Though I was looking forward to reading this book, I have to confess that I found it a bit tedious after the first fifty pages or so. It's not that it wasn't fun to learn about the scandals that rocked European courts or the crazy tactics some mistresses employed to keep kings under their spells, including black magic in one instance. Those were all quite fascinating and unexpected, to say the least. However, much of the book felt repetitive to me. I honestly didn't care about what fine furs or jewels yet another woman received during her tenure as royal mistress after reading what countless others had gained already. I understand that part of the purpose of the book was to detail the rewards mistresses reaped by playing their parts well, but I just got tired of that certain aspect of it early on. The power plays and appointing of officials and such never bored me, but the numerous run-downs of financial gains did. When it comes down to it though, I'd recommend this book to any gossipmongers out there looking for a fun read!