I picked up this book because when I went to Austria at the tender age of sixteen a tour guide yelled at our school group because when he took us to the burial place of Sisi Hapsburg none of us sighed sadly at the mention of her name. So when I saw this book I decided I needed to see what all the fuss was about, and after 400+ pages I admit I am at a loss. This book spins ever onward tempting the reader with romance that never comes to fruition (not ONE MEASLY KISS FROM BAY HOW DARE U ALLISON PATAKI YOU ARE A MONSTER), political intrigue that Sisi ignores, travels to new places where Sisi does nothing except moon over her youngest daughter and moan about how sad she is, lots of ignoring her children while whining about how no one thinks she is a good mother, and other aggravating nonsense. The facts are fascinating, the novel itself was a letdown.