The Moon and the Sun
Dense but compelling blend of history and fantasy.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Moon and the Sun is a blend of historical fiction and fantasy (originally published in 1997) that takes place in the 50th year of King Louis XIV's reign in the late 1600s. It's the story of a young woman who joins the king's court at Versailles and learns to communicate with a mermaid-like sea creature that the king has captured to eat and thereby gain immortality. The novel was made into a fantasy action-adventure film starring Pierce Brosnan titled The King's Daughter. Fantasy and real-world violence isn't gory but uses emotionally powerful language to describe the pain and suffering of fantasy creatures and animals as they're hunted, tortured, and killed. Blood is mentioned but not described in detail. Real-world violence includes a few instances of sexual assault and a conversation about a marital rape in the past and the victim taking her own life. A character is forcibly restrained and drained of blood against her will. Sexual content isn't explicit but explores some mature themes. A character sees a couple making out, including kissing bare breasts and trying to grab the penis. Mermaid-like fantasy creatures mate in an "orgy" that doesn't describe any activity but mentions caressing and arousal. Otherwise there are a few kisses, caressing non-sensitive body parts, and flirting. There's a couple in a same-sex relationship, and one kiss is seen between them. Strong language is rare but includes "c--k," "f--k," and "s--t." Characters of age at the time drink wine and brandy to mild excess. Smoking tobacco and cigars is mentioned a few times.
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What's the Story?
THE MOON AND THE SUN tells the story of Marie-Josephe, a young woman who joins the court of King Louis XIV at Versailles so that she can assist her brother Yves in his study of "sea monsters" he has captured at the king's command. The king believes that eating of these mermaid-like sea creatures will grant immortality. Marie-Josephe has been put in charge of caring for the one creature who survived the journey from the sea, and as she does, she learns to communicate with it. She discovers that it thinks, feels, and forms bonds of family and friendship just like humans do. Can she convince Yves, King Louis, and Pope Innocent that killing the creature to study and eat it would amount to murder and endanger their mortal souls?
Is It Any Good?
This skillful blend of historical fiction and fantasy packs a lot of food for thought into mature themes while still being a compelling read thanks to a believable, likable main character. Although The Moon and the Sun wasn't marketed to a young adult audience when it was first published, teens will relate to Marie-Josephe as she struggles for personal freedom, starts to have romantic feelings, and fights for what she knows is right. Suspense builds over the fate of the sea creature, which keeps the pages turning while we explore lots of aspects of humanity and society. Integrity, trust, faith, colonialism, slavery, gender equality, scientific study, power, and even more important themes are explored along the way.
It's a little hard at first to keep track of the large cast of characters, especially since many are called both by their names and by their titles. But there's a helpful list at the front to refer to, and the web of relationships and court positions of historical figures may inspire some readers to learn more about them. The writing is sometimes lyrical, often sensual, and sometimes it just gets the job done, which is no small feat given the scope and breadth of the story and characters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The Moon and the Sun. How much is too much? Is it realistic? Does it matter if it's real-world or fantasy?
What about the sexy stuff? Is there too much?
Blending elements like historical fiction and fantasy can be tricky. Does this book do it well? Do you like the blend, or would you rather have one element or the other? Why?
Book Details
- Author: Vonda N. McIntyre
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More, Brothers and Sisters, Great Girl Role Models, History
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Pocket Books
- Publication date: September 1, 1997
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 18 - 18
- Number of pages: 432
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: January 7, 2022
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