Cirrus@Austlit

'Currawongs appearing at the manor in vast numbers had come to portend one thing... death was on its way.

'When photographer Elizabeth Thorrington is invited to document the history of Currawong Manor for a book, she is keen to investigate a mystery from years before: the disappearance of her grandfather, the notorious artist Rupert Partridge, and the deaths of his wife, Doris, and daughter, Shalimar. For years, locals have speculated whether it was terrible tragedy or a double murder, but until now, the shocking truth of what happened at the Manor that day has remained a secret.

'Relocating to the manor, Elizabeth interviews Ginger Lawson, one of Rupert's life models from the forties, and Dolly Shaw, the daughter of the enigmatic 'dollmaker' who seems to have been protected over the years by the Partridge family. Elizabeth is sure the two women know what happened all those years ago, but neither will share their truths unconditionally. And in the surrounding Owlbone Woods, a haunting presence still lurks, waiting for the currawongs to gather...

'An evocative tale set in the spectacular Blue Mountains, Currawong Manor is a mystery of art, truth and the ripple effects of death and deception.' (Publication summary)

'Imagine if your darkest dreams had the power to kill . . . First came the flies and bees. Then the wild dog attacks in the Blue Mountains and sightings by locals of terrifying beings. The wail of the Banshee is heard. Erinyes, Pan and the Wild Hunt are on the move. The old ones demand blood ... the killings begin. In Circle of Nine a coven of witches unleashed chaos by opening a portal to Eronth, a parallel world where magic, prophecy and ancient myths are real. Now the coven return to close the portal. But dark forces are working against them. Is one of their own betraying them?

'Eronth is on the edge of ruin. Its cunning folk have been decimated by witchhunts and are beset by invaders. Behind all this chaos lies the Eom crystal, ever growing in power and now with an offspring of equal evil.

'The faith and strength of Khartyn, Gwyndion, Maya and others are pushed to the limit as they face the horrific culmination of deadly energies. Not all of them will prove equal to the challenge. Heroes will fall by the wayside. One of them will perform the ultimate sacrifice. The final unexpected twist will make you gasp!'

[Source: Momentum Books website]

Despite Emma's best efforts, the sacred Eom crystal is beginning to recharge, throwing the magical Goddess-worshipping world of Eronth into deadly turmoil. Bride of The Stone tells the story of Maya, daughter of Emma and the mysterious Stag Man, who was stolen by an Eronth faery tribe as an infant and raised to womanhood oblivious to both her identity and destiny in the great struggle to come.

Maya finds herself in a world threatened with destruction. The sinister Lightcaster feeds off the Eom's dark energy to orchestrate bloody witch-hunts, and the Sea Hags fulfill ancient prophecies by invading the land. The Azephim dark angels scheme to harness the Eom's power and Maya's future to realise their dreams of power.

Amidst this chaos Maya begins a long road to self-discovery, helped by the Wizards of the Circle of Nine, freed from millennia trapped in stone.

Meanwhile on Earth, Emma's house is occupied by a new age cult whose leader's esoteric powers are frighteningly real. But he knows little about his own angelic lineage. He knows even less about the Azephim and other dangerous entities drawn to the house's dormant portal between the worlds.

Maya's destiny unfolds as she falls in love with Bwani, leader of the Circle of Nine. But are their combined powers enough stop the dark forces destroying not only Eronth, but Earth as well?

[Source: Momentum Books website]