Louise de La Valliere is not a bad story in of itself, but when held up against the rest of the saga, its weaknesses show. Still well written and full of compelling characters, the story focuses mainly on Louis XIV and his burgeoning love affair with the title character, who is a maid of honor for Louis's sister-in-law. The majority of this novel reads a bit like a Shakespearean romantic comedy, with couples coming and going in the woods, and overhearing each other, and all sorts of contrivances to see one another. The scenes were beautifully painted and the characters brought to life, but the story itself just isn't as compelling.

That said, Dumas does not wholesale abandon D'Artagnan, Bragelonne, or the retired Musketeers. They are all becoming wrapped much deeper in intrigue and plans, with Aramis taking a lead that was almost unexpected. The whole story ends on an emotional cliffhanger, leaving the reader with a need to jump straight into The Man in the Iron Mask in order to find out how it all ends.

Again, I miss my old friends! Although the young generation is cute, and entertainingly dramatic, I miss d'Artagnan, Porthos, Athos and Aramis' banter, plotting and unquestionable friendship. But the ending, again, gives hope for the final installment!

This one was so good. The court intrigues, Aramis's mechinations, and D'Artignan's constant intelligence are captivating. I cannot wait to finish the story in the fifth D'Artignan Romance.

Yet another page turner masterpiece by Dumas. His writing captures the emotions between the characters perfectly. I can't get enough of the various intrigues and plots interspersed throughout the book. Running 3 parallel story lines and then bringing them all together in the most beautiful entangle. It's just been a joyous experience reading this.

I'm only giving this 3 stars cause I don't like what Louise did to Raoul in the end. The Sun King wasn't even worth it.

While I understand that the background of the relationships between members of Louis XIV's court is an important foundation for the climax to be seen in the final chapter of the D'Artagnan Romances, 400 pages of royal "intrigue" and debauchery is a bit of an overkill. Read: I almost forget I was reading a story about the 3 Musketeers.

I can see why "The Vicomte de Bragelonne" and "Louise de la Valliere" are somewhat of the 'forgotten' of Dumas' 3 Musketeers epic.

One star dropped due to abrupt character changes with no explanation (thinking particularly of Madame de Chevreuse, but she wasn't the only one).