Sara Douglass, God’s Concubine

God's Concubine

Sara Douglass

Tor, March 2004, $27.95, 512 pp.

ISBN 0765305410

The Minotaur Asterion wants nothing more than to make sure that the Labyrinth stays destroyed for it is the only thing that can control him and prevent him from doing evil. When Troy fell, Brutus and his wife Cornelia traveled to the world now known as England where he met the mistress of the Labyrinth. They almost succeeded in rebuilding the TroyGame and completing the Labyrinth where they will gain immortality. A jealous Cornelia killed her rival Genvissa with the help of Asterion. Brutus and Genvissa must wait for another incarnation to complete the Game and achieve Immortality.

For millennia Asterion has prevented them from being reborn but unable to find the six gold bands of power, he is forced to allow them to come back into the world so Brutus can lead him to the rings. King William of Normandy is Brutus. The Saxon King Alfred's wife Caela was once known as Cornelia. She is also the sister of Harold, once known as Col, the Saxon Earl who will be the next king of England. He is married to Swanne, the woman Cornelia once killed. Asterion knows who the players are, who they once were and is guiding their movements like a puppet master.

The story of Alfred the Confessor and the war between Harold and William is given an original twist in this alternate world fantasy GOD'S CONCUBINE. This is primarily a reincarnation fantasy story whose characters are reborn to learn lessons they missed in their last incarnation. The elements of history, romance and fantasy blend together to make Sara Douglass's work a compelling reading experience.

Harriet Klausner