satisfy her own needs for each. Personally, this is not only unjustified, it is a contrived circumstance that is offensive to some readers, and wrecks an otherwise unserious, enjoyable novel. Napoleon’s troops move toward the Waterloo engagement, placing Collette near the battlefield and Brussels.

Meanwhile, Lijsbeth escapes Isadore by working for Madame Dubois and her daughters, who value her captivating art of flower arranging, a skill that will enhance her daughters’ merit as marital catches. As Wellington’s British forces gather outside Brussels, many eligible officers enjoy meals at wealthy homes in town. This is how Lijsbeth meets Captain William Norton, and they are instantly deeply smitten with each other. Love is never without obstacles, however, and the battle must be fought. Will William and Henri survive? Will Cornelia and Lijsbeth meet? Will the women ever meet their mother, and learn the truth of their parents, and why they each possess such unbridled, uncanny abilities with flowers?

Filled with the romance of early eighteenth century France, with few of its harsh realities, this is a light adventurous romance, with fantasy elements. If the author had not included the bisexual three-way relationship, this would receive my unequivocal endorsement— very unnecessary, very unfortunate. The lore of the meaning of various types of flowers is quite interesting (floriography—the language of flowers), although the author admits she stretches some meanings to fit the plotline. I can only give this novel a qualified recommendation.