Devil's Bargain

A seamless alternate history that appears to be so close to 'real' history, that you could be left believing that the events portrayed actually happened. Sioned, an illegitimate sister of Richard the Lionheart, is the heroine of the novel. Eleanor, queen mother of Richard, has used her black arts to ensure that Richard's Crusade against Saladin is successful. Sioned works in the crusader's hospital, and does diplomatic work when Richard requires it. Sioned rather inconveniently falls in love with a diplomat on the opposite side. The novel revolves around Sioned's loyalty to her brother and her wish to be with Ahmad, Saladin's brother and prime Muslim negotiator with the Christian side. Sioned is called upon to resolve the problems that Eleanor has created with her black magic when the consequences of the bargain that Eleanor has made with the demonic forces coincide with the Crusade to endanger the whole Crusade and the Crown of England. A well written and absorbing alternate history fantasy that is worth your time.

Richard the Lionhearted has won battles, but victory in his Crusade is far from clear. Saladin and his brother Ahmad command powerful armies of Islam--Arabs, Turks, Egyptians, and Kurds, all sworn to defend the holy city of Jerusalem. More dangerous still, to both Crusader and Jihad, is the Old Man of the Mountain, Sinan, chief of the Assassins. The dark lord he serves would destroy both Richard and Saladin. And Richard's mother, Eleanor, has promised Sinan Richard's soul if he will help Richard win Jerusalem. Richard's bastard sister Sioned, heir to the magics of Britain and the Celts, along with Richard's moorish servant Mustafa, stand against the assassins and the dark magic that they command. Yet, for Mustafa, aid for Richard means aid for the enemies of his faith. And will Sioned, relatively untrained in the ways of magic, be able to confront both Eleanor and Sinan? Or will her growing love for Ahmad force her to turn against the family that has always denied her? Author Judith Tarr has created an emotionally compelling and exciting story of the third crusade. Her depiction of Richard, a noble warrior who holds the seeds of magic within him but denies them, is convincing and sympathetic. Sioned, with her celtic magics and her love for Achmad, is attractively conflicted. Mustafa is probably the most interesting character, uniquely able to penetrate both Islam and Crusader camps and learn secrets that swing the course of history. As Tarr notes in the Author's Note, the Third Crusade was something of a let-down. It petered out without resolving anything except for Europe's inability to unite long enough to accomplish anything. Yet, with a few shifts, it could have led to a decisively different present--and Tarr's magic certainly delivers those shifts. One major glitch stood out--why, exactly, did Ahmad visit Sinan and put himself in the Assassin's debt? Surely he could have accomplished everything Sinan did without the risk to his own soul. In this case, I think Tarr's author-desire to put more at stake detracted rather than added to the story. Still, DEVIL'S BARGAIN more than redeems this one flaw delivering an exciting and satisfying read.

In 1192 on an Earth much like our own in most respects, Richard I is leading the third crusade to take the Holy Lands. His Majesty expects the battle to be fought on the mortal plane. However, he doesn't know that his mother, Queen Eleanor, a dark sorceress in her own right, has made a pact with Sinan, beloved of Ibris and all the other dark Gods that have ever lived. The Lionheart will win the war and take Jerusalem but the price will be very high.Sioned, Richard's illegitimate half-sister is traveling with him on the campaign. She has the sight and power of magic that she will learn how to use from Ahmad, Saladin's half-brother who also possesses the talent. Enemies and lovers, the pair fights the powers of darkness that surround them, hoping that Richard will be able to fight off Sinan's power with the Seal of Solomon that Sioned stole from the enemy.Harry Turtledove is well known for his alternate history novels but Judith Tarr, is his equal in every respect. On a world that never was but could have been, magic play a key role in the affairs of mankind with one woman's burning ambition capable of destroying an empire. DEVIL'S BARGAIN is a masterpiece of intrigue, sorcery and romance.Harriet Klausner