Queen of Kings : A Novel of Cleopatra, the Vampire

In this stunningly original debut, go beyond the legend of Queen Cleopatra and discover a passion steeped in the bloodlust of vampires... The year is 30 BC. A messenger delivers word to Queen Cleopatra that her beloved husband, Antony, has died at his own hand. Desperate to save her kingdom, Cleopatra strikes a mortal bargain in exchange for Antony’s soul, transforming her into an immortal—a vampire with superhuman strength and an insatiable hunger for blood. Leaving a trail of fiery retribution, Cleopatra journeys from the tombs of Egypt to the ancient underworld in order to meet her husband again. But to resurrect him, Cleopatra will need to challenge mythical beings with power beyond comprehension—risking the fate of both this world and the next for a love that will not die... Theres more than one path to immortality A thrilling, chilling reimagining of the story of the most famous woman in history. Once there was a queen of Egypta queen who became through magic something else The year is 30 BC. Octavian Caesar and his massed legions are poised to enter Alexandria. A messenger informs Egypts queen, Cleopatra, that her beloved Mark Antony has died by his own hand. Desperate to save her kingdom, resurrect her husband and protect all she holds dear, Cleopatra turns to the gods for help. Ignoring the warnings of those around her, she summons Sekhmet, goddess of death and destruction, and strikes a mortal bargain. And not even the wisest of Egypts scholars could have predicted what would follow For, in return for Antonys soul, Sekhmet demands something in return: Cleopatra herself. And so Egypts queen is possessed. She becomes an immortal, shape-shifting, not-quite-human manifestation of a deity who seeks to destroy the world. Fighting to preserve something of her humanity, Cleopatra pursues Octavian back to Rome: she desires revenge, she yearns for her childrenand she craves human blood. It is a journey that will take her from the tombs of the Pharaohs to the great amphitheatres of imperial Rome and on, to Hell itself where, it seems, the fate of the world will finally be decided. Blending authentic historical fiction and the darkest of fantasy, Queen of Kings is a spectacular and spellbinding feat of the imagination that fans of Neil Gaiman, Diana Gabaldon, George R.R. Martin, Patricia Briggs, Philippa Gregory, and Ridley Scott's Gladiator wont want to miss. Desperate to resurrect Antony after his suicide, Cleopatra strikes a bargain with Sekhmet, goddess of death and destruction. Cleopatra is transformed into a vampire, an immortal shapeshifter of superhuman strength-- and yearning for revenge as much as she craves human blood.