[.ca] Mistress of the Sun (ISBN 0002007754)

Rich Details and Decadence of the 17th-Century Court:
This is the story of real life Louise de la Vallière, mistress to France's King Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King. At a young age, Louise, lovingly nicknamed Petite by her father, uses bone magic to tame a wild stallion. Though of minor nobility, her family doesn't have enough money for her dowry to marry, let along to get into a convent. Thus she starts a new chapter in her life, that of maid in waiting to a princess of a bit higher nobility than herself. After the princess moves away, Louise moves to the court of the Sun King and is maid of honour to a high nobility princess. Soon after she becomes mistress to the king. Set against the breathtaking background of France, this enchanting piece of historical fiction displays the extravagant opulence of the time of King Louis XIV's reign. Sandra Gulland has made me crave more of King Louis XIV. She must have suspected that this would be the case with some readers, as she suggests a book to learn more `Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King' by Antonia Fraser. I have added this to my TBR (to be read). This is the first book I have read by Sandra Gulland but it won't be the last! I look forward, with great anticipation to reading her Josephine B. trilogy.

Beautiful!:
I didn't want to put the book down. I would find myself wondering and worrying about the characters even when I wasn't reading. The descriptions of people and places were so vivid and real. I loved it!

Sparkles as brilliantly as Versailles in the summer sun:
Sandra Gulland, author of the riveting and critically acclaimed Josephine B series, has written an engrossing and touching novel about Louise de la Valliere, one of Louis XIV's most interesting, charming mistresses. I am a huge fan of Ms. Gulland's personality and enchanting writing style. As soon as I learned of Mistress of the Sun's impending release in Canada, I spent the extra postage and ordered it through Amazon.ca (I live in the United States). I read the book in record time. In fact, I reluctantly completed it this morning at one o'clock. I am not disappointed to have spent the extra money on postage. It was one of the best novels I have read in the last year. Mistress of the Sun beautifully tells the story of Louise de la Valliere, a chaste young woman with a loving heart and quiet nature, who, despite her religious upbringing and guilt, falls in love with a very married, very magnetic Louis XIV. The story is set during the golden years of Louis' epoch - when he was still young, dashing, brazen, and not yet entirely jaded by the intrigues and excesses of his court. It makes for a compelling backdrop, one that ensnares the reader. Ms. Gulland, deft as ever, masterfully weaves a story that seems to come together colorfully with each word. Her characterizations are subtle and brilliant. This reader grew to love innocent, tender Louise and felt her heart break when certain tragedies befell the character. It is clear that Ms. Gulland did her research, peppering the story with interesting but obscure facts about court life, provincial supersitions, and horsemanship. For anyone who loves French history or historical novels, Mistress of the Sun must be read. It sparkles as brilliantly as Versailles in the summer sun!

A story of love and heart-break in the French court:
The story depicts the life of Louise de la Valliere, a young girl who finds herself at court as a hand maiden and falls into the arms of the glorified King of France, Louise XIV. It has been a couple months since I finished this novel and my heart still aches for poor Petite (nickname of Louise). Gulland has fabulously accomplished to engross her reader into the scene of 18th century French court. The story comes to life so vividly that I was unable to stop reading as I was enraptured by the fate of the characters. You will fall in love with this love story and feel the sorrow of Petite.