Odette Rising - Julianne Edwards

When the dressmakers had gone, she wrapped her arms around herself and squeezed tightly. Their visit had been awful; they had seen her pink and blue flesh, its hairs, dents and ripples. Her poor body, made to endure such scrutiny. But if she were really to go into the world, there was a price to pay. She must offer herself for scorn in order to feed her starving mind and imagination. And if she didn't, she would sit here for what would feel like eternity. She called for tea and eclairs.

It's 1897 in Sèvres, France and, from her bedroom window, Odette Huré watches a funeral bier carry her father's coffin away. She is twenty-one and she has not left the house for ten years, soothing herself with books and food.

Odette's only joy is found in the extravagant menus she dreams up and which the housekeeper reluctantly prepares for her. With the sudden death of her father, the walls she has built around herself begin to crumble. Forced into society, she discovers she is now responsible for a fortune and a stockings factory - renowned for its exquisite designs which adorn the slender ankles of Parisian femmes célèbres.

Now Odette must try and navigate a world she has hidden from for so long. In doing so she must excavate the secrets left behind by her father and in turn, accept the shocking truth about her own identity and all that she is capable of.

Melding a beautifully researched historical setting and sharp portrayal of a woman fighting against the limitations of her society, Odette Rising is an unforgettable tale of darkness and light, secrets and lies, friendship and betrayal.