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The Master of all Desires, by Judith Merkle Riley
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Fans of Antonia Fraser and Margaret George will love this witty, intelligent page-turner from Judith Merkle Riley. The year is 1556 and the setting is Paris--capital city to a country on the brink of civil war. Catherine de Medici is queen, and her astrologer, the prophet Nostradamus, has divined the secret evil of the Undying Head of Menander, the Master of All Desires. The Queen wants to use Menander to get rid of the king's mistress, and a spirited young poet named Sibille Artaud de la Roque is tempted by Menander to obtain all her desires. 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?
• Voted one of the Best Books of the Year by Library Journal
- Sales Rank: #2208941 in Books
- Published on: 2000-12-01
- Released on: 2000-12-01
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 7.98" h x .88" w x 5.60" l, .75 pounds
- Binding: Paperback
- 400 pages
From Publishers Weekly
Again mixing history and fantasy with ?lan, the author of The Oracle Glass and The Serpent Garden offers a tightly woven, suspenseful and fiendishly funny novel. In 1556 France, Queen Catherine de Medici spies on her husband, King Henri II, and his lover, Diane de Poitiers, in a vain attempt to learn how Poitiers has ensnared her husband's heart. Driven nearly mad by jealousy, the queen, who is "very fond of do-it-yourself magic," is frustrated with her sycophantic, possibly duplicitous court astrologer's ineffective powers, until he reveals his knowledge of the magical object called the Master of All Desires. This is a centuries-old box that contains the living head of Menander the UndyingAa magus who sold his soul to the devil in exchange for eternal life. Anyone in possession of the sharp-tongued, mean-spirited and unpleasant head may have their wishes granted, selling their own soul in the process. Through a series of clever plot twists, Menander winds up in the hands of Sibille Artaud de La Roque, a gritty girl from the provinces, who refuses to make a wish, thereby halting Menander's destructive path. Sibille and her aunt, the remarkable, independently wealthy Pauline Tournet, endeavor to rid themselves of Menander, with assistance from Nostradamus. With the queen in pursuit of Menander, and Nostradamus aiming to destroy it, the terrible head still manages to prevent Sibille from marrying her love, Nicolas. Although every character is appealing (the rotten ones serve up deliciously clever dialogue), the most sympathetic, surprisingly, is the "serpent-queen," as Nostradamus dubs her. Catherine is vulnerable and desperate; for want of love, she risks all, and gains nothing. Lush period detail and sprightly dialogue laced with humor and courtly pomp anchor Riley's romantic adventure with stylized whimsy and historical plausibility. Agent, Jean Naggar. Regional author tour; rights sold to Germany and Denmark. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
While Catherine de Medici, Queen of France, uses her sorcerous talents to oust royal mistress Diane de Poitiers from her favored position in the French court, the true future of France rests in the hands of a young poetess who possesses a powerful and dangerous magical relic. Riley laces her portrayal of 16th-century France with liberal doses of magic (including the enchanted head of a dead wizard), politics, poison, and prophecy. The author of The Serpent Garden once again approaches historical fantasy with her characteristic flair for intrigue, humor, and the unpredictable workings of the human heart. Highly recommended.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
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.). France in 1556 is a troubled place. The Protestants are growing in power; King Henri II ignores his queen, Catherine de Mdici, in favor of his mistress, Diane de Poitiers; the Dauphin is betrothed to Mary, Queen of Scots, a potentially powerful alliance, but hes a dull and sickly boy. The noble de la Roche family has its troubles too: the parents hope the arranged marriage of their daughter Sibille to brutish but rich Villasse will pay their debts. But Sibille, an unconventional beauty and aspiring poet with large feet but a courageous heart and a good mind, fires a gun at Villasse and, thinking shes killed him, flees to her aunt Pauline in Orlans. There, she accidentally acquires a box that contains the head of Menander, the ``Master of all Desires,'' who grants wishes in exchange for souls. Meanwhile, Nostradamus, who has seen the future of France (its not good), has been summoned by Catherine, who also wants him to predict the future. Not only that, but she, too, wants Menander's head, and Sibille soon finds herself caught between the queen's followers, who insist that she come to court, and Villasse, who wants her killed. Sibille falls in love with Nicholas Montevert, a banker's son, when he saves her from attack by Villasse's hired henchman. But true love never runs smoothly: as sorcerers concoct deadly potions, Nicholas is banished; the queen plots her rivals death; and Sibille, hostage to Menander after she opened the box, is soon in mortal danger. Nostradamus can help rescue Sibille, but France is about to be torn apart by civil war. Stylish and intelligent historical fiction that makes even the supernatural credible. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Most helpful customer reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful.
Smart, funny, irresistible
By Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
If you have not read anything by Judith Merkle Riley, you are in for a treat. Riley, a political science professor at the prestigious Claremont Colleges in California, must be one heck of a lecturer because her books fly through history, weaving strands of politics, culture, humor and magic together into an irresistible tapestry. "The Master of All Desires" is Menander the Undying, purveyor of anyone's deepest wishes (at a small price of your soul, of course) who now takes the form of a grisly mummified head in a box. No one understands him and he is cranky all the time, especially now that he has fallen into the hands of someone who absolutely refuses to wish for anything. Sibille is new to Paris, has very big feet and an overblown sense of her own refinement but she is no fool and knows what the cost of any poorly worded wish will be. No so scrupulous are those around her, including the Queen of France and the King's mistress Diane de Portiers. They'll happily take Menander off Sibille's hands . . .except they can't. Will she ever be able to unload this awful box that materializes wherever she goes and nags her all night long? Can Nostradamus help-and would he if he could? Intelligent, funny, surprising, and full of action,"The Master of All Desires" is historical fiction at its best.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
Wonder blend of fact and fantasy
By Jackie M. Bachenberg
What a delightful blending of historical fact to fictional fancy. The story follows a well know historical triangle between Queen Catherine de Medici , her husband, King Henri II, and his lover, Diane de Poitiers. Then through in an elderly and cranky Nostradamus and you've got a funny and entertaining novel.
It would appear that both Queen Catherine and Diane de Poitiers want to get their hands on The Master of All Desires, aka Menander the Undying. Menander is a disembodied head that can grant any wish. The problem is he has a nasty habit of granting your wish, but always with the classic saying "Be careful what you wish for." Meanander is in the hands of a young Sibille Artaud de La Roque who refuses to make a wish and is trying to free herself of Menander so that she can marry her love Nicolas and have a normal life.
The result is a true delight that feels like a modern day Shakespeare comedy. I can't wait to read more of Ms. Riley's work.
My star ratings:
One star - couldn't finish the book
Two stars - read the book, but did a lot of skipping or scanning. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection or search out other books by the author
Three stars - enjoyable read. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection. Would judge other books by the author individually.
Four stars - Liked the book. Would keep the book or would look for others by the same author.
Five start - One of my all time favorites. Will get a copy in hardback to keep and will actively search out others by the same author.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful.
Quircky entertainment - fun read
By Amazon Customer
I enjoy all of JMR's novels of this genre (Oracle Glass & Serpent Garden) - I love the strong willed "underdog" female lead characters, their feminist attitudes in a society that treats them as property, and the sarcastic humor of their other-world friends. I laughed out loud at "the master of all desires" throughout this book. An enjoyable read, lots of fun, set among rich detail.
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