The Architecture of Desire Author:Mary Gentle White Crow, the former Valentine of Roseveare, once a Scholar-Soldier but now a Master-Physician of the Invisible College with all the magical powers common to the calling, journeys to London with her husband Casaubon, Lord-Architect, who has been invited to finish "the eye of the sun" temple. What they find is intrigue and danger. — Protector-Ge... more »neral Olivia needs the temple completed in order to legitimize her power to the populace, but misfortune has dogged the edifice: numerous attempts at constructing the dome fail, workers meet with accidents, and the walls ooze blood, attracting "demonic power." Casaubon is up to the challenge, but he is more interested in redesigning the surrounding slums, a breeding ground for criminals.
Meanwhile White Crow, trusted by the queen, conspires to encourage the queen to defect, thereby opening up the possibility of a peaceful transition to a new government headed by Olivia. But White Crow and Casaubon are entangled in unfolding events.« less