num_pages: 336
description: Fraught with conspiracy and passion the Sun King's opulent court is brought to vivid life in this captivating tale about a woman whose love was more powerful than magic. The alignment of the stars at Marie Mancini's birth warned that although she would be gifted at divination she was destined to disgrace her family. Ignoring the dark warnings of his sister and astrologers Cardinal Mazarin brings his niece to the French court where the forbidden occult arts thrive in secret. In France Marie learns her uncle has become the power behind the throne by using her sister Olympia to hold the Sun King Louis XIV in thrall. Desperate to avoid her mother's dying wish that she spend her life in a convent Marie burns her grimoire trading Italian superstitions for polite sophistication. But as her star rises King Louis becomes enchanted by Marie's charm. Sensing a chance to grasp even greater glory Cardinal Mazarin pits the sisters against each other showering Marie with diamonds and silks in exchange for bending King Louis to his will. Disgusted by Mazarin's ruthlessness Marie rebels. She sacrifices everything but exposing Mazarin's deepest secret threatens to tear France apart. When even King Louis's love fails to protect Marie she must summon her forbidden powers of divination to shield her family protect France and help the Sun King fulfill his destiny.
language: English
title: Enchantress of Paris: A Novel of the Sun King’s Court
publisher: Thomas Dunne Books