There is a legend that has been passed down through many generations of great clansmen of the north. The legend tells of a ruby, red ring called the Blood Ring. This ring was a gift from the Sea Goddess, Angora who had a son that was half human/half god. A clansmen of the Grinden tribe saved her son from certain death by the most feared clan, the Gorgs. The Gorgs were merciless and consorted with demons and sorcerers. Because of his bravery, the goddess bestowed on him and his family a ring that was forged with the clansman's blood and her son's blood. It was then crystallized into a blood-red stone. The stone was mounted in a pure silver ring. When the Grinden heirs wore the ring, it bestowed great power upon them. It gave them the strength of the gods. But it must be passed from father to son and, if the blood line were severed, then the ring would bestow its powers to anyone who wore it. So, as it were, the ring was passed from father to son and they reigned for many centuries. When the last Grinden became King, he was yet to take a wife or produce an heir. Without an heir, his line would be broken and the Gorg, King Kritus, who had slaughtered his family would come for him and try to claim the ring and its powers for himself. This is the story of the Blood Ring and Clayvin the last Grinden King.......

In a near future world marked by apocalyptic religious strife, Thorn St. Croix, a powerful neomage living secretly among humankind, channels her gift of stone-magery into jewelry making, until a handsome police officer, Thaddeus Bartholomew, comes into her life, changing everything. Reprint.

In a novel filled with lush imagery and exhilarating action, Faith Hunter creates a near-future world caught in the throes of an ambiguous apocalypse - where a woman with everything to hide finds her true destiny revealed. As humanity struggles with religious strife and seraphs and demons fight a never-ending battle, a new species has arisen. "Neomages" are human in appearance, but able to twist left-over creation energy to their will. A threat to both humans and seraphs, they are confined in luxurious Enclaves. Thorn St. Croix is no ordinary neomage. Nearly driven insane by her powers, she is smuggled out of an Enclave and now lives among humans, channeling her gift of stone-magery into jewelry making. But when Thaddeus Bartholomew, a dangerously attractive policeman, tells her that her ex-husband has been kidnapped, Thorn risks revealing her identity to find him. And for Thorn, the punishment for revelation is death.

A pale red ancient Egyptian ring releases its 600-year-old curse when dipped in living blood, and a great museum becomes a killing ground.

A pale red ancient Egyptian ring releases its 600-year-old curse when dipped in living blood, and a great museum becomes a killing ground.