Gillian Bradshaw

Stand-alone historical fantasies:

Horses of Heaven — (1990) Young Adult. Library Journal: [Bradshaw] takes us to the kingdoms of Ferghana and Bactria (present-day Afghanistan) about 140 B.C. The widowed King Mauakes seeks a wife to assuage his loneliness and to create political alliances. Beautiful young Heliokleia of rival Bactria is selected to be the old man's queen. Unfortunately, the young woman, who has studied meditation with Buddhist monks and who prefers prayerful solitude to royal fanfare, seeks escape and serenity through meditation. Mauakes, in his insecurity, refuses to let her function as the queen she was trained to be, and she emotionally slips away from him. This so infuriates the king that he abuses her. Of course, there is an admirable younger son to soothe her, plus ambitious and corrupt council members. Ultimately, the gods reward the just in this satisfying contemporary story about an ancient land.

Beyond the North Wind — (1993) Ages 9 and up. Publisher: The Greek god Apollo sends a talented young magician on a quest to stop an evil queen from exterminating a small tribe of griffins.

The Wolf Hunt — (2001) Publisher: Love, betrayal, and lycanthropy in the time of the CrusadesThe Wolf Huntis a breathtaking and romantic adventure. When Marie Penthivre of Chalendrey is abducted and taken to Brittanys court, she vows to never dishonor her family by marrying a Breton. There is only one who might change her mind: Tiarnn of Talensac, a handsome and noble knight . . . and a werewolf. But Tiarnn marries someone elseand when his new wife learns of his secret, she betrays him. When the widow joines forces with Tiarnns enemy, Marie realizes something is dreadfully wrong. Only she is clear-headed enough to rescue Tiarnn and return him to his rightful statusbut can she do so before it is too late?

The Sun's Bride — (2008) Publisher: Spring, 266 BC. When Isokrates, helmsman of the Rhodian warship Atalanta, encounters a pirate vessel off the Lycian coast, he finds himself caught up in affairs of state more deadly than the naval battles hes accustomed to. Among the pirates victims is a beautiful woman, the mistress of a king, who is fleeing to her lovers enemy with news that will start a war to engulf the whole of the east . .