High Priestess and Empress

Book Two, Arcana Oracle Series

by Susan Wands

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Pub Date 14 May 2024 | Archive Date 1 May 2024

SparkPress

General Fiction (Adult) | Sci Fi & Fantasy | Women's Fiction

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Description

On her return to London, artist and seer Pamela Colman Smith discovers that her nemesis, Aleister Crowley, has returned—and his sights are set on her. Despite Aleister’s efforts to stop Pamela from further developing her tarot deck and accessing its magic, she carries on casting her High Priestess and Empress muses, Golden Dawn society leader Florence Farr and popular theatre star Ellen Terry. But when Ellen is poisoned and nearly killed, Pamela realizes that Aleister won’t stop coming for her—not until her muses are dead.

When Aleister reveals his plot to assassinate Queen Victoria and all female rulers, war breaks out between the Aleister’s Carlists and the Golden Dawn. With so many lives on the line—that of the queen, and those of her friends—Pamela must access her inner magic to face the battle of her life.

Advance Praise

“I was captivated by the story you wove. Each chapter brought the character alive. One could quite easily imagine the ambience of the time.” —Avril Price, Tarot Master, College of Psychic Studies, London

"Wands creates a London where Pamela Colman Smith and her tarot avatars engage in that eternal battle of good vs. evil. The research is stunning. Late nineteenth century London comes alive with theater performers, street urchins, suffragettes, and the Golden Dawn. Fast-paced and magical!" —Faith Justice, author of Dawn Empress: A Novel of Imperial Rome

"High Priestess and Empress is a sumptuous feast for the senses. Wands conjures a luscious, spellbinding tale of art and the occult in a thrilling must-read for magic, history and tarot lovers." —Sasha Graham, author of 2022 COVR Visionary Award-winning The Magic of Tarot

“If you enjoy learning about tarot history and a great story revolving around a remarkable group of people you are going to love every single one of the books in this series.” – Sharonah Rapseik, Tarot Master Reader, Talk Radio Host

“In the tradition of such works as Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susan Wands’s High Priestess and Empress is a unique work of dark fantasy. I look forward to seeing where these memorable characters end up next!” —Christopher M. Cevasco, author of Beheld: Godiva’s Story

“This novel delves into every corner of London, from the poshest parties to the cold, filthy streets to the most mysterious corners of its museums…this book is magical.” —J. K. Knauss author of Seven Noble Knights