Dark Priestess

If you are a Sumerian/ Babylonian mythology fanatic like I am, or just like "Pagan themed" stories you may really enjoy this story of a Sumerian Healer/ Priestess in Babylon. It comes with *horrible* cover art with European looking figures ( a blondish woman and a guy that looks like Kirk Douglas wearing Roman looking clothes in a Roman looking arena ) and is aimed at a Romance audience, but it is filled with details of life at this time, with a glossary in the back, and the author really did some research. She make only a few mistakes, and I only caught them because I've done years of research on the rites and religious beliefs of the Babylonians. The average person will be more educated than misled. The love story is fairly minor in the theme of things, much more empathizes is put on the medical practices and beliefs, and the various political intrigues going on. Though a fairly thick book it was a quick, engrossing read, with actual quotes from Sumerian/ Babylonian poems and lore. Not perfect, but I enjoyed it and if this time period and these deities are as interesting to you as they are to me, give it a try! The medical information, including the religious aspects and ethics of healing, were really fascinating. The two Healer protagonists, a father and daughter, were thoroughly likable and believable, and the author tries to avoid the black and white thinking and characterization that so plagues many historical novels.