Zenobia Neil
Books by Zenobia Neil
Spicy historical romance and Greek mythology retellings
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Psyche Unbound
A princess of Rome, Psyche is celebrated for her great beauty until she provokes the jealousy of Venus, the Goddess of Love. Soon Psyche finds herself naked and abandoned on a beach, awaiting sacrifice to an unknown monster.
Cupid, the winged son of Venus, arrives to bring Psyche to the palace of the monster. As he carries her, she looks into his eyes and makes the grave mistake of falling in love. Blindfolded and tied to a bed, Psyche bravely awaits her fate. Instead of offering her death, the monster offers her marriage on one condition: she must never see his face. After many dark nights together, Psyche comes to love her shadow husband. But she still can’t stop thinking about Cupid, the God of Love.
One night, consumed by curiosity, Psyche breaks her promise. Her husband, enraged, banishes her from the palace. To get back what is most important to her, Psyche must complete three impossible tasks and outwit Venus herself. If Psyche succeeds, her true love will return. If she fails, she will lose everything—including her life.
Ariadne Unraveled
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Ariadne, high priestess of Crete, grew up duty-bound to the goddess Artemis. If she takes a husband, she must sacrifice him to her goddess after no more than three years of marriage. For this reason, she refuses to love any man, until a mysterious stranger arrives on her island.
The stranger is Dionysus, the new god of wine who empowers women and breaks the rules of the old gods. He came to Crete seeking vengeance against Artemis. He never expected to fall in love.
Furious that Dionysus would dare meddle with her high priestess, Artemis threatens to kill Ariadne if Dionysus doesn’t abandon her. Heartbroken, the new god leaves Crete, vowing to become better than the Olympians.
From the bloody labyrinth and the shadows of Hades to the halls of Olympus, Dionysus must find a way to defy Artemis and unite with his true love. Forced to betray her people, Ariadne discovers her own power to choose between the goddess she pledged herself to and the god she loves.
The Queen of the Warriors
Alexandra of Sparta vowed her sword and her heart to the goddess Artemis. And the goddess blessed her. But no warrior lives at peace, and soon, Alexandra loses her title, her troops, and everyone she loves, including the man who holds her heart.
Cursed by a Babylonian witch, she is forced to return to a city she once conquered to make amends. There she is captured by the powerful Persian rebel, Artaxerxes. As his prisoner, she awaits judgment for her crimes. But Artaxerxes is not what he seems. With death approaching, Alexandra must face her violent past and discover the truth of her captor’s identity before it’s too late.
The Jinni's Last Wish
As a eunuch in the Ottoman Imperial Harem, Olin has already lost his home, his freedom, and his manhood. His only wish is for a painless death, until he meets Dark Star, a beautiful odalisque who promises to give him his deepest desire. He scoffs at her offer, not believing her claim to possess a jinni in a bottle. But when Dark Star is accused of witchcraft, Olin rubs the bottle in desperation and is astonished to find she’s told the truth.
Olin becomes the jinni’s master to save Dark Star, but it's not enough. In the complex world of the Topkapi Palace, where silk pillows conceal knives, sherbets contain poison, and jewels buy loyalty, no one is safe. As each wish brings unintended consequences, Olin must risk his life, his body, and his sanity to break the bonds that tie them all.
Hera Unfettered
Zeus with his ever-wandering eye hasn't touched his resentful wife Hera in eons. But when she appears in Aphrodite's enchanted girdle, he falls under her carnal spell. What follows is a coup of Olympic proportions that leaves the King of Gods stripped naked, bound by magical rawhide thongs, and helpless for all the Olympians to see. Furious, he vows revenge. He will make Hera beg. But one god's punishment is another god's pleasure, and the King and Queen of Gods are about to learn a lesson that will surprise them both.
The Odalisque's Wish
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As an odalisque in the Ottoman Imperial Harem, Rose Spring has a very comfortable life. She is much happier than she would have been in a French convent, but despite being surrounded by silk, jewels, and delicious food, something is missing. What she wants is a lover. What she finds instead is kismet.
"The Odalisque's Wish" is a companion short story about the world inside the Ottoman Imperial Harem.
Medusa Anthology
Thrilled to have a short story is this amazing anthology!
Building on the huge popularity of mythological retellings, here is the story of the much misunderstood Medusa, told through ancient and modern minds, in a beautiful collectable edition.
Variously described as a fiend, a monster, a charming seductress who was felled by the righteous might of Perseus, son of Zeus, Medusa is perhaps the most misunderstood of mythological women. Described by male historians, poets and epic writers such as Hesiod and Ovid, there are many aspects of her imagined life which find resonance in the struggles of the outsider, the cursed and those used in the service of another's vision of the world around them. This fascinating collection brings together new stories and ancient origins, offering a wider perspective on the whole life of the powerful, wonderful Medusa.
