The Habitation of the Blessed (A Dirge for Prester John #1)
Catherynne M. Valente
3.92 · 12 ratings · Published: 01 Mar 2010
Brother Hiob of Luzerne, on missionary work in the Himalayan wilderness on the eve of the eighteenth century, discovers a village guarding a miraculous tree whose branches sprout books instead of fruit. These strange books chronicle the history of the kingdom of Prester John, and Hiob becomes obsessed with the tales they tell. The Habitation of the Blessed recounts the fragmented narratives found within these living volumes, revealing the life of a priest named John, and his rise to power in this country of impossible richness. John's tale weaves together with the confessions of his wife Hagia, a blemmye--a headless creature who carried her face on her chest--as well as the tender, jeweled nursery stories of Imtithal, nanny to the royal family.
- fantasy 4
- historical 3
- historical fiction 3
- folktales & legends 3
- religion 3
- alternate history 2
- action / adventure 2
- magical realism 2
- magic 2
- high fantasy 2
- epic 1
- medieval 1
- retellings 1
- spirituality 1
- Add topics
- format - reader age
- audiobook 2
- anthology 1
- adult fiction 1
romance tags
crime tags
literary-fiction tags
historical-fiction tags
fantasy tags
sci-fi tags
action-adventure tags
thriller tags
horror tags
The 'A Dirge for Prester John' series
19 ratings 3.95 ·
fantasy · adult · fiction · retellings · historical · myths · historical-fiction · magic · female-author · epic · alternate-history · audiobook · religion · spirituality · book
A Dirge for Prester John reading order and complete book list ❯