"Whimsy and malice--yes--also mystery, a very female sensuality, and wit. An elegant and entertaining book." --Ursula K. Le Guin
"The tales are beautifully written, elegant, passionate, funny, and moving. The entire collection is a delightful, magical bridge across cultures. I hope many readers find their way to it." --Patricia A. McKillip
"Noted short story author Foster offers a dozen enchanting and sometimes chilling tales alive with elegantly sketched characters and sensibilities drawn from Asian folklore . . . Readers who long for a break from European medieval fantasy...
"Whimsy and malice--yes--also mystery, a very female sensuality, and wit. An elegant and entertaining book." --Ursula K. Le Guin
In seventeenth-century France, Louis XIV rules with flamboyant ambition. From the Hall of Mirrors to the vermin-infested attics of the Chateau at Versailles, courtiers compete to please the king, sacrificing fortune, principles, and sacred bonds. Here, Marie-Josephe de la Croix looks forward to assisting her brother, Yves, in the scientific study of the rare sea monster he has captured. The living creature, with its double tail, tangled hair, and gargoyle face, provides an intriguing experiment. But, for Marie-Josephe, the creature's exquisite singing leads her to conclude that it is more...
In seventeenth-century France, Louis XIV rules with flamboyant ambition. From the Hall of Mirrors to the vermin-infested attics of the Chateau at Vers...
