Founded in antiquity by the goddess Persephone and the Muses, the Guard have stood between humanity and the forces of darkness for centuries. There have always been six, born and reborn in each generation. In the late 1860s, in Cairo, Egypt, Beatrice Smith and five other young people are summoned to become the Guard. From different backgrounds and faiths, they must unite in the Great Work. Beatrice, as the Leader, is granted intimate acquaintance with the goddess, who is preparing to take human form. What Beatrice does not expect is that her own heart will be opened to the possibility and promise of love.This enchanting prequel to Leanna Renee Hieber's gaslamp fantasy, Strangely Beautiful, returns to print after more than a decade, edited and revised for Tor's publication.