Heart-Beast
After the violent death of his father, Daniel Vehmund seeks refuge in an exotic faraway land. But his peace is shattered after contact with a fabulous diamond stolen from an ancient tomb. Thenceforth Daniel is doomed at every full moon to become somthing else – something dark and powerful and savage. And nothing originating on this earth an destroy it.
Beautiful red-haired Laura lives in rural poverty with two appalling sisters and her selfish, grasping parents. But her life of drudgery is miraculously transformed when she is wooed and wed by a wealthy local squire.
Shadows gather, however, when a travelling magician persuades her lovesick husband to buy for her a very unusual gem. For this is the same diamond which blighted Daniel Vehmund's destiny. And when Daniel himself at last retuns home, his fate and Laura's are devastatingly interwinded.
And all the while some dark and malignant presence continues to prowl the woodlands and hedgerows...
Tanith Lee
Tanith Lee (1947-2015) was a British writer of science fiction, horror and fantasy. She was the author of over 90 novels and 300 short stories, a children's picture book (Animal Castle), and many poems. She also wrote two episodes of BBC science fiction series Blake's 7. She was the first woman to win the British Fantasy Award best novel award (also known as the August Derleth Award), for her book Death's Master (1980).
She also wrote under the pseudonym Esther Garber.