Under a Starlit Sky

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.