Miserere: An Autumn Tale, Fully Revised
Everything has a price, and those who deal with the devil pay dearly in this enthralling dark fantasy about redemption, sacrifice, and a Hell-bound battle between good and evil.
Exiled exorcist Lucian Negru made a choice that has haunted him for years. He abandoned his lover, Rachael, to Hell to save the damned soul of his sister, Catarina. But Catarina doesn’t want to be saved. Now a prisoner in his reviled sister’s home, Lucian is being used as a tool to help fulfill Catarina’s wicked dreams: unleash the demons of the underworld to wage a war above.
Lucian’s first step in thwarting Catarina’s plan is to make amends with the past. Escaping captivity, he is determined to find Rachael even if it means entering the gates of Hell itself. Only then does he cross paths with a young girl fleeing from her own terrors. With the frightened foundling in tow, Lucian embarks on a journey to right a terrible wrong, to protect the innocent, and to rescue the woman he loves.
But no one escapes Catarina’s wrath. She’s just as driven in her pursuit: to track down her brother wherever it leads. And when she finds him, and she will, she vows to turn his heart to glass, grind it to powder, and crush the souls of everyone he loves.
Reviews
"With richly developed, complex characters and a talent for portraying the horrific nature of evil, the author relates a compelling tale of faith rediscovered, trust regained, and hope reawakened. ... This exceptional, dark historical fantasy debut should particularly appeal to fans of medieval fiction, tales of holy warriors, and fantasies that feature strong women characters."Library Journal, Starred Review
"This latest telling of Miserere feels even better than the original, smoother and sharper with fine plot, character and world-building all glued together seamlessly by some exquisite prose. ... suffice to say there’s danger, treachery, betrayal, guilt, grief and redemption, all wrapped up in glorious prose and richly imagined worldbuilding. I enjoyed this revised version even more than the one ten years ago, and I enjoyed that one a lot!".
"This version of Miserere is an improvement over the original on all axes ... The stronger female characters do it a lot of credit and make it a much better book, without question ... if you want to read a book were heroic men and women stand in the darkness against demons, and wrestle rather grimly with their own personal ones (including a literal one), and don’t mind and embrace the Christian theology of the book -- MISERERE is the book for you."
"It’s a story of faith, family obligation, love, forgiveness, and a healthy dose of sacrifice [...] with a tight plot [and] a strangely familiar world [...] One of the finest debuts of 2011, [MISERERE] remains a novel that I remember details from nearly three years later."
"Miserere is about redemption, and the triumph of our best impulses over our worst. It's also about swords, monsters, chases, ghosts, magic, court intrigues and battles to the death. It's also (and this is the important part) really, really good."Alex Bledsoe, author of DARK JENNY
"A stunning, vivid foray into a complicated, but decipherable, world. And Teresa Frohock successfully plants a foothold in the speculative market as an author to watch."J.P. Wickwire, Bull Spec Magazine
"A rich world ... The execution in the details was also phenomenal."
"This is a grown-up, gripping, dark, swords and sorcery fantasy with one of the most stomach turning demon appearances I've read. Written for adults. So give it a go!"
"A mesmerizing dark fantasy that showcases Frohock’s admirable talent as a writer, Miserere is an utterly compelling tale and pleasure to read."
Awards & Accolades
Library Journal: “SF/F Debut of the Month”