The kingdom of Estelliana is troubled. The young starkin count is trapped in a cursed sleep, and not even the light from the Astronomer's Tower, built from precious glass by the bound hearthkin, can rouse him. Then a prophecy turns the starkin against two hearthkin boys, Pedrin and Durrik, forcing them to run from the town and hide in the Perilous Forest.
Here they meet up with another two runaways, the spoilt Lady Lisandre and her servant, Briony, a young weaver with strange skills, seeking a cure for the count, Lady Lisandre's brother. With nothing but a prophecy to guide them, the four must outrun and outwit soldiers, giant spiders, bandits and the outcast wildkin that live in the forest. A miserable old man and a belligerent bandit girl join their journey to the Well of Fate to find the cure.
They must race against time to find the cure that will awaken the sleeping count and hopefully bring a new era of peace to the divided kingdom of Estelliana.
Kate Forsyth is a bestselling fantasy novelist whose books have been published in the US, Germany and in Australia. Her series, The Witches of Eileanan, is six books in total. The first book, Dragonclaw, was shortlisted for the 1997 Aurealis awards for Best Australian Fantasy Novel, debuted at No. 8 on the Locus Bestsellers list and was chosen as one of the best fantasy books of the year in a Locus readers poll. Book 3, The Cursed Towers, was also shortlisted for the 1999 Aurealis awards in the same category. Kate lives with a black cat called Shadow, her husband Greg and her three beautiful children in Sydney.
ISBN:
9780330421874
Binding:
Paperback
Pub. Date:
01/06/2005
Category:
Children's: Fantasy
Imprint:
Pan Australia
Pages:
464 page/s
Stock:
In stock
Price:
$16.95 AUD