Children of the Shaman [Paperback]

Jessica Rydill's first novel, Children of the Shaman, is set in what seems to be a post-Ice Age far future. There are distorted echoes of our own times in the names and geography and the religions are reminiscent of modern Judaism and Christianity. Teenagers Annat and Malchik have been reunited with their shaman father, Yuda, who left their mother when Annat was a baby. He takes them north by train to Gard Ademar where his friend the sheriff has asked him to investigate the mysterious deaths of several railway workers. Malchik falls under the spell of the evil Cold One and is drawn through a magic shaman gate. Yuda, Annat, the sheriff and his wife follow him into the magical realm of La Souterraine, where they travel through the wintry landscape in a steam train, following the single track available to them. Having found Malchik, they embark on a quest to confront the Cold One, a goddess whose followers attack the train and abduct the accident-prone Malchik. During the adventures that follow, Annat has to learn quickly how to use her shamanic powers to help her father fight off their enemies and to heal his wounds after their frequent battles. She is far more competent than her brother, and the story is partly about her journey into adulthood but Malchik has his own battles to fight. None of the heroes of this book are without flaws and they all come across as very human. While the plot lacks clarity in places, this is an imaginative first novel. --Elizabeth Sourbut

'Haunting and elegant, this is a masterful first novel. An enchanting story blessed with genuine magic' David Gemmell 'A very accomplished debut' Starburst 'A vividly imagined world' LOCUS 'an absorbing read' STARBURST (GLASS MOUNTAIN) 'A well-written and fluid fantasy story that grips the reader until the very end' ETERNAL NIGHT

Set in a world both familiar and fantastical, CHILDREN OF THE SHAMAN is a captivating tale of discovery, full of imagination, adventure and wonder. Raised by their aunt in a remote coastal town, Annat and Malchik have always been protected from the hostile world that surrounds them. It is now time for them to find their own way. To become true wanderers. Reunited with their father, they embark on a remarkable train journey that will take them to the frozen lands of the north. Shortly after their arrival in the town of Gard Ademar, it becomes apparent that dark forces are at work. A series of apparently senseless murders have terrified the townspeople, threatening the construction of a new tunnel. It is a mystery that will draw them into the magical kingdom of La Souterraine. A place where only a shaman can hope to survive. For more information on this or any other Orbit book, please visit the Orbit website at www.orbitbooks.co.uk

Jessica Rydill studied at King's College, Cambridge and the College of Law and has worked as a solicitor for 13 years. But it is her travels and adventures across the world that have provided the inspiration for her writing.