The enchanting, true story of The Valkyries begins in Rio de Janeiro when Paulo Coelho gives his mysterious master, J., the only manuscript for his book The Alchemist. Haunted by a devastating curse, he confesses to J., "I've seen my dreams fall apart just when I seemed about to achieve them." In response, J. gives Paulo a daunting task: he must find and speak with his guardian angel. "The curse can be broken," J. replies, "if you complete the task."Rising to the challenge of this spiritual gauntlet, Paulo and his wife, Chris, drop everything, pack their bags, and take off on a forty-day adventure into the starkly beautiful and sometimes dangerous Mojave Desert - where they encounter much more than they bargained for.There's the wise, twenty-two-year-old Master of the Tradition, Gene, who lives in a lone trailer on the edge of the desert and begins Chris's initiation into the mystical, wondrous world of magic. There's Paulo's dark past, which he must confront and overcome in order to speak with his angel and break the curse. There's the desert itself, with its sun-drenched dust, never-ending vistas, and breathtaking sunsets. There are the Valkyries - a band of bold, leather-clad women who travel the desert on motorcycles, spreading the word of angels - led by a red-maned woman warrior named Valhalla. And there are the elusive yet ever-present guardian angels, who hold the secret keys to the gates of our happiness. Read Less