When scholarly Paula travels to Istanbul with her merchant father to help him negotiate the purchase of a legendary religious artifact known as Cybele’s Gift, she’s drawn into a series of adventures influenced by the magical beings of the Otherworld. Along the way, she encounters a handsome bodyguard searching for his lost brother, a dashing pirate on a mysterious quest of his own, and a renowned female scholar who defies custom and expectations. Everyone wants the artifact for its power, and death awaits the losers. This is a richly-detailed historical fantasy, full of wonder, mystery, magic and romance, with a fast-paced plot and a thoroughly-enjoyable heroine at its heart. Marillier is a master storyteller, and it shows in this companion to Wildwood Dancing.