By the Spirit of Count Rochester / Vera Kryzhanovskaya
Librería Samer Atenea
Kálamo Books
Librería Elías (Asturias)
Librería Kolima (Madrid)
Librería Proteo (Málaga)
Set in ancient Egypt during Queen Hatasu’s reign, this novel follows Neith, the secret daughter of Hatasu and a Hittite prince. Raised by her uncle and a debauched brother who pawns their father’s mummy, Neith is forced into an unwanted betrothal with the wealthy Hartatef to save her family’s honor. However, her true love is Roma, an unhappily married priest of Hathor. Hartatef is later disgraced after a sorceress tricks him into sacrificing Amun’s sacred ram for a love potion. The Queen then weds Neith to Sargon, a Hittite prince. On their wedding night, Neith confesses her love for another, causing an enraged Sargon to stab her. She miraculously survives, and Sargon is condemned to penal labor.The story’s true villain is Prince Horemseb, the 'Sorcerer of Memphis'. Aided by the dark sage Tadar, Horemseb cultivates a magical plant whose intoxicating red roses enslave women’s minds. He sacrifices these victims to the bloodthirsty idol Moloch to gain immortality. Horemseb eventually kidnaps Neith, but she bravely resists his spell.An escaped Sargon exposes Horemseb’s atrocities to Queen Hatasu, though he is tragically killed during the confrontation. Horemseb is condemned to be walled up alive. He attempts to fake his death with a potion, but his plot is foiled when Sargon’s spirit warns the priests, who permanently execute the sorcerer by stabbing his body. Finally, Roma is freed from his wicked wife, and Queen Hatasu blesses his marriage to Neith.
