Cirrus@Austlit

'Growing up not far from the road to Chinta on the edge of the Jungle Dragon, Tallen is excited to have her two brothers home. Recent times have been hard, Tallen herself barely surviving an attack by a derelict stranger in their very own barn.

'The war that never was has relieved them of their duty at Chinta, so much so, that her father, the Sergeant of the Guard, is able to return for a visit, bringing news of a possible suitor for Tallen, given that she is almost of that age.

'Tallen is not sure what she wants, and the man her father brings home is not what anyone expected. But at least she knows that her family has her best interests at heart when the pompous, self-interested merchant's son is sent back to Chinta.

'The aftermath of the Offworlder's quest remains uncertain, the battle apparently lost. But for a reluctant Tallen, the journey is only just beginning, upon a path from which there may be no return.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Elonan is rudely awoken by an argument in the middle of the night to find that his ship, the Elspeth, has been hijacked, and that he, along with the rest of the crew, are now stranded in the distant and icy wastelands of Menarik.

'As an experienced sailor, Elonan knows that this was no simple theft, and must have been orchestrated by the group of five who had been part of his original cargo. He knew that they were different, but he never expected them to be thieves.

'With no ship due for weeks and a burning need to discover the truth, Elonan sets off on foot into the Snow Dunes of Mengah, where he discovers the fabled Sahat, a wizard from the past, and through their magic, a young woman who is destined to become a part of his future.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.