Sunday, January 4, 2009

Book Review: The Shadow of the Sun King by Golden Keyes Parsons

BIG THANKS to Thomas Nelson for sending me this book to review!

In the Shadow of the Sun King” by Golden Keyes Parsons

Published by Thomas Nelson

Rating: 4 stars

The story takes place in 17th century when King Louis XIV ruled over France and ordered that all citizens must convert to Catholicism or else they’d be imprisoned or even murdered. Madeleine Clavell and her family are Protestant and refuse to convert, thus enraging the king’s soldiers. Madeleine decides to journey to the king, with whom she once had a romantic relationship with to ask him for help but it ends in disaster. The Clavell family is split apart and they must fight to survive and ultimately reunite.

Golden Keyes Parsons writes very beautifully and she is a wonderful story teller. I was intrigued to learn that the tale is loosely based on her personal ancestry and I think this enhanced my experience with the book. This story itself was interesting to read, despite some predictable and convenient turn of events. I also enjoyed the lovely descriptions of France and its landscapes. The overall message of the book was one of hope and was as inspirational as I think was intended.

This book is the first installment in the ‘A Darkness to Light’ series and while there was a conclusive ending, there are also many loose ends left to be resolved and more to be uncovered. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

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