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Mistress of the Rock
All is fair in love and war. Or is it?
For Richard Cole, ex-veteran of the First Gulf War, the memories of conflict have become the nightmares of his reality, and only by confronting them can he begin to live again.
He returns to the Island of Cyprus some twenty years later to where it all began, for a vacation with his wife, Julie. But a chance discovery places him in a dilemma, as he learns that Greek Gods and mortals should never mix.
Now, with Richard powerless to stop the momentum of a phenomenon that tests him to his limits, challenging all that he knows and loves against a fantasy of myth and legend, he must struggle to find the truth between what is real and what is not; but at what cost?
On the island of love, one man's obsession turns to possession, as his mind, body, and soul are trapped between two worlds and two women.
'The Mistress of the Rock is a very possessive spirit; she does not give her affections lightly.' As Richard Cole is about to discover.
For Richard Cole, ex-veteran of the First Gulf War, the memories of conflict have become the nightmares of his reality, and only by confronting them can he begin to live again.
He returns to the Island of Cyprus some twenty years later to where it all began, for a vacation with his wife, Julie. But a chance discovery places him in a dilemma, as he learns that Greek Gods and mortals should never mix.
Now, with Richard powerless to stop the momentum of a phenomenon that tests him to his limits, challenging all that he knows and loves against a fantasy of myth and legend, he must struggle to find the truth between what is real and what is not; but at what cost?
On the island of love, one man's obsession turns to possession, as his mind, body, and soul are trapped between two worlds and two women.
'The Mistress of the Rock is a very possessive spirit; she does not give her affections lightly.' As Richard Cole is about to discover.
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First published May 13, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 15, 2017
Took me a while to get 'hooked', then I couldn't put the book down! Having experienced life in Cyprus, the references to time, getting things done, who you know, and location references are all real, and not factual. My reading intensified along with the story - wow! Definitely worthy of progressing to film/series, as it includes many emotions and traits - horror, love, intrigue, loyalty, betrayal, adventure, greed, passion, belief, excitement, mystery, fantasy, history and many more. An interesting, intriguing read with an escalation of events towards the end. Thanks Myron - looking forward to reading more from you.
June 16, 2024
The Mistress Of The Rock is a fantasy book by Myron Edwards that tells the story of Richard and his search for the Goddess of Love. The war had just begun and Richard, a soldier, had to travel to Kuwait with the rest of the team. On their way, they caught sight of a large rock, which his companions called “The Aphrodite Rock”. After the mission in Kuwait, Richard made friends with a man named Peter who had flown them in. After the war, Peter and Richard lost touch for over twenty years. They later got back together when Richard and his wife visited Cyprus for a vacation. They met Peter, who flew them around in a helicopter. Richard saw the rock once again and felt a connection. After their tour, he went through the pictures he took and noticed the faint view of the face of a lady in one of the pictures, which no one could see. This urged him strongly to seek the Goddess of Love, which lead to something greater. What do you think it was?
Opinion:
The book is interesting which centers on Richard's search for the Goddess whom he thought he owed a favor. The plot is something that made the book enjoyable as it portrayed Richard's life as a soldier, which was terrible and heartbreaking since he was faced with disrupting incidents that gave him sleepless nights. Apart from that, it also included the appealing parts of life, like when he got together with Peter and started a diving business. It spiced up the book with some sexual scenes and pleasure. It also explored various locations as we read about the characters' travel to places either by air or road. For instance, during the war, Richard had to travel to Kuwait, then stopped in Cyprus when he first saw the gigantic rock. Then, after some years, he was in Cyprus again with his wife for vacation, hoping to return. During these travels, he had many experiences and did sightseeing which would have an impact on his life.
The genre of the book focused on the mysterious goddess who tried reaching out to Richard to find her. It felt weird since he was the only one experiencing this. At some point, he thought he saw some glimpse of her, but when he tried following her, she was no longer there. He was lost as he deeply fantasized over this ancient Greek goddess.
Well, a story cannot be complete without the characters, starting with the main character. He was a caring and warm-hearted man, and I came to love him more when he tried explaining to Peter how devastated he felt at the gruesome killings of innocent people which terrorized him as a soldier. I also appreciated how Richard plans to give Peter some of the profit he gets from the business because of the help he always rendered. Besides the main character, Julie also proved to be outstanding as Richard's wife. She cared for her husband and supported his decision when he planned to start a diving business even though she felt bad about it. These characters and others possessed qualities such as love, sympathy, care, trust and much more which added to the interesting story.
Opinion:
The book is interesting which centers on Richard's search for the Goddess whom he thought he owed a favor. The plot is something that made the book enjoyable as it portrayed Richard's life as a soldier, which was terrible and heartbreaking since he was faced with disrupting incidents that gave him sleepless nights. Apart from that, it also included the appealing parts of life, like when he got together with Peter and started a diving business. It spiced up the book with some sexual scenes and pleasure. It also explored various locations as we read about the characters' travel to places either by air or road. For instance, during the war, Richard had to travel to Kuwait, then stopped in Cyprus when he first saw the gigantic rock. Then, after some years, he was in Cyprus again with his wife for vacation, hoping to return. During these travels, he had many experiences and did sightseeing which would have an impact on his life.
