Cirrus@Austlit

'The Six Wastes were governed by the ancients ... the Seventh Waste is the heart of men, uncontrolled and unknown. The actions of the Revenants are sending shock waves through all the Eleven kingdoms. No matter what happens, the impact of their release will be felt for generations. Slave and Keshik leave the Hidden City of the Blindfolded Queen together with Maida and Myrrhini to seek out the Revenants for their own reasons and with their own purposes. Myrrhini, troubled by her visions into the Mertian 'world of could be', is struggling to come to terms with her burgeoning power and complex relationship with Slave, while Keshik comes face to face with the reason for his exile from the tulugma. Slave continues to wrestle with the twin 'blessings' of the Scaren Revenant as he seeks the peace promised him by Myrrhini.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Slave has escaped imprisonment, but his master still hunts him while an evil spirit owns his soul ... 'If it wants her dead, we should keep her alive ...' With Myrrhini taken, Slave heads off in pursuit through the wilderness. Keshik, meanwhile, has problems of his own to deal with, problems that could see him executed. The Revenants, now free, are moving through the world, following their own plans, seeking their own goals. Goals that involve the Scarred Man and the woman with him. But which Scarred Man? And who is the woman they seek? What do they want with her? Far away in her hidden city, the Blindfolded Queen is manipulating events to her own ends ... who or what will pay the price?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Slave has been owned by Sondelle since he was a child. Finally escaping through the catacombs, Slave is almost killed by a revenant warrior spirit. He gains his freedom only by swearing fealty to this dangerous creature.

'Befriended by Ileki, Slave begins to learn about the world outside. However, Sondelle′s hired hunters track the escapee and in a fight to the death, Slave discovers that the revenant warrior has given him a ′blessing′ ... a form of berserk rage that makes him virtually unbeatable in combat, but also makes him lethal to anyone in the immediate area, friends and foes alike. Ileki is killed and Slave heads for his friend′s home city to make amends and seek help. Also heading for the same city are a number of other desperate: a woman who has fled her persecutors and a pair of outlaws from society amongst others.

'Meanwhile, a city which has kept an evil spirit imprisoned for centuries, wakes one day to find it has escaped confinement.' (From the publisher's website.)

'A land of mystery ... a corrupt society ... rare gifts which have been ignored and forgotten ..

'Hwenfayre has discovered the extraordinary powers of the driftwood harp left to her by a stranger - her father. But unless she learns self-control and discipline, the powers of the harp will continue to consume her.

'The First Son, Shanek, hunts down the ancient enemy of the Empire. But he is lost to his people, and as his power grows he is taken further and further from the world he knows - and from the person he once was.

'On Tanissan, a man with many names is scheming for the downfall of the Triumvirate and the world it protects ... and a boy who has never met his father discovers his true inheritance.

'And Aldere continues a journey that will have greater consequences than he could ever imagine ...' (Publisher's blurb, back cover)

'An eons-long battle has been taking place between the two sentient species of the world of the soldier, Shanek, and the outcast Hwenfayre. Instrumental in the fighting, and key to the victory of humanity, were three powerful sorcerers. When they departed, they left their powers behind to watch over the human world ...

'Now the enemy is reawakening, but the sorcerous powers have not only fallen into disuse, they have been forgotten ... the three who hold these powers at this time are quite unaware of their latent abilities, and of their significance.' (Publisher's blurb)