It is the final years of the 18th century, but a world which few would recognise. The people of Europe shelter in small islands of safety, havens from the enchanted wilderness - the strange boundless forests people call the Tumble. It is across this demon-haunted landscape that the low-born officer Taliesin must lead his men, caught up in the deadliest of intrigues while fighting wars for a noble class which despises him. With vicious murderers from the worst gutters in the Realm marching behind him, and the forces of the most powerful nations of the mainland arrayed against him, the odds are stacked against Taliesin. Heavily. Yet he will fight on, battling armies, sorcerers, assassins, beastmen and cross into the face of hell itself. Not for loyalty, or grudging respect for his scheming monarch - not even for the small mountain of silver the Island Queen has promised him if he succeeds. But because fighting is all he and his pressed band of cut-throats and thieves have ever known. ---- ABOUT THE AUTHOR Stephen Hunt is the creator of the much-loved 'Far-called' fantasy series (Gollancz/Hachette), as well as the 'Jackelian' series, published across the world via HarperCollins alongside their other best-selling fantasy authors, George R.R. Martin, J.R.R. Tolkien, Raymond E. Feist and C.S. Lewis. He is also the creator of the Amazon best-selling sci-fi space opera series, 'Sliding Void'. The author writes mysteries and crime thrillers as Stephen A. Hunt. ---- REVIEWS Praise for Stephen Hunt's novels: ‘Mr. Hunt takes off at racing speed.’ — THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ‘Hunt's imagination is probably visible from space. He scatters concepts that other writers would mine for a trilogy like chocolate-bar wrappers.’ - TOM HOLT ‘All manner of bizarre and fantastical extravagance.’ - DAILY MAIL ‘Compulsive reading for all ages.’ - GUARDIAN ‘Studded with invention.’ -THE INDEPENDENT ‘To say this book is action packed is almost an understatement… a wonderful escapist yarn!’ - INTERZONE ‘Hunt has packed the story full of intriguing gimmicks… affecting and original.’ - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ‘A rip-roaring Indiana Jones-style adventure.’ —RT BOOK REVIEWS ‘A curious part-future blend.’ - KIRKUS REVIEWS ‘An inventive, ambitious work, full of wonders and marvels.’ - THE TIMES ‘Hunt knows what his audience like and gives it to them with a sardonic wit and carefully developed tension.’ - TIME OUT ‘A ripping yarn … the story pounds along… constant inventiveness keeps the reader hooked… the finale is a cracking succession of cliffhangers and surprise comebacks. Great fun.’ - SFX MAGAZINE