The genre of the book focused on the mysterious goddess who tried reaching out to Richard to find her. It felt weird since he was the only one experiencing this. At some point, he thought he saw some glimpse of her, but when he tried following her, she was no longer there. He was lost as he deeply fantasized over this ancient Greek goddess.
Well, a story cannot be complete without the characters, starting with the main character. He was a caring and warm-hearted man, and I came to love him more when he tried explaining to Peter how devastated he felt at the gruesome killings of innocent people which terrorized him as a soldier. I also appreciated how Richard plans to give Peter some of the profit he gets from the business because of the help he always rendered. Besides the main character, Julie also proved to be outstanding as Richard's wife. She cared for her husband and supported his decision when he planned to start a diving business even though she felt bad about it. These characters and others possessed qualities such as love, sympathy, care, trust and much more which added to the interesting story.
September 19, 2021
So… this is a difficult book to truly enjoy. The writing style is great. It’s easy to read for the most part and descriptive. My only issue with the writing style is the description of women. On several instances entire paragraphs were given to oh she wears just the right amount of makeup, or oh she doesn’t have any cellulite. And I just found it annoyingly… men writing women.
Then we get to the actually story. Which doesn’t really seem to exist for the most part. The entire first third to half of the book was mostly drivel what could’ve been a few pages of expiation instead of 100.
And the small jumps to Peter or Sheila were completely unnecessary and often just made me confused as to who is the focus and what’s happening.
Then you get to Richard starting the business and the story gets interesting. Kinda. Even this part of the book is exceedingly repetitive at times.
Then the end is explosive. But completely underwhelming and confusing. The “battle” with Aphrodite is over in like two pages, if even that. There was all this build up and then just… hardly anything. And it’s not well explained exactly how Aphrodite was “vanquished”. Like she’s furious then all of a sudden defeated. And it takes conversations after the fact to realize that the rocks are now gone. And supposedly Julie did it? It’s underdeveloped and not well written.
Overall… it’s hard to recommend this book.
Then we get to the actually story. Which doesn’t really seem to exist for the most part. The entire first third to half of the book was mostly drivel what could’ve been a few pages of expiation instead of 100.
And the small jumps to Peter or Sheila were completely unnecessary and often just made me confused as to who is the focus and what’s happening.
Then you get to Richard starting the business and the story gets interesting. Kinda. Even this part of the book is exceedingly repetitive at times.
Then the end is explosive. But completely underwhelming and confusing. The “battle” with Aphrodite is over in like two pages, if even that. There was all this build up and then just… hardly anything. And it’s not well explained exactly how Aphrodite was “vanquished”. Like she’s furious then all of a sudden defeated. And it takes conversations after the fact to realize that the rocks are now gone. And supposedly Julie did it? It’s underdeveloped and not well written.
Overall… it’s hard to recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2025
The novel follows British soldier Richard Cole as he is deployed to the Middle East during the first Gulf War. Edwards’ depiction of military life is vivid. The tension, fear, and sudden brutality of war are rendered with striking realism, culminating in scenes along Kuwait’s Highway 80. These passages are particularly powerful, forcing the reader to confront the moral ambiguity of modern warfare and the psychological scars it leaves behind.
Running parallel to the war narrative is a quieter but equally compelling thread: Richard’s fascination with Aphrodite’s Rock in Cyprus, the legendary birthplace of the goddess of love. This symbol becomes a haunting counterpoint to the violence Richard witnesses. Love, beauty, myth, and the possibility of transcendence stand in stark contrast to the destruction of war, and Edwards skillfully weaves these opposing forces together.
As the novel shifts forward in time to 2011, Richard returns to Cyprus with his wife Julie. These later chapters explore how unresolved trauma resurfaces years later and how belief whether in love, myth, or destiny can offer both comfort and challenge.
The Mistress of the Rock is not a light read. It asks difficult questions about war, guilt, survival, and faith. Readers who appreciate character-driven stories with historical depth will find it deeply rewarding.
Running parallel to the war narrative is a quieter but equally compelling thread: Richard’s fascination with Aphrodite’s Rock in Cyprus, the legendary birthplace of the goddess of love. This symbol becomes a haunting counterpoint to the violence Richard witnesses. Love, beauty, myth, and the possibility of transcendence stand in stark contrast to the destruction of war, and Edwards skillfully weaves these opposing forces together.
As the novel shifts forward in time to 2011, Richard returns to Cyprus with his wife Julie. These later chapters explore how unresolved trauma resurfaces years later and how belief whether in love, myth, or destiny can offer both comfort and challenge.
The Mistress of the Rock is not a light read. It asks difficult questions about war, guilt, survival, and faith. Readers who appreciate character-driven stories with historical depth will find it deeply rewarding.
June 30, 2023
The Review
This was a fascinating and gripping fantasy read. The balance the author struck in the buildup of Richard’s character arc and the fantasy-driven Greek mythology aspects of the narrative were superb, and the detail the author put into the everyday life of Richard really made the reader feel the relatability of the character.
