Mistress of the Sun by Sandra Gulland is the story of Louise de la Valliére (b.1644-d.1710), one of King Louis XIV early but well-loved mistresses. As a young girl Louise (or "Petite") loves horses and uses forbidden dark magic to tame Diablo, a wild white stallion. This undercurrent of dark magic flows throughout the book which gives the story an unexpected twist and intrigue. The ambitions of Petite’s mother and stepfather land her in the service of Princess Henriette, the sister-in-law to King Louis XIV. The King is unhappily married to the ever-devout Spanish Queen Marie-Thérèse. To further complicate matters, he is also in love with Princess Henriette. Affairs and assignations run rampant in this 17th century French court and it is not long before Petite captures the heart of the King. Petite takes her love for Louis seriously but not the trappings of her life as his mistress; this poses an ethical dilemma for the young woman. Her search for peace and normalcy uncovers the dark underbelly of the French court and helps Petite realize that power/magic can be used for good or for evil.
Mistress of the Sun has all the qualities of a well crafted historical fiction novel. The story is rich in detail, the characters are real and intriguing and the opulence of early reign of the "Sun King" comes to life. -Linda G.
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