Synopsis
"A delightful blend of history, romance, and the supernatural, served with a generous helping of wit and humor."-Booklist
Nostradamus, a ruthless queen, and a young poet find themselves in the fight of their lives...
Lady Sibille never goes looking for trouble, but trouble always seems to find her. When she inadvertently becomes the master of an ancient cursed head of Menander the Magus-the Master of All Desires-she suddenly has the power to grant any wish, at a steep price.
Queen Catherine de Medici is trying to obtain the power of the Master in order to get rid of her husband's mistress. But she does not understand that the Master is malic itself, twisting the wishes that he grants to bring destruction.
But only Nostradamus knows that evil befalls all who wish upon this accursed object. Can he stop these determined women before they unwittingly destroy the entire kingdom of France?
Praise for The Master of All Desires:
"Mixing history and fantasy with élan, Judith Merkle Riley offers a tightly woven, suspenseful, and fiendishly funny novel...Lush period detail and sprightly dialogue laced with humor and courtly pomp anchor Riley's romantic adventure with stylized whimsy and historical plausibility."-Publishers Weekly
"Another darling mix of history, romance and the occult from Riley, a writer who excels at getting the background right and creating strong, intelligent heroines."-Kirkus Reviews
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Review
"Delightfully rich in history, humor, and imagination".
-- SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS
"I love to read period pieces like this and "Master of All Desires" did not disappoint." - Book Loons
"Ms. Riley makes the otherworldly powers seem genuine, making this intelligent and humorous book a must read for sub-genre fans or anyone who enjoys top entertainment in their literature." - Book N Bytes
"Ms. Rileys fans will truly enjoy her special and clever angle on history and the little millennium twists she throw in here and there. This is a book to enjoy." - RT Book Reviews
"It's a fun flight of fancy which keeps you turning pages right up to the end." - SF Site
"Lush period detail and sprightly dialogue laced with humor and courtly pomp anchor Riley's romantic adventure with stylized whimsy and historical plausibility. " - Publishers Weekly
"Merkle Riley manages to make the story funny, entertaining, and educational. " - Dear Author
"I love to read period pieces like this and Master of All Desires did not disappoint." - Book Loons
"Another dazzling mix of history, romance, and the occult from Riley, a writer who excels at getting the background right and creating strong intelligent heroines (The Serpent Garden, 1996, etc.)" - Kirkus Review
"This is a very good, though very offbeat, fantasy." - New England Science Fiction Association, Inc.
From the Back Cover
It is 1556 in Paris -- capital of a country on the brink of civil war. Queen Catherine de Medici's astrologer, the prophet Nostradamus, has divined a dreadful secret: To get rid of her husband's mistress, the queen is trying to obtain the Undying Head of Menander, the Master of All Desires. Her plans are threatened by a spirited young poet, Sibille Artaud de la Roque, who has come into possession of Menander and is tempted to fulfill her own desires first. But only Nostradamus knows that a spreading web of evil entangles all who wish upon this accursed object. Can he stop these determined women before they unwittingly destroy the entire kingdom of France?
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The Master of All Desires
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G1402270615I4N10