Description, Excerpt, Author Bio, Order
EBOOK ISBN: 1-58749-499-X
GENRE: Historical fantasy
Regular price is $4.99
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DESCRIPTION: In a medieval world at war, the vampires who call themselves djinn protect the people of the House of the Rose from Crusader and Saracen alike. More importantly, the djinni search for the new incarnations of the House's ancient souls to return their memories of previous lifetimes. |
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of the djinni, Menelaos, is robbed of his powers when he is injured
during the massacre of Beziers by Crusaders in AD 1209. In the aftermath,
he fights to heal so he can resume his duties. He must prove to
himself that he deserves to live after failing to save his charges
and his beloved djinn wife. While on a difficult mission for the House, he encounters a young Crusader knight who may be his wife, reborn. Determined to reunite with his beloved, Menelaos embarks on an obsessive quest for the young knight, hoping to redeem himself by returning a lost soul to the House. But his efforts lead him to dangerous questions: What secret agenda is the eldest of the djinni pursuing? Why was one djinn cursed and cast out millennia ago? And will the answers to these questions free the djinni from an invisible tyranny, or destroy everything Menelaos loves? |
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REVIEWS: "This
was a fabulous story that really brought to life the author’s
images of the Crusades. The atrocities that occurred were heart-rending.
Ms. August has created multi-faceted characters that you love
and feel for. This story does transcend genders and has souls
that are reborn in different-sex bodies. All in all, it was a
richly told story. Thank you, Ms. August, I look forward
to the rest of the series." Reviewed
by Serena of Fallen Angel Reviews, 4
ANGELS "... Her fabulous craftsmanship is nearly invisible to the reader, delivering a smooth, wholly enveloping read. In Glass Souls, she presents an innovative, and totally absorbing concept of vampires among us." Reviewed by Jacqueline Lichtenberg in the ReReadable Books column at Simegen.com, September 2005 "Imaginative
and intricate, Glass Souls creates a literally full-bodied world
of interesting characters and topics."
Reviewed
by Carole Genz at All About Romance, September 2005 |
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You
can read a 3-chapter preview online.WJust
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Excerpt: "How much do you remember of your dreams?" Sir Dominic had a seducer's voice. He might be the Devil reading his inmost desires. Roland shuddered. For his soul's sake, he should not answer. After a while, Sir Dominic said in a normal tone, as if nothing untoward had happened: "You and Sir Michel have treated me most courteously, even at a cost to yourselves. I owe you a debt of honor." Curiosity won out over caution. "You owe us nothing," Roland lied politely, hoping with every fiber of his being for a generous gift of gold. "I disagree. I could not help but overhear earlier that you were seeking a liege lord." Roland was balanced on the knife-edge of desire and caution. He found himself wanting to trust the Saracen knight, yet..."My lord de Sens--" he began. "--is very angry with you." Sir Dominic gave a short laugh. "You would be wasted on de Sens, Sir Roland, were he wise enough to see your worth." Roland gave an unhappy sigh. "When this is over, and my ransom paid, I invite you and Sir Michel to come serve my lady Sharibet, and be lords of the House of the Rose." "A lord?" Roland tried for incredulity as a voice in his head eagerly chanted yes yes yes. "A rich and powerful lord," Sir Dominic answered. "The House of the Rose seeks more Protectors, and my lady Sharibet is beautiful and generous. You will want for nothing." A thousand thoughts raced through Roland's mind. Uppermost were his earlier words to Michel: Any liege is better than no liege. Even a Saracen? Even if it meant he would be apostate for breaking his Crusading oath? Sixteen bezants and three silver deniers stood between them and utter penury. If de Sens kept his word and paid out shares to a pair of landless knights who had roused his ire. "That is a very generous offer, Sir Dominic." Roland's hands were trembling as he uncorked the waterskin and took a deep swig of the flat, leathery water. He felt curiously light. "Will you accept it?" A deep shiver moved through Roland. He wiped his mouth and stared, wide-eyed, at the dark shape of his prisoner. Could he really do it? "Y-yes. Yes. I will." He took a deep breath, and felt an inexplicable sense of joy and relief. Heavy footsteps sounded outside, and the light from Gui de Tancarville's crude papyrus-reed torch leapt over the ruined walls. "We must speak again, Sir Roland," Sir Dominic said neutrally, but a smile flickered in the corners of his mouth. "Off you go, Sir Roland. My turn now." said Sir Gui. He spat at Sir Dominic's feet, watching to see if he would flinch. When he didn't, the large knight said, "I say we cut his balls off and send 'em to that Saracen bitch. Getting her paramour back in pieces will make her pay up quick." "I will remember your courtesy, Sir Gui." Sir Dominic's flat gray stare, like the uncanny attention of a half-submerged crocodile, never wavered from the knight's face. |
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Author BIO: Michaela August is a writing team composed of two Northern California authors, Marian Gibbons and Karin Welss. Despite living 90 miles apart, they've been collaborating for years using telephones and the Internet. They also write science fiction and fantasy, and their short stories have appeared in several anthologies, including Dreams Unlimited's SF holiday anthology, STARDATES: Infinite Celebrations. About Marian Gibbons: Marian Gibbons is a native of Northern California, although she spent some years in exile in Portland, Oregon, and LA. Currently she lives in Santa Rosa, heart of the wine country, with her husband, Dave. She is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Spellbinders, Inc., a local science fiction writing group, and Romance Writers of America. She collects books, bookcases, blue bowls, and obscure historical facts. She began her writing career at the age of eight, with a story combining elements from Tarzan, Jan of the Jungle, and A.E. Van Vogt's Slan, only with a girl hero. About Karin Welss: Karin Welss was born in Montreal, Canada, but grew up in Northern California. She has lived and traveled extensively in England, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Australia (including a stint in Sydney for about 2-and-a-half years, first as a university exchange student and then while working for a well-known database software company). Besides traveling, Karin's other great interests are reading, history, and archaeology. Family members accuse her of writing historical fiction as an excuse to buy books and do research! Karin currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she is owned by three small but very bossy parrots. She pays for the birdseed by working as a technical writer. |
