High Priestess and Empress - by Susan Wands (Paperback)

About the Book

Pamela, a seer and empath hired by a cult to design tarot cards, must summon the muses of her cards, High Priestess and Empress, to help her thwart the nemesis who seeks to control her and keep the Carlists from trying to destroy all female rulers.

Book Synopsis

On her return to London, artist and seer Pamela Colman Smith discovers that her nemesis, Aleister Crowley, has returned--and his sights are set on her. Despite Aleister's efforts to stop Pamela from further developing her tarot deck and accessing its magic, she carries on casting her High Priestess and Empress muses, Golden Dawn society leader Florence Farr and popular theatre star Ellen Terry. But when Ellen is poisoned and nearly killed, Pamela realizes that Aleister won't stop coming for her--not until her muses are dead.

When Aleister reveals his plot to assassinate Queen Victoria and all female rulers, war breaks out between the Aleister's Carlists and the Golden Dawn. With so many lives on the line--that of the queen, and those of her friends--Pamela must access her inner magic to face the battle of her life.

Review Quotes

2025 IPPY Book Awards Gold Medalist in Visionary/New Age
2025 American Legacy Book Awards Winner in Visionary and Fantasy: Epic/High Fantasy
2024 CIBA OZMA Book Awards Winner in Fantasy
2024 Best Book Awards Winner in Fiction: New Age

"If you are looking for a rollicking good time with magical fireworks in a Neo-Victorian aesthetic involving dozens of the most fascinating historical personalities playing the roles of melodramatic good and evil characters, then look no further. I hope you enjoy this novel as much as I have learned to."
--Mary K. Greer, author of Women of the Golden Dawn: Rebels and Priestesses

"Wands creates a London where Pamela Colman Smith and her tarot avatars engage in that eternal battle of good vs. evil. The research is stunning. Late-nineteenth-century London comes alive with theater performers, street urchins, suffragettes, and the Golden Dawn. Fast-paced and magical!"
--Faith Justice, author of Dawn Empress: A Novel of Imperial Rome

"High Priestess and Empress is a sumptuous feast for the senses. Wands conjures a luscious, spellbinding tale of art and the occult in a thrilling must-read for magic, history, and tarot lovers."
--Sasha Graham, author of The Magic of Tarot

"I was captivated by the story. Each chapter brought the character alive, and one could quite easily imagine the ambience of the time."
--Avril Price, Tarot Master, College of Psychic Studies, London

"If you enjoy learning about tarot history and a great story revolving around a remarkable group of people you are going to love every single one of the books in this series."
--Sharon Rapseik, Tarot Master and talk radio host

"In the tradition of such works as Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susan Wands's High Priestess and Empress is a unique work of dark fantasy. I look forward to seeing where these memorable characters end up next!"
--Christopher M. Cevasco, author of Beheld: Godiva's Story

"This novel delves into every corner of London, from the poshest parties to the cold, filthy streets to the most mysterious corners of its museums. Each of these is the setting for a surprising spectacle in a slow-burn battle for magical dominance. I don't know if people in Victorian London really believed in magic, but I do know that this book is magical."
--J. K. Knauss author of Seven Noble Knights

About the Author

Susan Wands is a writer, tarot reader, and actor. A graduate from the University of Washington, she has acted professionally across the United States and on Broadway, has written plays, screenplays, and skits, and has produced several indie films. As a cochair of the NYC Chapter of the Historical Novel Society, she helps produce monthly online book launches and author panels. Wands's writings have appeared in Art in Fiction, Kindred Spirits magazine, and The Irving Society journal First Knight. with the third book, Emperor and Hierophant, out May 2025. Susan lives in New York City.