Introductory essay by Liv Albert, and foreword by Miriam Robbins Dexter. The modern authors whose stories feature in this book are: Alicia K. Anderson, Mel Attica, Casey Banks, Danai Christopoulou, Grace P. Fong, Rhys Hughes, Tom Johnstone, Amanda Cecelia Lang, Megan Mahoney, Tracie McBride, Zenobia Neil, Gabriella Ramalho, Oneness Sankara, Zach Shephard, Liv Strom, Theresa Tyree and Leah Warren.
About the series: Discover the mythology of humankind through its heroes, characters, gods and immortal figures. Myths, Gods & Immortals brings together the new and the ancient, familiar stories with a fresh and imaginative twist. Each book brings back to life a legendary, mythological or folkloric figure, with new stories alongside a comprehensive introduction which tells the original tales and emphasizes ancient and modern connections, tracing history and stories across continents, cultures and peoples. New and emerging writers from open submissions reveal hidden themes, casting fresh perspectives on well known stories, complementing the specially commissioned story of the origins and the cultural background from the era. The first titles are Medusa, Odin, Anansi and Circe.
Achilles Anthology
Thrilled to have a short story is this amazing anthology!
Building on the huge popularity of mythological retellings, here is the story of the much lauded hero, Achilles, told through ancient and modern minds, in a beautiful collectable edition.
Featuring the stunning Flame Tree cover treatment, with new stories from open submissions alongside the classic stories and fascinating background, this gorgeous new book reveals the man behind the myth of Achilles, the great warrior of the Trojan War. Considered the epitome of heroism in Greek mythology, Achilles' bravery in combat is famously depicted in Homer’s Iliad, but every hero has their flaws. Authors from classical times all the way through to late Antiquity and the modern era have interpreted his character in a multitude of ways, and this latest book continues the tradition, exploring everything from his exploits in the war and interactions with Agamemnon, Patroclus, Hector and more, back to his early days as an infant dipped into the River Styx, exposing one vulnerable heel. Learn all about the history of the character, followed by new stories that give new food for thought, imagining alternative paths, deeper backgrounds and different viewpoints.
Introductory essay by Jonathan S. Burgess, and foreword by David Leitao. The modern authors whose stories feature in this book are: Amber S. Benham, Hammond Diehl, Corey D. Evans, Kenzie Lappin, Russell Hugh McConnell, Zenobia Neil, Mari Ness, Parker M. O’Neill, Celeste Plowden, Sultana Raza, Chey Rivera, Patricia Scott, Susan Shwartz, Rose Strickman, Adam B. Widmer, Ernie Xu, and Lily Zimmerman.
About the series: Discover the mythology of humankind through its heroes, characters, gods and immortal figures. Myths, Gods & Immortals brings together the new and the ancient, familiar stories with a fresh and imaginative twist. Each book brings back to life a legendary, mythological or folkloric figure, with new stories alongside a comprehensive introduction which tells the original tales and emphasizes ancient and modern connections, tracing history and stories across continents, cultures and peoples. New and emerging writers from open submissions reveal hidden themes, casting fresh perspectives on well known stories, complementing the specially commissioned story of the origins and the cultural background from the era. The first titles are Medusa, Odin, Anansi and Circe.
Reviews of The Jinni's Last Wish
“Hauntingly sensual, The Jinni's Last Wish is an erotic fever dream that lingers long after the last page.”
—Mia Hopkins, author of Thirsty
"Vividly imagined and achingly beautiful, this is the closest you'll get to an Ottoman harem without a time machine."
—Jessica Cale, Editor of Dirty, Sexy History
“There’s nothing better than a strong set of characters worth rooting for, a fascinating era, and a tension-filled plot, and Neil delivers all. Instantly, I fell into the Ottoman Empire and the world of Turkish harems with all of their lavishness, cruelty, and complicated power structures, and found I didn't want to leave. Sensual, magical, and meticulously researched, The Jinni's Last Wish is a scrumptious read.”
—Heather Webb, international bestselling author of Last Christmas in Paris
“The Jinni’s Last Wish is a rich, lavishly detailed story of love and loyalty. Olin, Dark Star and the jinni make an unlikely but enchanting trio forced to make desperate choices in a world of politics and intrigue. Neil’s historical research made the Topkapi Palace and the Ottoman Empire come alive.”
—Alana Delacroix, author of The Masked Arcana series
Reviews of Psyche Unbound
"Reminiscent of Anne Rice's erotica work as Anne Rampling. I love the way she blended mythological history with fantasy, which I found so sexy. And she does a great job of transported the reader into that world of Psyche. A great first book from author Zenobia Neil."
"The story is beautifully told, and the sex scenes are both erotic and elegantly conveyed. The love Psyche and her husband have for one another is exquisitely described and grows more timeless as it is tested. Neil breathes life into these familiar characters, unfurling the tale in a cinematic style."