Secrets and illusions abound in a decaying convent wrapped in dark magic and scented with blood. Portia came to the convent with the ghost of Imogen, the lover she failed to protect in life. Now, the spell casting caste wants to make sure that neither she nor her spirit ever leave.

Portia’s ignorance of her own power may be even more deadly than those who conspire against her as she fights to fulfill her sworn duty to protect humankind in a battle against dark illusions and painful realities.

Steeped in the legends of the Nephilim, The Convent of the Pure is the first installment of a steampunk novella trilogy by Sara M. Harvey.

Print:
Amazon - B&N - The Book Depository (free international shipping)

Don't miss the other two books of the Penemue trilogy!:
The Labyrinth of the Dead
The Tower of the Forgotten

Blurbs:

• “The Convent of the Pure is a compelling blend of the numinous and the creepy, with a rich, atmospheric setting. I devoured it in a single sitting!”
  -–Jacqueline Carey, author of Kushiel’s Dart
• “An intriguing fantasy novella that will move you to tears.”
  -–Michael A. Burstein, Campbell Award-winning author of I Remember the Future
• “The Convent of the Pure is a beautifully written page turner, dripping with magic and intrigue. I couldn’t put it down. A gifted writer and storyteller, Sara M. Harvey is worthy of a rocket to the top!”
  —Fran Friel, Bram Stoker Award finalist and author of Mama’s Boy and Other Dark Tales

Reviews:

• “Harvey (A Year and a Day) cobbles together gothic steampunk fantasy and fluffy lesbian erotica in this romantic, necromantic tale. Two years after Imogen Gyony’s death, her spirit still frequently visits her lover, Portia. Both are Nephilim, born of a celestial and a mortal being and raised to be warriors in an age-old fight against the demonic forces out to destroy humanity. When demons capture Portia, she escapes with crossbow blazing and takes on the fiends one by one, determined to bring Imogen back from the dead and save her Nephilim chapter house from being taken over by demon-influenced mages. Readers who aren’t put off by the cheesecake cover illustration of buff, busty Portia will appreciate the mix of heat, horror and humor."
  (February 2009)

Cover Artist:
Melissa Gay

About the Author:

Sara M. Harvey made her fiction debut in 2006 with the romantic urban fantasy A Year and a Day. Sara’s love of steampunk pushed her towards writing within that genre with her first two novella releases from Apex Publishing: The Convent of the Pure and The Labyrinth of the Dead. Both can be described as paranormal Victorian Age romances with lesbian protagonists set in a steampunk environment. Harvey’s showcase of her unique style of genre-crossing work has been described by Jacqueline Carey as ‘a compelling blend of the numinous and the creepy’.

Visit her on the web at http://www.saramharvey.com.