From the most ancient of days, the Beast has passed through the seed of generations, preying on the unlucky, the unwary and the unchaste, its appetite ravenous and eternal. This tale of fantasy and horror is the second volume in the series.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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From Library Journal
A haunted house and a ghostly woman are the instruments that release an ancient curse upon the forgotten city of Paradys. As a savage, unholy beast prowls the city's streets, a young student seeks to uncover the secrets that will lead to his salvation. Lee infuses this dark tale with a dreamlike quality that hovers, like the world she has created (also seen in The Book of the Damned , LJ 11/15/90), on the border of reality. Sensual and evocative prose make this a good choice for libraries with a sophisticated readership.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Kirkus Reviews
Second of Lee's projected four-book fantasy series (The Book of the Damned, 1990), set in the forgotten French city Paradys: nine linked stories that add up to a well-rounded, satisfying whole. Young university student Raoulin discovers in his ruined- palace lodgings a ghostlike, sexually charged woman, Helise, whose horrible secret is that she is possessed by a mindless, ancient, bird-headed demon; the demon propagates itself through the sperm or womb of its victims. Helise was infected by her husband, a chaste and honorable man, because she could not restrain her lust for him. Now, having achieved the demon's purpose by infecting Raoulin, she collapses into dust. Raoulin attempts suicide, but the demon will not let him die; eventually coming to his aid will be a Jewish magician and his daughter, who are aware of the demon's Roman origins and subsequent history. Together they will attempt to cast forth the Beast. Top-notch demonology and atmosphere, with convincingly developed characters, but it is Lee's talent for realizing an exquisite and appalling mingling of lust and horror, sexual pleasure and loathing, yearning and revulsion, that drives the book and its readers from cover to cover. Enthralling. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By D. Rumbold
Format:Paperback
There is something about the prose of Tanith Lee. You are swept into what ever world she feels like showing you. THe narrators and/or central characters seem alive. So much so, you can feel there is something they are keeping back, some vital clue, some revelation of soul. It's nearly palatable.
She sets depth of place, there is a real sense of being there. I felt like I was in Florence, in the midst of some twisted Carnivall. Or maybe in the mirror of one of the great European Palaces, seeing it from inside the flame of a candle.
The stories warrant being read several times, to absorb the majesty.
She sets depth of place, there is a real sense of being there. I felt like I was in Florence, in the midst of some twisted Carnivall. Or maybe in the mirror of one of the great European Palaces, seeing it from inside the flame of a candle.
The stories warrant being read several times, to absorb the majesty.
By "hze"
Format:Paperback
The story begins with Raolin Darksbane. He is staying in a haunted house, and he meets the ghost and learns her story and then becomes infected himself with the curse. The story then follows the exploits of a jewish exorcist and goes back to Roman Paradys where the curse begins. The story goes forward and then it goes back. I liked the story of the "doomed" Heloise and her strange destiny, intricately linked with the story of cupid and Physche and what happens if you look closer at things that you are not supposed to look at. I also liked the story of the roman soldier, his dilemma between looking life and destroying the curse once and for all. Great descriptions, you could almost hear the trumpets at the roman fort as the Roman soldier stayed up and awake to await the beast. The ending seemed rushed to me, the exorcism seemed like the easy way out and the spirituality of it left me tired and lost. But a good story.
By Tim Lieder
Format:Paperback
Moving back and forth in time and yet appearing timeless, this chapter in the world of Paradys has Jewish exorcism, sex-incarnate beasts, Romans and doomed lovers. Every element is precise and every part connects to the other parts with a beautiful serendipity.
If you noticed that the other reviews of this book are brimming with fantastic prose and wonderous metaphors, it is because the fairy-tale inspired style of Tanith Lee inspires her readers to greater heights of passion than other novelists.
I also like the fact that the Jewish scholar saves the day. Why should the priests have all the fun in exorcisms? Jewish mysticism is much more fun than Catholic mysticism any day.
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Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Emerald and amethyst horror...
Raoulin, a young student in 18-century Paradys, the Paris of an alterate world full of complex and twilight mystery, has a flexible mind. Read more
Published on Sep 16 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
As dark and brilliant as its predecessor...
Continuing her tradition of compelling darkness begun in the first book of the Paradys Tetralogy, "The Book of the Damned," Tanith Lee weaves a rich tale stretching from... Read more
Published on Aug 9 1999
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