Mistress of the Sun
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The author of the internationally
acclaimed Josephine B. trilogy returns with another deeply enchanting historical
novel, this one based on the life of an extraordinary horsewoman, Louise de la
Vallière, the brave and spirited child of minor nobility who, against all odds,
grows up to become one of the most mysterious consorts of France’s King Louis
XIV, the charismatic Sun King.
Set against the
magnificent decadence of the 17th-century court of the Sun King, Mistress of
the Sun begins when the eccentric young Louise falls in love with a wild
white stallion and uses ancient magic to tame him. This one desperate action of
youth shadows her throughout her life, changing it in ways she could never
imagine. Unmarriageable and too poor to join a convent, she enters the court of
the Sun King as a maid of honour, where she captures— and then tragically
loses—the King’s heart. Mistress of the Sun illuminates, through the
resurrection of a fascinating female figure from the dark corners of history,
both the power of true love and the rash actions we take to capture and tame it.
Sandra Gulland’s
previous work brought Josephine Bonaparte magnificently to life in three
immediately addictive bestselling novels. Beginning with The Many Lives &
Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.,Gulland established an entirely new gold
standard for the art of historical fiction. Mistress of the Sun—a
riveting love story with a captivating mystery at its centre—is a welcome reward
for all those who have waited so patiently for its arrival.
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Author Extras
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Critical Praise for
Mistress of the Sun
“Gulland paints a vivid picture of life at the court. It’s
hedonistic and outrageous, with treachery and betrayal at every turn.”
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The Vancouver Sun
Reader Reviews from First Look
A heartbreaking but absorbing book!
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Heather (Burlington, ON)
A heartbreaking but absorbing book!
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Heather (Burlington, ON)
A captivating read from start to finish. For readers who enjoy learning history from a fictional story, you will not be disappointed. An endearing character, Petite, draws you into her story and you find yourself cheering for her, imagining yourself her, all the while lost in the story of her growing up.
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Jane (Port Alberni, BC)
I absolutely loved this book almost from the moment I started it. I liked the fact that she was able to tie in some history with it. It could very easily work with a highschool english literature selection. It was just great, I cannot say enough about it and would recommend it highly!
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Maryanne (Tilbury, ON)
This book was a delight to read from the first word to the last. My favourite character was of course "Petite". She was wonderful in so many ways. She went through so much in her early years that formed her into a loving and giving person. Loved it, loved it all!
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Laura (Winnipeg, MB)
The book is a "novel with a key", based on real historical figures, and is a powerful depiction of the French times during the Louis XIV reign in France. A clever way of presenting the main events in the heroine's life and a satisfying end and author's note will make you appreciate even more this wonderful book. Recommended to everyone. I am looking forward to Sandra Gulland's other (new) books.
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Ciprian (Coquitlam, BC)
Mistress of the Sun is a rich tapestry of a book, full of passion, intrigue and historical detail. It's a book that is very hard to put down but you don't want it to end.
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Shirley (Ottawa, ON)
This is truly a wonderful read.
So many writters do not spend enough time on the finer detail. Ms Gulland brings to life with her detailing of the period a grandiose time.
Please start the research on the next one so that we do not have to wait too long!
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Sylvie (Whitby, ON)
Sandra Gulland has done it once more. With her incredible attention to historical detail and her engaging style, she sheds light on the life of yet another fascinating French femme: the Mistress of the Sun, Louise de la Vallière.
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Cory (Toronto, ON)
Sandra Gulland paints a wonderful, entertaining, comprehensive picture of life in France during the Sun King's reign. Her characters are developed in such a way that the reader gets swept up in the emotional ride, hating, loving, and mourning on their journey throughout the plot. Compelling at all stages along the way, this book was an exciting read from start to finish.
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Erika (New Westminster, BC)
Sandra Gulland has created a wonderful and enduring character for us to follow. Her story is engaging to the point of obsession. A wonderful escape!
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Stacey (Toronto, ON)
Once started, I could not put it down. A rare treat to read a book about a love affair that isn't the least bit smutty. Every character is treated with dignity and compassion - no one is completely good, or evil; everyone is human.
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Carla (Oshawa, ON)
Sandra Gulland has created a love story for the ages, capturing the excesses and extravegance of the court of Louis XIV, the court intrigues and the life and times of the French public during the late 17th century. This is a real page turner, hard if not impossible to put down.
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Russ (Brockville, ON)
I enjoyed Mistress of the Sun quite a bit and would definitely recommend it to friends, particularly those who enjoy either a good historical novel, but also those who like contemporary dramas.
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Emily (Stouffville, ON)
Mistress of the Sun is a beautiful book, one of the most captivating and vivid I've ever read.
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Ros (Richmond Hill, ON)
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The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B.
In this first of three books inspired by the life of Josephine Bonaparte, wife of Napoleon, Sandra Gulland recreates the astonishing world of a young girl who transforms herself into one of the most powerful women in history. Told in an imaginative and historically accurate diary form, this is an...
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Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe
The much-anticipated second novel in the trilogy, Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe opens as Josephine awakens to the reality of her recent marriage to Napoleon Bonaparte. A remarkable portrait of a canny and compassionate woman emerges, set against one of the most tumultuous periods in European...
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