In 1693 Versailles, the Sun King, Louis XIV, perhaps fearing his own mortality as his reign reaches the half century, sends his natural philosopher, Yves St. Croix, to uncover the secret of immortality. Yves, like most of his fellow Jesuit priests, believes that sea monsters contain the forbidden fruit of knowledge. He goes on his journey and captures a dead male of the species and a live female, who is humanoid in appearance except for her green hair, webbed appendages, and two tails instead of legs.

While Yves dissects the male, seeking an organ containing the immortality elixir, his sister Marie-Josephe tries to understand the lure of the femaleÆs siren song. However, Marie-Josephe gains more than she set out for as she begins to realize the intelligence of the prisoner. With the help of Count Lucien de Chretian,whom she deeply loves, she sets out to free the captive even if it might mean her own exile.

THE MOON AND THE SUN is a tremendous and extremely successful blending of historical fiction with fantasy that only could come from a writer of the caliber of Vonda N. McIntyre. The historical elements are so wondrously and authentically drawn, readers will question whether they time traveled to seventeenth century France. The fantasy elements are even more incredibly described because Ms. McIntyre makes her audience believe in the existence of the mythological. On top of all that is a sprinkle of a refreshing romance (the male protagonist is a dwarf) that adds top the overall bewitching of readers. Fans from both genres will want to partake in Ms. McIntyreÆs enchanting magic carpet ride.