Part of Series
Astarial is a beautiful young woman, the darling of the Weathermaster clan. Yet there is an air of sadness that surrounds this beauty, for Astarial lost her mother to an evil enchantment and her father soon after when grief engulfed him and he set off on a quest to find a way to free his love. While she has want for naught Astarial keenly feels the loss of her parents. Keener still, Astarial feels the loss of mortal life, for while she loves her father's people dearly she knows she is not one of them. Her mother was descended from the dreaded sorcerer of Strang, and in Astarial's blood lies a mighty power waiting for her to use for good or ill. In his travels her father was rendered near-immortal and this dubious gift was passed to Astarial. Now near adulthood, Astarial is at a crossroads. She can stay in the safety of all she has known, hide from the world and choose to use her powers in small ways to do small good. Or she can embark on a quest to fully realize the power that surges in her blood and perhaps undo the evil that her ancestors wreaked. Her decision will reshape the world.
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)
