The Master of All Desires

"A delightful blend of history, romance, and the supernatural, served with generous helpings of wit and humor."—Booklist

"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

Lady Sibille never goes looking for trouble, but trouble always seems to find her. When she inadvertently becomes the master of the ancient cursed head of Menander the Magus, she has the power to grant any wish—at a steep price. Bound to the most powerful magical object in medieval France, Sibille finds herself thrust into an action-packed world of occult intrigues, political gamesmanship, Nostradamus, and star-crossed romance. With the help of the handsome Nicolas Montvert, Sibille must discover a way to free herself and France from Menander's malignant powers.

Judith Merkle Riley delivers once again with endearingly quirky characters, accessible historical drama, and magically induced mayhem. A divine treat from start to finish, you do not need a tarot reading to foresee that The Master of All Desires will delight from start to finish.

"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