The Master of All Desires - Softcover

Riley, Judith Merkle

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1402270615 ISBN 13: 9781402270611

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark, 2013

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

About this title

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?

About the Author

Judith Merkle Riley (1942-2010) held a Ph.D from the University of California at Berkeley, and she taught in the department of government at Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, CA. From 1988 to 2007, she wrote six historical novels: The Oracle Glass, The Master of all Desires, A Vision of Light, In Pursuit of the Green Lion, The Water Devil, and The Serpent Garden.

About this edition

• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1402270615
• ISBN 13: 9781402270611
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 458