In the Shadow of the Sun

December 16, 2019
“We were royals. Our happiness was irrelevant.” Castellan, a Wattpad author, threads lively magical details into her historical tale of French royal life during 1661. When 17-year-old English princess Henriette marries Philippe, younger brother to the newly crowned Sun King, Louis XIV of France, she never expects to be mired in scandal and heartbreak. But between the embarrassment of Philippe’s devotion to his lover, Armand de Gramont, and the expectations of her cold and calculating mother-in-law, she finds herself thus while attempting to maintain her status as “everyone’s favorite” and keep her ability as a Source, a wellspring of magic, private. Throughout France, Sources are being hunted and killed for their enchantment, but no one knows who is behind the attacks. Despite her caution, the King—a known magicien, who can wield a Source’s power—discovers Henriette’s secret, and she must decide whether his grandiose visions, including the remaking of Versailles, are worth her loyalty. 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. Ages 12–up. Agent: Carrie Pestritto, Laura Dail Literary Agency.