Mistress of the Sun by: Sandra Gulland
Mistress of the Sun is a novel set in France during the reign of King Louis. It follows the story of a young girl, Louise de la Valliere, known as Petite, as she grows from a young girl to a woman in the king’s court.
The novel starts with six-year-old Louise. Even as a child of six, she is very good with horses, and falls in love with a particularly wild white horse, Diablo, who is a symbol for her throughout the book. As the years progress, she has to deal with the challenges of life. After her father’s death, and the escape of her beloved horse, she is sent away to a convent, where she lives for a few years before moving back with her mother and her new stepfather. From there, she moves on to become a maid to Henriette, the king’s sister-in-law. She is now a member of the Sun king’s court.
Louise learns the ways of the French court, and has to survive the scandal, the intrigue, and the deception of the nobility. She catches the eye of King Louis, the roi of France, and eventually becomes his mistress. Although initially, this is thrilling and wonderful for her, she ultimately has to pay the price of being the king’s mistress.
This is a beautiful story of a young girl who grows up to be a strong woman in a difficult world. Many aspects of the story are historically correct, such as Louis’s everyday rituals, the building of Versailles, other characters, and his relationships with them. The historical accuracy, lovely writing style, and the very appealing heroine, all work together to provide a wonderful and unforgettable read.
Ishanee, 17
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