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Dark Priestess
Delicate, dark, touched by the divine gifts of Ishtar, goddess of love, a young girl named Ki-Inanna finds herself swept from obscure poverty to the golden palaces of power.
But the dangers of love are many…
There, in the high palace, Ki-Inanna would find the proud young soldier, Captain of the Army, in whom she recognized her ardent destiny. There, the Royal Governor, pledged to protect her, would covet her for his own and endanger her life…
Together with her father, Ki-Inanna is at the mercy of hostile political undercurrents and together they must guide each other through an extraordinary and treacherous period of witchcraft, superstition and rituals. Amidst conflicting religious ideals, the very real threat of barbaric prisons and supernatural fantasies, Ki-Inanna must question the safety of pursuing her chosen suitor. A perilous task given her status in Babylonian culture.
When ominous clouds of treason and intrigue begin to gather, the future of the civilized world is firmly under threat…
And Ki-Inanna is their only hope.
Dark Priestess is a searing fantasy romance in fabulously wicked Babylon at the dawn of history.
“… A richly detailed construction…” C J Cherryh
“Coulson works on an enormous canvas — sometimes almost overwhelming. The characters are always memorable.” Marion Zimmer Bradley
Juanita Coulson is an American science fiction and fantasy writer. She is also widely known in filk music circles since the 1950s for her singing and songwriting; she has won several Pegasus Awards for her filking. For thirty-three years, she co-edited the science fiction fanzine Yandro with her husband "Buck" (Robert Coulson). Yandro was nominated for a Hugo Award every year from 1958-1967; it won the award in 1965, thus marking Coulson as one of the very first women to be so honored.
But the dangers of love are many…
There, in the high palace, Ki-Inanna would find the proud young soldier, Captain of the Army, in whom she recognized her ardent destiny. There, the Royal Governor, pledged to protect her, would covet her for his own and endanger her life…
Together with her father, Ki-Inanna is at the mercy of hostile political undercurrents and together they must guide each other through an extraordinary and treacherous period of witchcraft, superstition and rituals. Amidst conflicting religious ideals, the very real threat of barbaric prisons and supernatural fantasies, Ki-Inanna must question the safety of pursuing her chosen suitor. A perilous task given her status in Babylonian culture.
When ominous clouds of treason and intrigue begin to gather, the future of the civilized world is firmly under threat…
And Ki-Inanna is their only hope.
Dark Priestess is a searing fantasy romance in fabulously wicked Babylon at the dawn of history.
“… A richly detailed construction…” C J Cherryh
“Coulson works on an enormous canvas — sometimes almost overwhelming. The characters are always memorable.” Marion Zimmer Bradley
Juanita Coulson is an American science fiction and fantasy writer. She is also widely known in filk music circles since the 1950s for her singing and songwriting; she has won several Pegasus Awards for her filking. For thirty-three years, she co-edited the science fiction fanzine Yandro with her husband "Buck" (Robert Coulson). Yandro was nominated for a Hugo Award every year from 1958-1967; it won the award in 1965, thus marking Coulson as one of the very first women to be so honored.
444 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 12, 1977
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About the author
Juanita Coulson
38 books17 followersJuanita Ruth Coulson (née Wellons) is an American science fiction and fantasy writer most well known for her Children of the Stars books, published from 1981 to 1989. (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juanita...)
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 21, 2017
Despite the slower parts, a fun read. :) It has an Old Hollywood Epic feel, like Ben Hur or something of that ilk...back-bending kisses with a sweeping ancient backdrop. I also liked the relationship between Ki-Inanna & her father; they squabble, & he teases her about her suitor(s) while she has several eye-rolling-aside moments over his posturing, but beneath that they're very loyal to each other. It was nice to read a vintage historical where the heroine's dad isn't a manipulative crackerjack and/or already dead.
As you'd guess by the title, this also has some mild supernatural elements -- goddess intervention, visions, etc. It fits the story & the heroine's background (ie., a priestess of Ishtar), but some of the rituals could get a little tedious. Medicine & religion were closely tied in Babylonian culture, so there you go. But I wish some of the infodumps had been trimmed. The plot was a bit herky-jerky & slowed down every so often to read about Ki-Inanna's midwifery or medicinal herbs before reverting to the political intrigue.
3.5 stars. But if not for the uneven pacing, I'd have rounded up.
As you'd guess by the title, this also has some mild supernatural elements -- goddess intervention, visions, etc. It fits the story & the heroine's background (ie., a priestess of Ishtar), but some of the rituals could get a little tedious. Medicine & religion were closely tied in Babylonian culture, so there you go. But I wish some of the infodumps had been trimmed. The plot was a bit herky-jerky & slowed down every so often to read about Ki-Inanna's midwifery or medicinal herbs before reverting to the political intrigue.
3.5 stars. But if not for the uneven pacing, I'd have rounded up.
October 13, 2010
Set in ancient Sumeria, this one wasn't too bad when I read it long long ago. I must check and see if I still have a copy around here somewhere. I do remember reading it over several times, and enjoying it very much.
Yep, just checked. I do still have a copy.
Yep, just checked. I do still have a copy.
January 3, 2017
Entertaining! Well-written, taught me much about Sumerians.
August 19, 2016
It is a great book to read
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews