And the head, in its coffer, has fallen into the possession of a charming, wryly perceptive but stubborn young woman: Sybille Artaud de la Roche, a bluestocking poet who needs it to obtain all her desires.beauty, genius, and a dashing, intelligent cavalier.
But she does not know that evil befalls all those who wish upon this accursed object. The queen, Catherine de Medicis, a dabbler in black magic, has decided to get rid of the king's mistress by seeking out the legendary Undying Head of Menander the Magus, known as the Master of All Desires. It is 1556 and the queen's astrologer, the prophet Nostradamus has uncovered a secret that could destroy the kingdom of France. The Master of All Desires has it all, with an extra helping of the occult, clad in Riley's hallmark style and wit. In The Oracle Glass and The Serpent Garden, Judith Merkle Riley enchanted listeners with rich, pause-resisting re-creations of eras past, wicked thumbnail sketches of power players, riotous action, delicious mystery and romance, luminous prose, and feisty heroines with a feminist sensibility. "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.From the novelist with Antonia Fraser's authenticity and Anne Rice's allure comes another "highly enjoyable romp" ( Newsday), with a millennial twist. "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 Can he stop these determined women before they unwittingly destroy the entire kingdom of France? But she does not understand that the Master is malic itself, twisting the wishes that he grants to bring destruction.īut only Nostradamus knows that evil befalls all who wish upon this accursed object. Queen Catherine de Medici is trying to obtain the power of the Master in order to get rid of her husband's mistress.
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. Lady Sibille never goes looking for trouble, but trouble always seems to find her. Nostradamus, a ruthless queen, and a young poet find themselves in the fight of their lives… "A delightful blend of history, romance, and the supernatural, served with a generous helping of wit and humor."-Booklist
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