London, 1588.
Spain's Armada is forming and Queen Elizabeth I and her advisors, Francis Walsingham, John Dee and Edward Kelley must prepare both for a mortal war and one waged against magical interlopers all over the realm. Christopher Marlowe, poet and spy, is assigned the task of uncovering any magical threats in London and happens upon a cult in thrall to a godling: Madness, the Slaughterer child of Sekhmet, Egyptian Goddess of Chaos, plots to steal Elizabeth's queensoul in order to resurrect the powers of its mother. And drawn into the city is Cleopatra, still immortal and dedicated to keeping Sekhmet at bay and without worshippers so that she herself might one day die and join her lost love Antony. She has fallen into a calmer life, and a relationship with William Shakespeare, but Marlowe will tempt her to return to her old ways.
Together, Cleopatra, Shakespeare and Marlowe will battle the rising power of Madness, and ultimately Spain's attack and Sekhmet's return. Marlowe's soul will be risked as ambition and magic take over his pen, and Cleopatra will be forced to choose between her heart and her duty...
Sex and alchemy, fireships and monsters, and England's greatest playwrights entwined in a love triangle with an immortal queen - Cleopatra will become Shakespeare's Dark Lady. ..and England's saviour.
