Synopses & Reviews
An immortal Muse whose very survival depends on the creativity she nurtures within her lovers
Another immortal who feeds not on artistry but on pain and torment...
A chase through time, with two people bound together in enmity and fury
Magic and science melded together into one, and an array of the famous and infamous, caught up unawares in an ages-long battle
Immortal Muse is a tale that takes the reader on a fascinating journey from Paris of the late 1300s with the alchemists Perenelle and Nicolas Flamel, to contemporary New York City. Along the way, there are interludes with Bernini in Rome in 1635; with Vivaldi in Venice of 1737; with Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier and Robespierre in the Paris of the French Revolution; with William Blake and John Polidori in 1814; with Gustav Klimt in fin de siècle Vienna; with Charlotte Salomon in WWII France. And in modern-day New York, a complicated dance of love and violence finally brings a resolution to the centuries-old deadly feud.
Review
"Mythology, alchemy and fantasy all coalesce in Leigh's
Immortal Muse, creating the perfect combination for readers looking for their next stellar read. Leigh has masterfully created a fantastical adventure for his audience...The alternating chapters of past and present will whet readers' appetites for more adventure and intrigue, and will leave them wanting more. The author weaves mythic history with a bit of action, murder and, of course, spice--and has this reader wondering why I'm only discovering him now. This is definitely a Top Pick! perfect for those craving a bit of intirgue and history." --
RT Reviews (Top Pick)
"Leigh seamlessly inserts his two immortals into history, playing with actual people and events to deliver beautifully-rendered glimpses of different eras. Leigh strikes the perfect balance between past and present, real and imagined." -- Publishers Weekly
“Immortal Muse is an unforgettable tale that sweeps readers from 1300s Paris to modern-day New York.” - Risingshadow
Review
"Leigh seamlessly inserts his two immortals into history, playing with actual people and events to deliver beautifully-rendered glimpses of different eras. Leigh strikes the perfect balance between past and present, real and imagined." —
Publisher's Weekly (starred)
"Mythology, alchemy and fantasy all coalesce in Leigh's Immortal Muse, creating the perfect combination for readers looking for their next stellar read. Leigh has masterfully created a fantastical adventure for his audience...The alternating chapters of past and present will whet readers' appetites for more adventure and intrigue, and will leave them wanting more. The author weaves mythic history with a bit of action, murder and, of course, spice--and has this reader wondering why I'm only discovering him now. This is definitely a Top Pick! perfect for those craving a bit of intirgue and history." —RT Reviews (top pick)
"Sweeping in scope and full of action and danger, this well-constructed historical fantasy takes an original look at the nature of creativity. If Nicholas is slightly mustache-twirly in his evilness, the compelling 'immortal muse' Perenelle more than compensates." —Library Journal
"A masterpiece of historical fantasy.... Those looking for a sure-footed, exciting, and thoroughly rewarding race through the history of creativity in the past several centuries--and who doesn't want that?--will not be alone in finding this a book to thrill the passions and mind alike. It is a terrific fantasy, a superlative historical read, and a tragic romance all in one. Highly Recommended!" —SFRevu
"Fascinating and compelling, this might find some award nods." —Philedelphia Weekly Press
"A unique exploration of art, passion, and love." —Heroes and Heartbreakers
Synopsis
An immortal Muse whose very survival depends on the creativity she nurtures within her lovers....
Another immortal who feeds not on artistry but on pain and torment....
A chase through time from 1300s Paris to contemporary New York, with two people bound together in enmity and fury....
When magic and science are melded together, an array of the famous and infamous from Bernini to Vivaldi, from Lavoisier and Robespierre to William Blake, from Gustav Klimt to Charlotte Salomon will be caught up unawares in this ages-long battle...."
Synopsis
This sweeping historical fantasy follows two immortals from the 1300s onward, as they chase one another across time
An immortal Muse whose very survival depends on the creativity she nurtures within her lovers....
Another immortal who feeds not on artistry but on pain and torment....
A chase through time from 1300s Paris to contemporary New York, with two people bound together in enmity and fury....
When magic and science are melded together, an array of the famous and infamous--from Bernini to Vivaldi, from Lavoisier and Robespierre to William Blake, from Gustav Klimt to Charlotte Salomon--will be caught up unawares in this ages-long battle....
Synopsis
Immortal Muse is an unforgettable tale that sweeps readers from 1300s Paris to modern-day New Yorkwith interludes in the 1635 Rome of Bernini, the 1737 Venice of Vivaldi, the French Revolution in Paris with Lavoisier and Robespierre, 1814 London with William Blake and John Polidori, fin de siècle Vienna with Gustav Klimt, and World War II France with Charlotte Salomon.
It began with the marriage of Perenelle and Nicolas Flamel. It began, too, with alchemy, sorceryand the legendary elixir of life. And though many had striven to perfect this formula, it was Perenelle alone who finally achieved it.
But for every prize there is a price, and the cost of immortality would prove high indeed. Perenelle became the Immortal Muse whose very survival depended on the creativity she nurtured in others, while Nicolas sustained his life force through the pain and torment of his victims.
And what began with a sacred oath of love became an endless pursuit through time driven by enmity and vengeance....
About the Author
Stephen Leigh is a Cincinnati-based, award-winning author with nineteen science fiction novels and over forty short stories published. He has been a frequent contributor to the Hugo-nominated shared world series Wild Cards, edited by George R. R. Martin. He teaches creative writing at Northern Kentucky University. Stephen Leigh has written the fantasy trilogy Assassin's Dawn, Immortal Muse, and The Crow of Connemara. He can be found at farrelworlds.com.