Wings of Power. The Sabazel Saga, #4

First print-published by Ace Books in 1989. What if an Amazon queen had a love affair with Alexander the Great?What if their son had to defend his lands from the Mongol Horde?What if his sister was the priestess of a bull-cult on Crete?What if her son started the Trojan War -- between India and Persia?The Sabazel series, four alternate-history, gonzo-mythology epic fantasy novels: Sabazel, The Winter King, Shadow Dancers, Wings of Power.
Wings of PowerIn a world rooted in Mediterranean, Persian, and Indian history and mythology, armies clash, magicks compete, and the gods set their pawns onto the game board. Andrion's nephew Gard, now an adult, is only too aware that the blood of both gods and demons runs in his veins. When he steps over the line once too often, he is sent into exile, where a mad monk and a beautiful slave force him to accept his latent magical abilities.
But when Gard sets out to exploit his skills in the rich valley of the Mohan, he starts a war that changes his world and that of his hosts forever."...an interesting re-telling of an old legend. The ending is full of twists, unpredictable, with a delightful discussion of death and glory."--Timothy Lane, Fosfax"...an intense tale...a complex and fascinating plot...resonances between adolescent lust and mature love, between interior and exterior beauty, and between faith and skepticism underlie the story with a steely webwork of reality...an elegant thread of eroticism woven with delicacy and wit through the story...the prose is crafted with a jeweler's precision and the use of imagery is masterful.
Carl may well be the finest stylist working in fantasy today."-Ardath Mayhar, Thrust