The imagery and the atmosphere made the story really come to life on the page. The author’s writing style allowed the pacing to build up slowly and capture the shock and awe that comes with discovering the realities of the existence of the Greek gods. The larger-than-life battles with the gods themselves and the themes of love, betrayal, and passion perfectly reflected the internal battle within Richard as a character and made the reader become really invested in the arc of his story.
The Verdict
Memorable, heartfelt, and captivating, author Myron Edwards’s “Mistress of the Rock” is a must-read fantasy novel. Infused with elements of horror, adventure, and intrigue, the author not only delves into the impacts of war on those who were forced to fight in them but the power of mythology and how we relate to it as well.
This was a fascinating and gripping fantasy read. The balance the author struck in the buildup of Richard’s character arc and the fantasy-driven Greek mythology aspects of the narrative were superb, and the detail the author put into the everyday life of Richard really made the reader feel the relatability of the character.
The imagery and the atmosphere made the story really come to life on the page. The author’s writing style allowed the pacing to build up slowly and capture the shock and awe that comes with discovering the realities of the existence of the Greek gods. The larger-than-life battles with the gods themselves and the themes of love, betrayal, and passion perfectly reflected the internal battle within Richard as a character and made the reader become really invested in the arc of his story.
The Verdict
Memorable, heartfelt, and captivating, author Myron Edwards’s “Mistress of the Rock” is a must-read fantasy novel. Infused with elements of horror, adventure, and intrigue, the author not only delves into the impacts of war on those who were forced to fight in them but the power of mythology and how we relate to it as well.
October 28, 2020
Mistress of the Rock is in two words, a "must read."
A captivating story reminiscent of a modern-day fairytale, it had me hooked from page one till the very end.
It delivers without fail, a great tale masterfully written by a true connoisseur of words, with the outmost respect towards the local legends and traditions that inspired its inception.
Even though it does not get all the historical facts correctly (an issue which is remedied in the Greek translation) the book is by far one of the greatest reads I've had in several years.
Every page is a journey, every chapter is an experience.
The simple yet beautifully crafted style makes it easy for the reader to suspend his disbelief, and it mixes just the right amounts of fantasy and reality to make the story relatable.
In my personal opinion, the story explores hidden facets that deal with the way love is perceived, through the eyes of a compelling main character, who even though portrayed in an unbiased light still manages to capture your sympathy.
I would recommend this book with out any hesitation.
A captivating story reminiscent of a modern-day fairytale, it had me hooked from page one till the very end.
It delivers without fail, a great tale masterfully written by a true connoisseur of words, with the outmost respect towards the local legends and traditions that inspired its inception.
Even though it does not get all the historical facts correctly (an issue which is remedied in the Greek translation) the book is by far one of the greatest reads I've had in several years.
Every page is a journey, every chapter is an experience.
The simple yet beautifully crafted style makes it easy for the reader to suspend his disbelief, and it mixes just the right amounts of fantasy and reality to make the story relatable.
In my personal opinion, the story explores hidden facets that deal with the way love is perceived, through the eyes of a compelling main character, who even though portrayed in an unbiased light still manages to capture your sympathy.
I would recommend this book with out any hesitation.
Read
October 31, 2020I was prepared for an interesting read, but not for the way the story caught me up and kept me up reading far longer than anticipated. I loved the details and research that went into this story. I could picture the scenes as if watching a movie. I will be lending this book to all my friends! Warning, once this book grabs you, you won’t want to put it down!
December 21, 2020
An amazing book to read and I would recommend it 100% to my friends. The book attracted me and I couldn't put it down. The author has clearly brought out the true picture of the story and I can't wait to watch a movie or series of the book. The characters chosen match the story and lessons from the story has also been explained. Its absolutely an outstanding page turner. Good work Myron Edward.
July 17, 2018
Excellent book, great story, its truly magnificent of what you can learn about the goddess of beauty in Greek mythology, and whats the story behind it. Totally recommend it. You would love it from the first chapter!! *****
Read
October 11, 2017REVIEW BY GAIL CARTER ON STORY ROCKET https://www.storyrocket.com/mistress-...
Took me a while to get 'hooked', then I couldn't put the book down! Having experienced life in Cyprus, the references to time, getting things done, who you know, and location references are real, not factual. My reading intensified along with the story - wow! Definitely worthy of progressing to film/series, as it includes many emotions and traits - horror, love, intrigue, loyalty, betrayal, adventure, greed, passion, belief, excitement, mystery, fantasy, history and many others. An interesting, intriguing read with an escalation of events towards the end. Thanks Myron - looking forward to reading more!
Took me a while to get 'hooked', then I couldn't put the book down! Having experienced life in Cyprus, the references to time, getting things done, who you know, and location references are real, not factual. My reading intensified along with the story - wow! Definitely worthy of progressing to film/series, as it includes many emotions and traits - horror, love, intrigue, loyalty, betrayal, adventure, greed, passion, belief, excitement, mystery, fantasy, history and many others. An interesting, intriguing read with an escalation of events towards the end. Thanks Myron - looking forward to reading more!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews