Bijapur (Blood of the Goddess) [Mass Market Paperback]

Kara Dalkey (Author)

Book Description

Series: Blood of the Goddess | Publication Date: April 15, 1998

Thomas, a young English apothecary's apprentice, has been sent to collect rare herbs in Africa and India. But during the perilous voyage he meets an alchemist who has possession of a mysterious powder -- a powder that can restore life to the dead. Thomas determines to discover its source, though the peril to his life and his soul are great.

"Bijapur (is some) of the most original and fascinating fantasy ... being published today". -- Denver Post

"Splendid characters, intriguing historical details, fascinating cultures, and agreeably restrained sorceries: a highly auspicious launch". -- Kirkus Reviews, pointer review, on Goa

"This colorful novel brings a lost world convincingly to life, exotic and dangerous, worth exploring for itself even though the final conflict still remains". -- Locus on Bijapur

"Dalkey skillfully combines political, historical and herbal intrigues in this richly rewarding middle volume of her fantasy trilogy set in 16th-century India.... The interactions between Dalkey's characters are fascinating and the tale is vastly entertaining". -- Publishers Weekly on Bijapur

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A microcosmos of India assembles in two competing caravans to seek the Blood of the Goddess, among them Thomas Chinnery, English prisoner of the Portuguese Inquisition. The Goddess is reputed to live near Bijapur, and so the two parties make their way there--to be united inextricably by the hospitable and wily Sultan Ibrahim of Bijapur. Prophecies, Sufi mysticism, herb lore, and legends (or are they histories?) gild this exotic historical novel. Kara Dalkey's storytelling is masterfully paced, dark and light, grief and hope, mundane and magical. It is well worth waiting for Volume Three and what promises to be a mesmerizingly suspenseful conclusion. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In 16th-century India, English apothecary apprentice Thomas Chinnery travels from Goa on a Portuguese caravan aiming to find a supernatural goddess with the power of life and death?but he only wants to escape and go home. As it heads for Bijapur, the caravan adds an Islamic army also seeking the goddess. This historical fantasy provides an intriguing look at India's various customs, languages, and religions. Highly recommended.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Tor Fantasy; 1st edition (April 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812549430
• ISBN-13: 978-0812549430
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 3.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,819,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tense Journey through Exotic Lands, March 16, 2002

By 

S. Brand "sandra807" (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bijapur (Blood of the Goddess) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the second book of the "Blood of the Goddess" series, following "Goa". "Goa" was a great introduction to the trilogy, in which a tradesman is seeking the powdered blood of an Indian goddess, which is said to have the power to bring the dead back to life. His plans become complicated, and he is put into danger when he crosses paths with Inquisition officials, who view such things as witchcraft, and punishable by death. In "Bijapur" the tradesman is forced by the Inquisitors to lead them to the source of this magical powder somewhere near Bijapur, India... Competing with them to arrive at this source are a group of "Mohammedans", and danger and betrayal lurk from every side during this cross-country journey where no one is sure who his enemies are. "Bijapur" is a fine middle section to the trilogy, though the least memorable of the three books, the last being "Bhagavati", in which those who survive reach their destination.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good Middle book, May 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Bijapur (Blood of the Goddess) (Mass Market Paperback)

Though The first book (for me)is always the best, this is a enjoyable middle-of-series book