
Part of Series
In a thrilling debut that combines storytelling mastery with a treasure trove of folklore, Cecilia Dart-Thornton creates a lushly romantic epic adventure, set in a world brimming with wonders and terrors. The Stormriders land their splendid winged stallions on the battlements of Isse Tower, while the scullions who dwell in the fortress' lower depths rarely even see the sun. Yet it is the least of the lowly—a mute, scarred foundling youth—who dares to climb the Tower, stow away aboard a Windship, and dive from the sky into a wilderness of endless danger. For goblins, peskies, knocks, and all the eldrich wights of the Unseelie haunt every tree, every pool, every turn in the road, tormenting or killing unwary travelers. And unknown to the nameless one, somewhere a dark force is summoning the malignant hordes, determined to destroy the young mute's identity, history...and destiny.
Author

Cecilia Dart-Thornton was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, graduating from Monash University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology. She became a schoolteacher before working as an editor, bookseller, illustrator and book designer. She started and ran her own business, but became a full-time writer in 2000 after her work was 'discovered' on the Internet and published by Time Warner (New York). A keen supporter of animal rights and wilderness conservation, she has also branched out into such diverse industries as clay sculpting, performing in folk music bands, and digital media. Her books are published around the world and have been translated into several languages. BIBLIOGRAPHY: THE BITTERBYNDE TRILOGY 'This series follows the journey of a mute, amnesiac foundling through a world of beauty and peril, teeming with faerie creatures.' The Ill-Made Mute (2001) The Lady of the Sorrows (2002) The Battle of Evernight (2003) THE CROWTHISTLE CHRONICLES 'A four-part epic fantasy describing the adventures that befall a cursed and gifted family.' The Iron Tree (2004) The Well of Tears (2005) Weatherwitch (2006) Fallowblade (2007) THE MIDNIGHT GAME - A young-adult fantasy novel published in a fine limited edition. (2012) SHORT STORIES Long the Clouds are Over me Tonight (Published in the anthology Emerald Magic: Great Tales of Irish Fantasy; Tor Books, 2004) The Stolen Swanmaiden (Published in Australian Women's Weekly September 2005) The Lanes of Camberwell (Published by Harper Collins in the anthology DREAMING AGAIN, 2008) The Enchanted (Published by Harper Collins in the anthology LEGENDS OF AUSTRALIAN FANTASY, 2010)