Dark Priestess

by Juanita Coulson

She Craved A Mortal Love
Delicate, dark, touched by the divine gifts and earthy voluptuousness of Ishtar, goddess of love, her own fate swept her from obscure poverty to the golden palaces of power.

A Passion Beyond Time..
There she would find the proud young soldier, Captain of the Army, in whom she recognized her ardent destiny. There the Royal Governor, pledged to protect her, would covet her for his own and endanger her life... There the ominous clouds of treason and intrigue would gather to threaten both the future of the civilized world and a glorious passion meant to echo through the corridors of time.

A Searing Romance in Fabulously Wicked Babylon at the Dawn of History!

Genres: Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction

444 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 12, 1977

About the author

Juanita Ruth Coulson (née Wellons) is an American science fiction and fantasy writer most well known for her Children of the Stars books, published from 1981 to 1989. (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juanita...)

Reviews

[Sarah Mac · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the slower parts, a fun read. :) It has an Old Hollywood Epic feel, like Ben Hur or something of that ilk...back-bending kisses with a sweeping ancient backdrop. I also liked the relationship between Ki-Inanna & her father; they squabble, & he teases her about her suitor(s) while she has several eye-rolling-aside moments over his posturing, but beneath that they're very loyal to each other. It was nice to read a vintage historical where the heroine's dad isn't a manipulative crackerjack and/or already dead.

As you'd guess by the title, this also has some mild supernatural elements -- goddess intervention, visions, etc. It fits the story & the heroine's background (ie., a priestess of Ishtar), but some of the rituals could get a little tedious. Medicine & religion were closely tied in Babylonian culture, so there you go. But I wish some of the infodumps had been trimmed. The plot was a bit herky-jerky & slowed down every so often to read about Ki-Inanna's midwifery or medicinal herbs before reverting to the political intrigue.

3.5 stars. But if not for the uneven pacing, I'd have rounded up.

[Rebecca Huston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in ancient Sumeria, this one wasn't too bad when I read it long long ago. I must check and see if I still have a copy around here somewhere. I do remember reading it over several times, and enjoying it very much.

Yep, just checked. I do still have a copy.

[Vana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining! Well-written, taught me much about Sumerians.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great book to read