Alison Croggon Books

"Epic fantasy in the Tolkien tradition, with a strong girl hero who is entirely believable in her struggles. . . . I couldn't put it down!" — Tamora Pierce, author of the Protector of the Small and the Circle Opens quartets In a battle-ravaged land, Maerad and Hem desperately search for each other as the Black Army advances, and all of the Seven Kingdoms are threatened with devastating defeat. Yet in Maerad and Hem lives the secret to the mysterious Singing, and prophecy holds that if they release the music of Elidhu together, they have the power to defeat the Nameless One.

Maerad, a slave in a harsh settlement after her family's destruction in war, is unaware of her powerful gift that identifies her as part of the School of Pellinor.

Orphaned Hem is sent to Turbansk for safety but, as the armies of the Dark overrun the city, he flees with his mentor Saliman, his white crow Irc, and the orphan girl Zelika to join the resistance forces of the Light.

The second book in the "Pellinor" series follows Maerad, a girl with a troubled past, as her powers grow. Together with her mentor Cadvan, they seek the Riddle of the Treesong, which may restore peace to her kingdom. The story explores the nature of enemies and the riddle itself, appealing to fans of "Lord of the Rings" and "Ursula Le Guin."

The climactic volume of the epic quartet follows Merad and Hem, the Bards of Edil-Amarandh, on a vital quest to merge their powers against a nameless evil. Can brother and sister find each other before all is lost?

Exploring themes of mental turmoil, colonial violence, and dark secrets, the narrative intertwines the lives of diverse characters. A woman grapples with her sanity as she hears a medieval mystic, while a convict's wife confronts the harsh realities of colonization. A man on the run after committing murder seeks refuge, and a girl discovers her lineage through an encounter with a vampire. Each storyline delves into the complexities of identity, guilt, and the haunting echoes of history.

YA. Fantasy fiction. This is the stunning conclusion to the epic "Pellinor" series, four books telling an extraordinary tale of another world. The "Singing" follows the separate journeys of Maerad and Cadvan, and their brother Hem, as they desperately seek each other in an increasingly battle-torn land. The Black Army is moving north and Maerad has a mighty confrontation with the Landrost to save Innail. All the Seven Kingdoms are being threatened with defeat. Yet Maerad and Hem hold the key to the mysterious Singing and only in releasing the music of the Elidhu together may the Nameless One be defeated. Can brother and sister find each other in time to fight the Nameless One, and are they strong enough to defeat him? In this title, "Lord of the Rings" meets "Ursula Le Guin", for a new generation.

As Maerad faces her perilous fate in the North, Hem is sent to Turbansk for safety. When dark forces invade the city, he escapes with his mentor Saliman, his white crow Irc, and an orphan girl named Zelika to join the resistance.

The sequel to The gift - Maerad and her mentor Cadvan are seeking the Riddle of the Treesong, the key to restoring peace to the ravaged kingdom.

Maerad is a slave in a desperate and unforgiving settlement, taken there as a child when her family is destroyed in war. She is unaware that she possesses a powerful Gift, a Gift that marks her as a member of the School of Pellinor. It is only when she is discovered by Cadavan, one of the great Bards of Lirigon, that her true heritage and extraordinary destiny unfolds. Now, she and her teacher Cadavan must survive a punishing and uncertain journey through a time and place where the dark forces they battle stem from the deepest recesses of other-worldly terror. Alison Croggon's epic fantasy about Maerad and her astonishing yet dangerous Gift is a beautiful, unforgettable tale. Steeped in the rich and complex landscape of Annar, a legendary world few have yet discovered, it is one of literature's most exciting stories . . .