Courting the Sun
A Novel of Versailles
by Peggy Joque Williams
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Pub Date May 09 2024 | Archive Date May 29 2024
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Description
“A rich journey through 17th century France in all its aspects—its bucolic countryside, the still-unmatched splendor of the court of Louis XIV, and the struggling French colony in Canada.” –Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author of Elizabeth I, The Autobiography of Henry VIII & The Memoirs of Cleopatra
France, 1670. On her sixteenth birthday, Sylvienne d’Aubert thinks her dream has come true. She holds in her hands an invitation from King Louis XIV to attend his royal court. However, her mother harbors a longtime secret she's kept from both her daughter and the monarch, a secret that could upend Sylvienne’s life.
In Paris, Sylvienne is quickly swept up in the romance, opulence, and excitement of royal life. Assigned to serve King Louis's favorite mistress, she is absorbed into the monarch's most intimate circle. But the naïve country girl soon finds herself ill-prepared for the world of intrigue, illicit affairs, and power-mongering that takes place behind the shiny façade of Versailles.
This debut historical novel from Peggy Joque Williams captures the vibrancy and quandaries of 17th century life for a village girl seeking love and excitement during the dangerous reign of the Sun King.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
"Williams' delicious debut immerses us in court life of France's Louis XIV as we follow a wide-eyed teenager with village values into the sumptuous intrigue of the Sun King's world." -Lucy Sanna, author of The Cherry Harvest
"A rich journey through 17th century France in all its aspects-its bucolic countryside, the still-unmatched splendor of the court of Louis XIV, and the struggling French colony in Canada." -Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author of Elizabeth I, The Autobiography of Henry VIII & The Memoirs of Cleopatra
"Courting the Sun is a captivating, immersive coming-of-age tale set amid the beautifully detailed landscapes of seventeenth-century France and the opulent court of Louis XIV. The unexpected plot twists and tantalizing revelation of secrets make this novel a true page-turner." -Jennifer Chiaverini, New York Times bestselling author of Canary Girls
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781685134129 |
| PRICE | $6.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 441 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Mary H, Reviewer
I really loved this story set in seventeenth century France. The author has done her research well, as Madame de Montespan did have lots of animals in her rooms, and also a bath big enough for two people to share, and the story about her husband showing up in a coach with antlers on each corner and hung with cloths that indicated he was in mourning is a matter of historical fact. These are just a few examples of historical research in the novel. I loved the court, especially the scenes where Louis dances as Apollo. All the main characters I have encountered in other historical fiction were there, such as Monsieur, the chevalier de Lorraine, Henriette and of course the Sun King. I loved the scenes set in Versailles most of all. A well crafted tale and highly recommended.
Jennifer S, Reviewer
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
Two weeks ago I was in Versailles on a vacation with my family and I began looking for historical fiction novels to read about the Sun King and/or Marie Antoinette. When I saw this book pop up on Netgalley it seemed like a perfect fit.
I couldn't put it down! We follow our heroine Sylvienne as she leaves the small town of Amiens and her beloved friends, possible romantic interest, and family to join the court of Louis XIV, the Sun King. At court she learns to play by the rules of the nobles who marry for money, curry favor with royalty and keep their private affairs as private as possible (which isn't very).
My biggest complaint is the ending. At about the 80% mark Sylvienne marries and things move very quickly after that. The book ends with a bit of a cliff hanger - I really hope there is a sequel! Definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a bit of romance. A quick, easy read.
Kathryn M, Reviewer
This was a beautifully done historical fiction novel, it had everything that I wanted from 17th century France. The concept worked well and enjoyed how good everything flowed together. Peggy Joque Williams has a great writing style and it worked with the characters and story.
Kenzie C, Reviewer
This was a solid historical fiction read for me. I loved the characters and I felt like the author definitely hit the nail on the head when it came to the aesthetics of life at the french court. It was an intresting read and it kept my attention which I enjoyed. My only "negative" feedback would be that at times it felt like the plot was either moving too slowly or too fast. Other than that though, i throughly enjoyed reading this book and will probably pick up any others written by this author
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