The Bone Queen

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by Alison Croggon

It was good to be alive.

  READ OTHER BOOKS BY

  ALISON CROGGON

  “This is a tale with passion, inspiring characters, an enchanting protagonist and vividly described landscapes … a great series of fantasy novels that will delight fans of Garth Nix and G P Taylor.”

  The Bookseller

  Maerad is an orphaned slave in a harsh settlement, unaware that she possesses a powerful Gift: one that marks her as a member of the School of Pellinor. When she is rescued by Cadvan, a Bard of Lirigon, her destiny begins to unfold. But before Maerad can attain her true heritage, she and Cadvan must embark on a treacherous journey and confront dark forces of the most terrifying kind.

  “Croggon’s world is rich and passionate, brimming with archetypal motifs but freshly splendorous in its own right. Supremely satisfying.”

  Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

  Despite her tragic and bitter past, Maerad’s powers grow stronger by the day. Pursued by both the Light and the Dark, she and her mentor, Cadvan of Lirigon, seek the Riddle of the Treesong – the key to restoring peace to their kingdom. As they travel across the ravaged landscape, Maerad is drawn ever closer to the Winterking, the author of her sorrows and the strongest ally of the Nameless One – the greatest tyrant of all.

  “The action never flags in this compellingly readable fantasy tale. Riveting and intense, it is a spellbinding addition to a stellar fantasy series.”

  VOYA

  The forces of the Nameless One grow ever stronger, and in the frozen wastelands of the north Maerad seeks to unravel the mysteries of the Treesong, which may hold the key to peace. Meanwhile her troubled and unhappy brother, Hem, is sent south to Turbansk. But evil forces threaten to destroy the city, and it becomes clear that Hem’s own destiny is linked to the Treesong more closely than he knows. Aided by his pet crow, Irc, Hem spies on the child armies of the Dark … with perilous consequences.

  “Fans of the series will enjoy seeing the final stage of Maerad’s transformation from a slave to her world’s savior, and they will once again be drawn into this complex and gripping tale.”

  School Library Journal

  In a desperate fight against the Dark, Maerad must solve the final Riddle of the Treesong in order to defeat the Nameless One and restore peace to the Seven Kingdoms. But Maerad only holds the key to half the riddle; her long-lost brother, Hem, has the other. As the Dark grows more powerful, Maerad and her mentor, Cadvan of Lirigon, must find Hem before it is too late. But will brother and sister be reunited in time?

  “Atmospheric throughout, and gripping till the end, with a tension that never abates, Black Spring is a lyrical masterpiece.”

  ArtsHub

  In the grim Northern Plateau, where vendetta holds sway and wizards enforce the code of blood and vengeance, corruption of minds and of nature go hand in hand. Lina has witch’s powers but they cannot guard her against the enigmatic, brooding force of Damek, with whom she is besotted.

  A wild, passionate story of possessive desire and destructive longing, inspired by the timeless classic Wuthering Heights.

  “This is a lyrical and rewarding story… It raises complex issues about the rights of Indigenous peoples, environmental degradation and the impact of Western society in ways that are engaging and thought-provoking.”

  Books+Publishing

  Simbala is a Keeper, the latest in a long line of women who can read the Book to find answers to people’s questions.

  When developers begin to poison the River on which Simbala’s village relies, the Book predicts change. But this does not come in the form they expect; it is the sympathetic foreigner who comes to stay who inflicts the greatest damage of all.

  THE BONE QUEEN

  Alison Croggon is the acclaimed author of the high fantasy series The Books of Pellinor, as well as Black Spring, a fantasy reworking of Wuthering Heights, and The River and the Book. Alison is an award-winning poet whose work has been published extensively in anthologies and magazines internationally. She has written widely for theatre, and her opera libretti have been produced all around Australia. Alison is also an editor and critic. She lives in Melbourne with her husband, the playright Daniel Keene.

  For more information about Alison, visit:

  www.alisoncroggon.com

  or follow her on Twitter: @alisoncroggon

  Other titles by this author

  The Books of Pellinor

  The Bone Queen

  The Gift

  The Riddle

  The Crow

  The Singing

  Black Spring

  The River and the Book

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. All statements, activities, stunts, descriptions, information and material of any other kind contained herein are included for entertainment purposes only and should not be relied on for accuracy or replicated as they may result in injury.

  First published in Great Britain 2016 by Walker Books Ltd

  87 Vauxhall Walk, London SE11 5HJ

  Text © 2016 Alison Croggon

  Cover illustration © 2016 Christopher Gibbs

  Maps drawn by Niroot Puttapipat

  The right of Alison Croggon to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, taping and recording, without prior written permission from the publisher.

  British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data:

  a catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

  ISBN 978-1-4063-6923-6 (ePub)

  www.walker.co.uk

 

 

 


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