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Sara Douglass
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The Devil's Diadem Kindle Edition

by Sara Douglass (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 130 ratings

“Sara Douglass has the breadth of vision necessary to create sweeping epics and the storyteller’s gift that makes readers love her.”
—Locus

Sara Douglass has already established herself as one of the most original and exciting of today’s bestselling fantasists with her Wayfarer Redemption Trilogy, DarkGlass Mountain Trilogy, and other magnificent works of epic fantasy. With The Devil’s Diadem, she delivers a richly imaginative stand-alone novel of alternate history, set in a twelfth-century England similar to our own time, in which a virulent plague threatens to annihilate a kingdom—and one unwitting young noblewoman holds the key to salvation. Library Journal puts Douglass’s work, “on a par with with Terry Goodkind and Robert Jordan.” Read The Devil’s Diadem and you will most certainly agree.

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  1. Print length
    549 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Harper Voyager
  4. Publication date
    July 26, 2011
  5. File size
    6.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Bestselling author Sara Douglass—acclaimed writer of the Axis and Wayfarer Redemption trilogies—invites you to visit a twelfth-century England very similar to our own—except this England is a country on the brink of demonic disaster and its only hope may lie with a young noblewoman

The Devil’s Diadem

Maeb Langtofte is lucky, she knows, to have gained a position in the household of the Earl of Pengraic—one of the most powerful men in England, a man whose holdings rival even King Edmond’s. She is lucky that his wife, Adelie, whom Maeb serves, is a kind, pious woman (in contrast to the Earl, whom Maeb finds dark and secretive). But when word arrives that a plague is sweeping through Europe like a human wildfire, everyone in the Earl’s household is put on edge. It is whispered that victims of this plague are spontaneously engulfed in flames—as if the flames of Hell had suddenly leapt up to claim them. It is also whispered that the Devil himself is to blame.

As the disease spreads into England, so too does civil unrest. King Edmond calls his lords and their armies to return to London, and the Earl obeys, leaving Maeb and his family to fend for themselves. But it turns out that the Earl has been hiding far more than simple state secrets, and that his family, left alone, is at risk of losing not only their lives but also their souls. To her horror, Maeb will learn that, indeed, the Devil himself may have arrived on her doorstep. And worse, what he demands may, in fact, be running through her very veins.

About the Author

Sara Douglass was born in Adelaide but moved to Hobart in later life to write full-time. Three of her books won the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy and many were shortlisted. She published nineteen books of epic and historical fantasy before her death in 2011.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004OVEZ6G
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Voyager; Reprint edition (July 26, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 26, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 549 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 130 ratings

About the author

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Sara Douglass

Sara Douglass

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Sara Douglass was born in Penola, South Australia, and spent her early working life as a nurse. Rapidly growing tired of starched veils, mitred corners and irascible anaesthetists, she worked her way through three degrees at the University of Adelaide, culminating in a PhD in early modern English history. Sara Douglass currently teaches medieval history of La Trobe University, Bendigo and escapes academia through her writing.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
130 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the engaging story and believable characters. They praise the author's writing style and find it tantalizing from start to finish. The main character, Maeb, is described as an intriguing protagonist with quiet strength.

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Story qualityCharacter developmentWriting quality
9 customers mention "Story quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story's quality. They find it engaging and easy to read, with a great plot and characters. The book is described as an introduction to historical fiction and a welcome change from thrillers.

"...This is a beautiful story playing on 12th century England’s history and adding a beautiful fantasy aspect...." Read more

"...It is a story about a woman who finds herself in a marriage as a "replacement" to a first wife...." Read more

"...The Devil's Diadem is not only a good story, it's historically fulfilling as well, as Douglass always puts great effort into researching details..." Read more

"...It is classic Sara Douglass. It is easy reading and tantalizing from the beginning to the end. How I wish she hadn't passed away...." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters believable and interesting. The main character shows quiet strength, and the author is described as innovative.

"...The main character showed a quiet strength that had me finishing the story in one sitting. At 3 am I was finishing the story and bawling...." Read more

"...Stephen, Edmond and Pengraic are wonderfully complex hero types, and I like that none of the four main characters take the paths I envisioned them..." Read more

"...I really enjoyed this book and found it very to put down - great characters - great plot." Read more

"...I found the characters to be well-drawn and very real. Sara's descriptions of the time were also believable...." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality. They find the characters well-written and the story engaging.

