Cirrus@Austlit

'Ennae is a parallel world joined to our own world by the Sacred Pool, a portal that can only be opened by one with the Guardian blood running through their veins. It is through this watery gateway that Khatrene leaves her modern-day life behind forever, drawn into a quest that will take her into the depths of the unknown. Khatrene must fulfil her destiny as The Light, the woman whose child will unite the four elemental worlds. At each turn are real and imagined enemies who will do everything in their power to prevent her from fulfilling the prophecy, including the ethereal and erotic shadow woman, the enigmatic tattooed man, even her beloved brother Mihale. Talkis, her appointed Guardian, must help her through the dangerous terrain of Ennae, sacrificing everything to ensure her safety in a land where magic prevails and nothing is as it seems'.

Source: Bookwormers website (www.bookwormers.co.nz). Source: 7/2/11.

'Only seventeen and barely able to control his Guardian powers, Pagan has been given the task of championing the most consequential child ever born, the newborn child of The Light - Glimmer, who will grow to become the Catalyst. Pagan is injured as they flee their brown homeworld of Ennae, arriving into the strange rainbow hued world of Magoria (Earth) helpless and friendless. Small town funeral director, Sarah McGuire finds them and her home becomes their sanctuary, however Sarah's forthright manner takes some getting used to.

Pagan struggles to adapt, for he has little choice. He knows nothing of caring for a babe and already shoulders the burden of not only hiding his own healing powers in a world that is as confusing as it is contradictory, but as Glimmer grows he must also hide the frightening intelligence locked inside her child's body. On Ennae, the world they have fled, Kraal, the fearful Firegod of Haddash who can transform himself into any terrifying shape has made a pact with The Dark. In return for a magical talisman now held by the Plainsmen, Kraal will give The Dark sovereignty over Ennae, yet little does he know that The Dark's ambitions now lean towards power over all four worlds.

There is no place in either of their plans for Glimmer to live. On the Airworld of Atheyre, The Light and her lover Talis watch on helplessly, unable to protect Pagan and Glimmer from the evil that conspires against them. And behind all is the inexorable Maelstrom, growing in strength and momentum. Before it destroys the four elemental worlds Glimmer must return to Ennae and face those who would have her dead. Only one thing can distract her from fulfilling her destiny, yet that one thing is exactly what she needs to bring peace to the four worlds.' - author's website (sighted 25/01/2010)

Glimmer's mother Khatrene and her Guardian lover Talis struggle under the rule of Khatrene's White Twin brother King Mihale who has been compassionless and perverse since his revival from death on the Airworld of Atheyre. The only other remaining Guardian, Pagan, hopes to rekindle his betrothal to Lae, their new religious leader, but her grief at the loss of her son and her husband seems too great a barrier to cross.

On the Waterworld of Magoria (our earth) Vandal, the son Pagan left behind when duty called him back to Ennae, has turned into a young man, bitter at his father for abandoning him. When tragedy steals Vandal's future, his bitterness becomes deadly as he uses his own Guardian power to follow his father into Ennae to exact revenge, intent on destroying the one thing his father loves most.

Overshadowing all is the Maelstrom, inexorable, relentless, pouring elements from one world into another, causing destruction and death on an unprecedented scale. The cetaceans of Magoria and Cliffdwellers of Ennae have ascended to the Airworld of Atheyre, but those races who remain are in the deepest peril.

In the end, Glimmer must overcome her own selfish desires to follow her destiny, giving up everything she holds dear to fight the Serpent of Death and steal a future for the remnants of mankind'.

Source: author's website (www.louisecusack.com).