As Many Souls as Stars
Described by the publishers as a Sapphic retelling of the Dr Faustus legend, this is a multi-period novel which follows the dark, intense encounters between Miriam, a shape-shifting demon who has taken female form, and Cybil Harding, a witch. Miriam lives by making deals with people whose desires she fulfils in return for their souls, which she consumes. She is powerful and immortal, but she is utterly alone.
Then, in 1592, she meets Cybil, who is also alone. The two are drawn together, and a bargain is struck when Cybil is on the point of death. Miriam grants her reincarnation in exchange for her soul. So begins a passionate affair in which love and hate co-exist, and a fight for survival which lasts through a further two lifetimes.
Of the historical periods, the 16th century seemed the most convincing, though there was too much reliance on the over-use of the unconvincing archaisms ‘mayhap’ and ‘perchance’. The evocation of the Regency is the sketchiest, with its vague references to ‘the Ton’ and anachronisms such as ‘passed’ for died or Cybil’s exclamation ‘Jesus Christ!’. The last part of the novel is set on a 1930s liner, and again anachronisms undermine the setting: for example, Cybil’s graduation from a Cambridge that did not award women degrees until 1948.
The novel is, though, strong on the magical and supernatural elements. It would appeal to readers of Gothic fantasy, although some readers might find it too melodramatic: so much blood and gore and gurgling slit throats. There’s a corpse kept in a bedroom, and a stagey villain in mad Thomas Harding who would not have surprised if he occasionally gnashed his teeth. However, it has terrific atmosphere, and there’s a good twist at the end.
