Under a Starlit Sky

by EM Castellan

Overview

A romantasy set in Versailles.

Spring 1662. In the wake of Fouquet’s defeat, Henriette is keeping her promise to the Sun King and helping him build the enchanted Palace of Versailles he’s always dreamed of. But when her poor health worsens, her magic wanes and her husband Philippe fears for her well being to such an extent that he forbids her to remain Louis’ Source.

Forced to step aside, Henriette witnesses the swift rise of a new player at the French court: the handsome and self-assured Chevalier de Lorraine quickly becomes both Louis’s new Source of magic—and Philippe’s latest lover. With her ladies Louise and Athénaïs now both vying for the king’s attention, Henriette is more isolated than ever, and her place at Versailles has never felt more in jeopardy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250226075
Publisher:	Feiwel & Friends
Publication date:	11/16/2021
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	368
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

EM Castellan grew up in France, but she now lives in London. A lover of all things historical, she has a particular fondness for seventeenth-century France and Ancient Rome. In addition to her Winter 2020 YA debut, In the Shadow of the Sun, some of her stories can be found on Wattpad, where they have been featured twice and read over 300,000 times, including The Bright and the Lost, the winner of the 2017 Wattpad Awards (Wattys) in the Newcomers category.
EM Castellan grew up in France, but she now lives in London. A lover of all things historical, she has a particular fondness for seventeenth-century France and Ancient Rome. Some of her stories can be found on Wattpad, where they have been featured twice and read over 300,000 times, including The Bright and the Lost, the winner of the 2017 Wattpad Awards (Wattys) in the Newcomers category.

Editorial Reviews

"[A] complex portrait of the famous marriage between Henrietta of England (sister of King Charles II) and the charismatic Monsieur, the openly bisexual brother of the Sun King." —The Historical Novel Society

"A lush, romantic historical fantasy for young adults." —School Library Journal

Praise for IN THE SHADOW OF THE SUN:

"A multifaceted mystery, sparkling with history, romance, and magic, set against the sumptuous backdrop of King Louis XIV's court." —Stacey Lee, award winning author of The Downstairs Girl

"Castellan craftily infuses enchantment in every scene alongside romance and intrigue among the royals and their court, while luxurious descriptions and quick-witted dialogue make for a captivating read." —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

01/01/2022

Gr 10 Up—It's 1662, and Henriette is back in this sequel to In the Shadows of the Sun. Previously, she helped defeat the evil magician, Fouquet, and is now the Source for King Louis XIV, the Sun King, as he builds Versailles into the enchanted palace he desires. When Henriette's health and magic begin to deteriorate, she is quickly replaced by the handsome Chevalier de Lorraine. Soon, new trouble is afoot at court and Henriette must work with old enemies to restore her power to help those she cares about most. This is a lush, romantic historical fantasy for young adults. There are not many descriptions of the characters; perhaps, because most characters are based on real historical figures and readers are already familiar with them from the previous volume. The mix of magic and real French locations, such as Versailles, make this an enjoyable read. Overall, this is a fun, quick read with court drama and magic that would have benefitted from more details about the various settings in France. VERDICT Recommended for those who enjoyed the previous book; new readers should start with that one for context.—Maeve Dodds

School Library Journal