The debut of a major new talent, SAPPHIRE'S GRAVE tells the stories of several generations of African-American women, bringing their spirit and their sorrow to life with a power, sensitivity, and immediacy. In 1749 in Sierra Leone, a woman of fierce dignity is captured and forced onto a slave ship. On the harrowing voyage to the Americas, she is beaten for her unrelenting will and staunch pride. When she arrives, she gives birth to a daughter who is called Sapphire because of the "black-blue-black" complexion she shares with her mother. Sapphire has also inherited her mother's strength and defiant spirit, and despite a life of poverty and opression, she grows up to mother several daughters of her own. Even when tragedy strikes and part of Sapphire dies, her strength gives rise to a legend that will sustain the women who follow her, "each carrying something of her mother, her grandmother, her aunts; each passing on to her own daughters blessing and cursing, the consequences of her own choosing. Through the lives of Sapphire and her descendants, Hilda Gurley-Highgate not only creates a poignant and engrossing saga of black women in America, she brilliantly illuminates the meaning of roots and the links between women and their female ancestors, a tie that often appears tenuous, undefined, and distant, but is strong, palpable, and much closer than we imagine. Written in luminous prose, SAPPHIRE'S GRAVE is an astonishing work by an author poised to take the literary world by storm.

Whether set in ancient Egypt, Feudal Japan, the Victorian Age, or Civil War-era America, historical fiction places readers squarely at the center of fascinating times and places, making it one of the most popular genres in contemporary publishing. The definitive resource for librarians and other book professionals, this guideProvides an overview of historical fiction’s roots, highlighting foundational classics, and explores the genre in terms of its scope and styleCovers the latest and most popular authors and titlesDiscusses appeal characteristics and shows how librarians can use a reader's favorite qualities to make suggestionsIncludes lists of recommendations, with a compendium of print and web-based resourcesOffers marketing tips for getting the word out to readersEmphasizing an appreciation of historical fiction in its many forms and focusing on what fans enjoy, this guide provides a fresh take on a durable genre.

A devastated land. A conflict between magic and chaos. One woman who can save the world. A century ago, the world was torn apart by a bloody war. And the world never recovered. No truce holds between the magical Unnaturals or the magicless Naturals, and each group seems determined to exterminate the other. Daughter of a forgotten goddess, Cat Spurlock has just found Hendrick, the love of her life. But Hendrick is a Dragonvire, and to mate with him she must become his Queen. If that weren’t enough, her power is growing, and poses as much of a threat to herself as to others.She hopes her skills are enough for the responsibility and the battle to come. The Unnaturals number one enemy are the Hunters, who intend to perform a blood curse that will rid the entire world of magic and destroy everyone. Part of their curse requires the life of Cat’s mom. All Cat has to do is to unite clashing factions of Unnaturals, form a ragtag army, get them inside a fortified city, and stop hundreds of Hunters from achieving their purpose. That’s not too hard, is it? And how is a girl supposed to save the world when her mate is so sexily distracting? This novel contains violence, adult language, and strong/triggering conduct.Urban Fantasy Novel 18+

Reprint of the original, first published in 1875.