First published 1974
Diplomat Piers forms an unusual bond with his sister Sylvie and Bruce, an English doctor, creating what they call their trinity of love. Their passionate arrangement unfolds against the ancient stone walls of Avignon, where medieval towers cast long shadows over modern lives. But their intimate world attracts the attention of a figure they know only as Monsieur, who claims the title Prince of Darkness. This mysterious presence brings with him rituals that stretch back centuries, satanic practices that have survived into the contemporary world. As Monsieur draws the three lovers deeper into his sphere of influence, their relationship faces forces far darker than jealousy or betrayal. The city itself becomes a character in their story, its medieval fortifications holding secrets that blur the line between past and present, between earthly desire and supernatural terror.
Genres: 20th-century, contemporary, adult-fiction, dark-fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Avignon
Period: Contemporary
296 pages · Paperback · Faber and Faber