"I can't say enough about this book. It is classic Sara Douglass. It is easy reading and tantalizing from the beginning to the end...." Read more

"...The character of Edmond was really well written and Moeb was brilliant...." Read more

"I love Sara Douglass' writing, I can get right into the story & picture the characters & scenes. Just waiting for the next one." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • EMAB
    5.0 out of 5 stars another beautiful work
    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Nobody does world building and story telling like Sara Douglass. This is a beautiful story playing on 12th century England’s history and adding a beautiful fantasy aspect.
    I put off reading this for so long because it was really long and I wasn’t sure I could finish it - I devoured it in a week… I should have read it sooner. It’s amazing.
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  • Josi77
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of my "stand alone" faves now!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I usually read "series" stories... Night Huntress, Midnight Breed and such. But I absolutely loved this book! I borrowed it from the library and just had to have it to read again. It is a story about a woman who finds herself in a marriage as a "replacement" to a first wife. I don't watch chick flicks and I generally don't like sappy love stories. The main character showed a quiet strength that had me finishing the story in one sitting. At 3 am I was finishing the story and bawling. I don't do that often.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • D.S. Wallingford
    4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully entertaining.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    You know the old Christmas special about Santa Claus being given the Mantle of Immortality so he can keep giving gifts to children forever? Well, at the risk of being melodramatic, I wish there was one for favorite authors. My review really boils down to one sentence: if you like Sara Douglass's books, you'll like this one.

    But, since that doesn't really get it done, so to speak, here are a few more details. The imagery and tone of this novel are similar to that of Douglass's Crucible and Troy Game series. Since they're set (partly, at least) roughly during the same times and places, this isn't much of a surprise, but it's welcome. The Devil's Diadem is not only a good story, it's historically fulfilling as well, as Douglass always puts great effort into researching details which give her stories extra life and animation.

    Character-wise, Maeb is very like Cornelia/Noah/Eaving from The Troy Game, and I have to admit that I almost immediately pictured Morgana from the BBC series Merlin in her role, with less malevolence, of course. She starts out being a little too pious for my liking (really, she could have used the phrase "Sweet Lord Jesu" a hundred times fewer and it still would have been too much), but it's a minor detail. Stephen, Edmond and Pengraic are wonderfully complex hero types, and I like that none of the four main characters take the paths I envisioned them taking from the start of the book.

    Again, if you're familiar with Douglass's works, this is a no-brainer; read it, you won't be sorry. It's every bit as good as any one of The Troy Game series, better than any from The Wayfarer Redemption, but not quite as good as those of The Crucible, which, in my opinion, are her best. If you're not, this is a great introduction to brilliant historical fiction.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Theresa L. Marthey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love it and Easy reading
    Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I can't say enough about this book. It is classic Sara Douglass. It is easy reading and tantalizing from the beginning to the end. How I wish she hadn't passed away. She is an author that I love to read and never even looked at reviews for her books because I knew I would love them.

    She left the book open-ended so there could be a sequel, but there never will be. I wholeheartedly suggest this book to anyone who wants a good book. I couldn't put it down!!!!
    One person found this helpful
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  • W. Gluvna
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
    Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Sara Douglass has written another hard to put down fantasy book that leaves you waiting patiently for her next one. I really enjoyed this book and found it very to put down - great characters - great plot.
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  • Kristin Radigan
    5.0 out of 5 stars loved
    Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Another wonderful book just wish she could write quicker. I want to know more about the other characters.
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  • Allan Edward James Wilson
    4.0 out of 5 stars I love the old Welsh tales and would really have liked ...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I found the story to be very creditable. It moved at a fast pace and the journeys undertaken did not drag into dreary day by day affairs. I love the old Welsh tales and would really have liked Sara to take the story further into these realms. I found the characters to be well-drawn and very real. Sara's descriptions of the time were also believable. The character of Edmond was really well written and Moeb was brilliant. In all a very interesting novel of an interesting time told by a master story teller. I have been a fan of Sara's since I first read her first novel and have since read everything she has written.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • cwnurse
    5.0 out of 5 stars A favourite author
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I love Sara Douglass' writing, I can get right into the story & picture the characters & scenes. Just waiting for the next one.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Shirley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sara Douglas
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Sara Douglas is a TOP CLASS WRITER I LOVE ALL HER BOOKS THIS ONE WAS OF THE SAME STANDARD AS ALL HER OTHER BOOKS I HAVE READ . I HAVE ENJOYED EVERYONE. wELL DONE TO HER. gREAT.
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  • JuliS
    1.0 out of 5 stars DOES NOT BELONG TO THE DARKGLASS MOUNTAIN TRILOGY
    Reviewed in Germany on September 22, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I haven't read it but it does not belong the Triology it says in the title description amazon publishes !
    Report
  • Elizabeth Prinsloo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in Canada on September 4, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent story teller. I have read all her books and each one is written so that you want to know what happens next.
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  • Dianna Blake
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
    Reviewed in Australia on August 6, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Adore Sara's writing, and this does not disappoint. Couldn't put it down, still thinking about the story days after finishing the book.
    Report
  • Gail Cameron
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
    Reviewed in Australia on April 12, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Typical Sara Douglass work…very entertaining...couldn't put the book down. It's full of drama, intrigue and emotional highs and lows. I highly recommend it.
    Report

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