Numinous World Series by Jo Graham, Arika Rapson

The world is ending. One by one the mighty cities are falling, to earthquakes, to flood, to raiders on both land and sea.In a time of war and doubt, Gull is an oracle. Daughter of a slave taken from fallen Troy, chosen at the age of seven to be the voice of the Lady of the Dead, it is her destiny to counsel kings... moreThe world is ending. One by one the mighty cities are falling, to earthquakes, to flood, to raiders on both land and sea.In a time of war and doubt, Gull is an oracle. Daughter of a slave taken from fallen Troy, chosen at the age of seven to be the voice of the Lady of the Dead, it is her destiny to counsel kings.When nine black ships appear, captained by an exiled Trojan prince, Gull must decide between the life she has been destined for and the most perilous adventure -- to join the remnant of her mother's people in their desperate flight. From the doomed bastions of the City of Pirates to the temples of Byblos, from the intrigues of the Egyptian court to the haunted caves beneath Mount Vesuvius, only Gull can guide Prince Aeneas on his quest, and only she can dare the gates of the Underworld itself to lead him to his destiny.In the last shadowed days of the Age of Bronze, one woman dreams of the world beginning anew. This is her story. less

The world is ending. One by one the mighty cities are falling, to earthquakes, to flood, to raiders on both land and sea.In a time of war and doubt, Gull is an oracle. Daughter of a slave taken from fallen Troy, chosen at the age of seven to be the voice of the Lady of the Dead, it is her destiny to counsel kings... moreThe world is ending. One by one the mighty cities are falling, to earthquakes, to flood, to raiders on both land and sea.In a time of war and doubt, Gull is an oracle. Daughter of a slave taken from fallen Troy, chosen at the age of seven to be the voice of the Lady of the Dead, it is her destiny to counsel kings.When nine black ships appear, captained by an exiled Trojan prince, Gull must decide between the life she has been destined for and the most perilous adventure -- to join the remnant of her mother's people in their desperate flight. From the doomed bastions of the City of Pirates to the temples of Byblos, from the intrigues of the Egyptian court to the haunted caves beneath Mount Vesuvius, only Gull can guide Prince Aeneas on his quest, and only she can dare the gates of the Underworld itself to lead him to his destiny.In the last shadowed days of the Age of Bronze, one woman dreams of the world beginning anew. This is her story. less

Alexander the Great's soldier, Lydias of Miletus, has survived the final campaigns of the king's life. He now has to deal with the chaos surrounding his death. Lydias throws his lot in with Ptolemy, one of Alexander's generals who has grabbed Egypt as his personal territory... moreAlexander the Great's soldier, Lydias of Miletus, has survived the final campaigns of the king's life. He now has to deal with the chaos surrounding his death. Lydias throws his lot in with Ptolemy, one of Alexander's generals who has grabbed Egypt as his personal territory. Aided by the eunuch Bagoas, the Persian archer Artashir, and the Athenian courtesan Thais, Ptolemy and Lydias must take on all the contenders in a desperate adventure whose prize is the fate of a white city by the sea, and Alexander's legacy. less

Against the rising power of Rome, Egypt is the last and strongest bastion of the Eastern Hellenistic kingdoms. Charmian is handmaiden to Cleopatra. She is also an oracle, gifted with ancient memories that may hold the key to preserving Egypt. Through blood and fire, war and peace, love and death, she will face a desperate struggle that will remake the future of the world.

The world is a numinous place, for those who have eyes to see it.Welcome to the Numinous World, where gods and angels intervene in the lives of mortals, and a band of eternal companions unite and reunite over the centuries, striving to make the world a better place despite wars and dark ages, hatred and cruelty. Theirs are eternal oaths, to the powers they serve and to one another... moreThe world is a numinous place, for those who have eyes to see it.Welcome to the Numinous World, where gods and angels intervene in the lives of mortals, and a band of eternal companions unite and reunite over the centuries, striving to make the world a better place despite wars and dark ages, hatred and cruelty. Theirs are eternal oaths, to the powers they serve and to one another. Through wars and dark ages, from the ancient Nile valley to the dawn of the twentieth century, they must be true to themselves and to those they serve -- no matter what the danger. Seventeen enchanting short stories bring to life this rich tapestry, weaving in and out of history, dark and bright alike.List of stories with date and setting:The Ravens of Falkenau, 1614-1634, The Kingdom of BohemiaDion Ex Machina, 4 BC, AlexandriaCold Frontier, 505 AD, Caer Leon, in BritainSmall Victories, 1800-1810 AD, Paris, FranceHow the Lady of Cats Came to Negada, 8000 BC, along the River NilePrince Over the Water, 1040 AD, the Orkney IslandsHorus Indwelling, 285 BC, AlexandriaParadise, 641 AD, AlexandriaSlave of the World, 1203 AD, FranceLittle Cat, 1012 BC, Thebes in EgyptVesuvius, 79 AD, PompeiiUnfinished Business, 22 BC, RomeThe Messenger's Tale, 1553 AD, LondonMorning Star, 469 BC, Pasargadae, in PersiaTemplar Treasure, 1188 AD, BeirutWinter's Child, 1821 AD, PolandBrunnhilde in the Fire, 1901 AD, Boston less

