About This Book
You'll love the Adventure, Romance and Riveting Paranormal influences this book offers. And, where, unlike <i>Game of Thrones</i>, not everyone dies! <br>
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A bloody, dark, sensual novel about pagan mysteries and the corruption of the Church in medieval Germany. One of the finest and most provocative historical fantasy novels you are ever likely to encounter.<br>
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"Jakober's narrative vision is strong; she offers vivid scenes of battle, romance, political scheming, wild magic, religious conflict and love." - Douglas Barbour, reviewer<br>
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"Historically based on the church vs. state struggle of 11th century Germany, Jakober spins a fascinating fantasy yarn. Her style is direct and easily accessible, and her descriptive talents make the scenes jump off the pages. ... Highly recommended." - R.F. Briggs, Yet Another Book Review Site<br>
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"A book like this deserves to be cherished, whatever the readers' personal faith or lack of it. " - Publishers Weekly<br>
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<b>ABOUT THE BOOK</b>:<br>
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It's 1134. In a bleak monastery somewhere in Germany, Paul of Ardiun begins the chronicle he has been ordered by his religious superiors to write: the story of the knight Karelian Brandeis, for whom Paul once served as squire, who fell prey to the evil wiles of a seductive sorceress, thereby precipitating civil war and the downfall of a king.<br>
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But before Paul can set down more than a sentence or two of this cautionary tale, the sorceress herself magically appears to him. He is a liar, she tells him, and always has been. She lays a spell on him: from this moment, he will only be able to write the truth.<br>
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But what is the truth? <br>
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All his life he has rearranged his memories to suit his faith. He has judged Karelian, judged the sorceress, judged the world.<br>
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Now, against his will, an entirely different story begins to emerge.<br>
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<b>PRAISE</b>:<br>
"I am not in the habit of hyping other people's books, but this one is exceptional... Jakober wields pagan myth as surely as Tolkien ever did, and cites Christian beliefs in a way even C.S. Lewis would never dare... There's plenty of action for repressed adolescents like me-magic, jousting, tender romance and gruesome brutality. She creates superbly subtle characters, men and women both. Best of all is her evocation of the atmosphere of Dark Age Northern Europe-nasty, brutish, and haunted." -Dave Duncan, author<br>
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<b>The Black Chalice</b> is an award winning and must-read epic fantasy novel similar in tone to the likes of Marion Zimmer Bradley's <i>Mists of Avalon</i> and Guy Gavriel Kay's A Song for Arbonne.
