Revised and updated from the original, Christy-award finalist Shadow of Colossus. Enslaved in a World of Money and Power, Tessa Dares to be Free. Raised as courtesan to wealthy and powerful men, Tessa of Delos serves at the whim of her current patron, the politician Glaucus. After ten years with him, Tessa has abandoned all desire for freedom or love, choosing instead to lock her heart away. But when Glaucus meets a violent death in his own home, Tessa grasps at a fragile hope. Only she knows of his death. If she can keep it a secret long enough, she can escape. Tessa throws herself on the mercy of the Greek god Helios, but finds instead unlikely allies in Nikos, a Greek slave, and Simeon, Glaucus’s Jewish head servant. As Simeon introduces her to a God unlike any she has ever known and Nikos begins to stir feelings she had thought long dead, Tessa fights to keep her heart protected. As an assassination plot comes to light, Tessa must battle for her own freedom—and for those to whom she has begun to open her heart—as forces collide that shatter the island’s peace. “. . . Readers will find much to enjoy here: fine writing, suspense, mystery, faith, love, and a new look at an old story.” — Publishers Weekly (for Garden of Madness )
The untold story of King Nebuchadnezzar’s daughter For seven years the Babylonian princess Tiamat has waited for the mad king Nebuchadnezzar to return to his family and to his kingdom. Driven from his throne to live as a beast, he prowls his luxurious Hanging Gardens, secreted away from the world. Since her treaty marriage at a young age, Tia has lived an opulent yet oppressive life in the palace. But her husband has since died and she relishes her newfound independence. When a nobleman is found murdered in the palace, Tia must discover who is responsible for the macabre death, even if her own freedom is threatened. As the queen plans to wed Tia to yet another prince, the powerful mage Shadir plots to expose the family’s secret and set his own man on the throne. Tia enlists the help of a reluctant Jewish captive, her late husband’s brother Pedaiah, who challenges her notions of the gods even as he opens her heart to both truth and love. In a time when few gave their hearts to Yahweh, Tia must decide if she is willing to risk everything—her possessions, her gods, and her very life—for the Israelites’ one God. Madness, sorcery, and sinister plots mingle like an alchemist’s deadly potion as Tia chooses whether to risk all to save the kingdom—and her family. “The biblical story of Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar’s seven years as a madman, found in the Old Testament Book of Daniel, deepens and broadens thanks to veteran author Higley’s historical research and vivid imagination . . . Readers will find much to enjoy here: fine writing, suspense, mystery, faith, love, and a new look at an old story.” — Publishers Weekly “Higley gives readers a dose of biblical history set in King Nebuchadnezzar’s palatial gardens and a character like no other in Tiamat, devoted daughter of a king gone mad. The author’s insights into a woman’s inner strength as she searches for the one true God will leave readers rejoicing.”— Romantic Times TOP PICK "Her story will appeal not just to readers of historical fiction but also to those with an interest in biblical history." — Booklist
So Shines the Night follows a young woman’s journey to ancient Ephesus, a city bound in sorcery and teetering on the brink of anarchy. Daria’s past is one of danger and tragedy. She manages to escape and finds respite in the beautiful city of Ephesus, a trading center on the Aegean coast. Serving as tutor to Lucas, the charming tradesman who rescued her, Daria is eager to move on with her life. But the darkness she fled has caught up with her. A sect of murderous sorcerers is gaining power, and Daria unwittingly finds herself on their bad side. Meanwhile, she encounters a strange group who call themselves followers of The Way—a group that further threatens the local equilibrium. When her life is endangered, Daria seeks refuge among these people. She’s drawn to them and their leader, Paul, even as she grapples with their teachings. Then Lucas is imprisoned, and Daria fears even Paul’s God can’t save him. But she stumbles upon a shocking secret that could change everything—if she survives long enough to reveal the truth. “I love Tracy Higley’s novels. Meticulously-researched, spell-bindingly written with luscious prose and compelling and complex characters, each one is a treasure. Higley knows her history, but more importantly, she knows just how to capture the struggles and questions of the human heart—yesterday and today.” —Tosca Lee, New York Times bestselling author “ So Shines the Night is a mesmerizing novel that completely immersed me in the culture of early Ephesus. Higley’s writing is gorgeous, and I loved the romantic plot. Highly recommended!” —Colleen Coble, USA TODAY bestselling author “ So Shines the Night will stir your imagination and touch your soul. Highly recommended!” —Marlo Schalesky, Christy Award–winning author Historical, Biblical fiction with elements of mystery and inspiration Includes Discussion Questions Great for fans of Tessa Afshar, Connilyn Cossette, Mesu Andrews, and Francine Rivers