Justine Saracen transitioned from academia to fiction writing, discovering a far greater joy in storytelling than in scholarly pursuits. Her works span historical thrillers set in ancient Egypt, the Crusades, Renaissance Italy, and the Second World War. She frequently explores themes that challenge established myths and religious narratives, often focusing on the lives and experiences of LGBT+ characters. Her style is intricate and compelling, delving into complex moral questions like the 'urge to war' and the ease with which it infects, while emphasizing the profound cost of love amidst terror and betrayal.
At the height of her career, opera singer Katherina Marov is stunned by her father's suicide. Reading his journals, she learns of his dark days as a soldier on the Russian front and in war-torn Berlin. She cannot condone him for his crimes and secrets though, for while she is learning of his demons, she is discovering her own.
Adrianna Borgia - survivor of the Borgia court - presents Michelangelo with the greatest temptations of his life while struggling herself with soul-threatening desires and heresies.