Dreams, fairy tales, and reality intersect in this rich, absorbing fantasy ofa rebellious teen on his journey through the Perilous Realm. There he meets agirl with a special destiny of her own, and Shade, an unusual wolf.
Thomas Wharton Books
This author crafts stories for both adults and children, delving into imaginative realms. Their narrative style is characterized by its fluid prose, drawing readers deep into the heart of the tale. With a focus on adventure and the exploration of uncharted territories, their work promises a captivating journey.
Salamander
- 384 pages
- 14 hours of reading
'A dazzling, exhilarating adventure joining 18th-century printer Nicholas Flood and his motley band on a quest for the infinite book... A joy for anyone who loves stories and a must for everyone who loves books.' Big Issue The year is 1717. Stung by the mysterious death of his only son, Count Ostrov renounces army life and retires to his remote island retreat. There, in mourning, he loses himself in his love of puzzles, turning the very fabric of his spectacular Slav castle into a giant, mechanical conundrum of revolving doors, moving floors and unstable staircases. The Count brings to this impossible castle the legendary English printer Nicholas Flood, and charges him with the task of producing a book without beginning or end. But no sooner has Flood set about his quest than he meets the Count's beautiful, brilliant and yet somehow damaged daughter, Irena. In the shadows cast by the wheels and cogs of the clockwork castle, Flood finds himself distracted from the task in hand, and instead begins work on another book entirely, a secret gift for a secret lover -- a tiny octavo volume with one word, Desire, gold-tooled on its spine...
Dr. Edward Byrne is on a climbing expedition in the Canadian Rockies in 1898 when he falls into a crevasse. While waiting to be rescued he sees the figure of an angel. A stiff-upper-lip Englishman, he tells nobody, but he allows the vision to haunt him for the next twenty-five years.
In a northern Alberta mining town, River Meadows, ghost ore—a new energy source—promises immense wealth but brings with it time and space distortions that make the area uninhabitable. After evacuation, the region is sealed off, humorously dubbed "the Park." The narrative unfolds through various voices across history, centering on four young individuals connected to River Meadows, whose legacies extend beyond their lives. Following the mining death of Ben Hewitt, his widow and children, Alex and Amery, are among the first to leave. While Alex, now a successful game designer, has moved on, Amery remains haunted by the past, attempting to rescue wildlife affected by the ore. Her dangerous missions into the toxic wasteland lead to her disappearance, prompting Alex to return and search for her, joined by her friend Michio Amano, a mathematician pushing the limits of physics. Meanwhile, Claire Foley, who escaped River Meadows, now engages in wildlife trafficking under the guise of a travel publisher. As Alex and Michio search for Amery, Claire faces a life-altering decision upon encountering the last of an endangered crane species. This narrative weaves a rich tapestry of environmental themes, exploring humanity's flawed stewardship and nature's wisdom.