The Winter King

First print-published by Ace Books in 1986.What if an Amazon queen had a love affair with Alexander the Great?What if their son had to defend his lands from the Mongol Horde?What if his sister was the priestess of a bull-cult on Crete?What if her son started the Trojan War -- between India and Persia?The Sabazel series, four alternate-history, gonzo-mythology epic fantasy novels: Sabazel, The Winter King, Shadow Dancers, Wings of Power.The Winter KingIn a world rooted in Mediterranean history and mythology, armies clash, magicks compete, and the gods set their pawns onto the game board. Andrion, son of an Amazon queen and a world-conquering warrior, was named Beloved of the Gods. But divine love demands of him a test of strength. When his father's empire is betrayed and conquered by barbarians, Andrion flees to his mother's tiny realm. There, in the midst of defeat, he must mortgage his innocence, assess his loyalties, and try to be the warrior his father once was.Meanwhile, Tembujin, the son of the barbarian Khan, finds in the midst of victory that betrayal is not reserved for his enemy, and that perhaps he doesn't want to be the warrior his father once was. Only by forming an uneasy alliance can the two princes earn their patrimonies, inch by inch and heart by heart. And the women surrounding them have more than a little say in both victory and defeat.Lilith Saintcrow, author of the Dante Valentine series, on Sabazel, Book One: ". . .I love thisbook. A functioning Amazonian society with a kickass queen, navigating the waters of political alliance and war? Sign my silly butt up. This is one of those books I read every few years, and I'm always pleasantly surprised by how good it is each time.""...a marvelous sense of romantic adventure ...unusually literate, intelligent and respectfully aware of the epic tradition...strong characterizations complimented by an evocative magicalpoetry in the imagery...plausibility in action and locale...use of Classical background assured and distinctive...firmly grounded in reality, tradition and myth."-Robert Hadji, BorderlandA remarkably fine and thoroughly engrossing book.-Patricia C. WredeOriginal, imaginative, and believable.-Elizabeth Ann Scarborough.A compelling story. I read it through the night.-R.A. MacAvoy After starting out in science fiction and fantasy, Lillian Stewart Carl is now writing contemporary novels blending mystery, romance, and fantasy, along with short mystery and fantasy stories. Her work often includes paranormal themes. It always features plots based on history and archaeology. While she doesn't write comedy, she believes in characters with a sense of humor.Her fantasies are set in a mythological, alternate-history Mediterranean and India. Hercontemporary novels are set in Texas, in Ohio, in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, and in Englandand Scotland.Of her Shadows in Scarlet, Publishers Weekly says: "Presenting a delicious mix of romance andsupernatural suspense, Carl (Ashes to Ashes) delivers yet another immensely readable tale. Shehas created an engaging cast and a very entertaining plot, spicing the mix with some interesting twists on the ghostly romantic suspense novel."Of her Lucifer's Crown, Library Journal says: "Blending historical mystery with a touch of the supernatural, the author creates an intriguing exploration of faith and redemption in a world that is at once both modern and timeless.Among many other novels, Lillian is the author of the Jean Fairbairn/Alasdair Cameron cross-genremystery series: America's exile and Scotland's finest on the trail of all-too-living legends. Of The Secret Portrait, Kirkus says: Mystery, history and sexual tension blend with a taste of the wild beauty of the Highlands. Of The Burning Glass, Publishers Weekly says: "Authentic dialect, detailed descriptions of the castle and environs, and vivid characters recreate an area rich in history and legend. The tightly woven plot is certain to delight history fans with it