The Cardinal's Shadow

Paris, 1642: As Cardinal Richelieu lies dying and King Louis XIII's health falters, a daring theft from the Cardinal's supposedly impenetrable chambers threatens to plunge France into chaos. The stolen box contains secrets that could topple the monarchy, challenge the four-year-old Dauphin's legitimacy, and hand victory to Spain in the ongoing war.Desperate, Richelieu summons his once-legendary special operativesa team he disbanded five years ago after a mission gone tragically wrong. Led by the brilliant strategist Captain Henri Devereux, the team reunites despite their lingering resentments: Isabelle de Vauban, a noblewoman disguised as a male musketeer; Christophe Lavalle, an inventor whose devices blur the line between science and magic; and Alexandre Dufort, a charming nobleman with gambling debts and dangerous connections.As they track the impossible theft through Paris's glittering palaces and shadowy underworld, they uncover a vast conspiracy linking a secret astronomical society to Spanish intelligence. The King has been systematically poisoned, the Dauphin's life is in danger, and a ceremony timed to a rare celestial alignment threatens to transfer power to France's enemies.When Queen Anne reveals unexpected fighting skills and strategic brilliance during an attempt on her son's life, Devereux realizes the conspiracy is even more complex than they imagined. Racing against time and planetary movements, the team must recover the stolen box, protect the royal family, and untangle centuries-old secrets before midnight strikes on the fateful alignment.With swashbuckling action, complex political intrigue, and historical detail worthy of Alexandre Dumas, "The Cardinal's Shadow" launches a thrilling new series perfect for fans of "The Three Musketeers" and "The Man in the Iron Mask."