The account of the Celtic high king, Art MacMurrough, follows historical record, as does the military strategy relating to England’s King Richard II and his designs on Ireland. All named English and all but one French characters are historical figures, as are the Vatican’s legate and popes. Medieval architecture, clothing, weapons, and food, as well […]

Of these magical bloodlines, that of the Celtic faeries begins with Lilith, Adam’s first wife. Although she has disappeared from many modern Bibles, she can still be seen in the relief depicting the Garden of Eden on the front of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris (carved in 1225). She also appears in many ancient documents, including […]

The biblical library of the Essene at Qumran was kept in eleven man-made caves with a shelving system and hidden entrances. Its contents, popularly known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, were repressed for decades following their rediscovery, and it is possible that some finds are still kept secret. Based on the scroll fragments that have […]

The use of exorcism to control demons is a practice that originated with Solomon and his ring, circa 950 BCE. The Roman Church began ordaining exorcists of its own in 238 CE. This line of history and lore was used to create the league of exorcists in this novel.

While Geoffrey Chaucer’s activities as a diplomat in this story are based on history, his clandestine actives with the mercenary John Hawkwood are based on innuendo. It is generally agreed that Hawkwood inspired the Knight character in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. In his story, “The Squire’s Tale”, the magic ring of King Solomon appears (as […]