As a spirit of change overturns Europe's old order, Elzelina Versfelt enters her own age of revolution. Married as a romantic young girl to a man who wanted only her money, Elza refuses to be chained any longer. Leaving Amsterdam, she flees to France - where the old rules no longer apply, debauchery is not a sin... and nothing is forbidden. This stunning novel blends history with the language of the heart to tell a sensuous story of an era of upheaval.

Courtesan, actress, medium -- spy.1805: Europe stands poised on the brink of war.Elza is content with her life in the demi-monde, an actress and courtesan in the glittering society of France's First Empire, but when her former lover is arrested for treason, Elza is blackmailed into informing on her friends and associates... moreCourtesan, actress, medium -- spy.1805: Europe stands poised on the brink of war.Elza is content with her life in the demi-monde, an actress and courtesan in the glittering society of France's First Empire, but when her former lover is arrested for treason, Elza is blackmailed into informing on her friends and associates. She has one alternative -- to become the secret agent of the most feared man in Europe, Napoleon Bonaparte!France's invasion of England is imminent, but a spy in the camp of the Grand Army threatens the secret plans. Taking the Emperor's commission to catch the spy means playing the deadly game of spy versus counterspy. However, this is no ordinary espionage, but backed by the power of the witches of England determined to hold England's sea wards against invasion. Only an agent who is herself a medium can hope to unravel their magic in time -- with the life of the man Elza loves hanging in the balance.From the theaters of Paris to the sea cliffs that guard the Channel, from ballrooms and bedrooms to battlefields corporeal and astral, Elza must rely on her wits, her courage, her beauty, and her growing talents as a medium for she must triumph -- or die!PRAISE FOR JO GRAHAMBased upon the real life of Maria Versfelt (alias Ida St. Elme)—courtesan, actress and writer—Graham’s latest entwines history, romance and a delicious dollop of fantasy. Sexy and dashing. -- Kirkus Review on The General's Mistress(This) story will confirm Graham’s place in the highest ranks of historical fantasists. -- Publisher's Weekly on Stealing FireGraham's ability to bring history to life is truly remarkable -- Romantic Times Book Reviews on The General's MistressGraham’s spare style focuses on action, but fraught meaning and smoldering emotional resonance overlay her deceptively simple words. -- Publisher's Weekly on Black ShipsThe General’s Mistress is a gorgeous book, a tumultuous moment in history seen through the eyes of a woman who is living both in and beyond her own time. Like Elza, the book manages to straddle the modern-day and the past to be both authentic and accessible to the readers. The result is a beautiful, sensual journey of a woman with many names trying to find her true identity. -- Geek Speak Magazine on The General's Mistress less

Woman of MysteryThe world knows her as an actress and courtesan, the mistress of one of Napoleon’s glittering inner circle, but Elza (aka Ida St Elme) is more than that. Only a few besides her beloved Michel know she is a secret agent in Napoleon’s service, a confidential spy who works directly for the Emperor himself... moreWoman of MysteryThe world knows her as an actress and courtesan, the mistress of one of Napoleon’s glittering inner circle, but Elza (aka Ida St Elme) is more than that. Only a few besides her beloved Michel know she is a secret agent in Napoleon’s service, a confidential spy who works directly for the Emperor himself. Even fewer know that she is also a Companion, an old soul who has lived many lives and whose flashes of clairvoyance have occasionally given her the edge she needed to unravel an unfathomable mystery.Now Elza faces her greatest challenge yet, but her past threatens to hinder rather than help. What ancient failure weighs heavy on her soul, and how does it complicate her current task for Napoleon? Will ignorance and fear lead them all to repeat past mistakes? Or can Elza overcome the shadow of the past to complete her mission – with no less than the government of France hanging in the balance?From the ballrooms of Warsaw to the streets of Rome, from blood-soaked snowy battlefields to the buried ruins of Pompeii, from palaces to prisons, Elza must face her past to claim her future. less