Fiction
Title: Odalisque (book 1 of the Percheron saga)
Author: Fiona McIntosh

I borrowed this summary from her website, it does a much better job of explaining than I could.
"Fiona takes readers to a far more exotic location of a harem in the great Stone Palace of Percheron where a new Zar is establishing himself and the political figures who roam the hallowed halls jostle for his patronage, not the least of which is his scheming mother, the new Valide. His only genuine friends and true loyalists of Percheron is the Zar's mad jester - Pez, Spur Lazar - head of Percheron's security and a golden beauty - a new odalisque purchased in the foothills as a slave for the harem. And bristling around the political manoeuvrings is a sinister cyclical event which heralds its arrival with the mysterious rising of Iridor, who will spark a battle between ancient gods.

This is a story laced with Fiona' s favourite themes - forbidden love, treachery, betrayal and possession."