The Reliquary Ring [Hardcover]

An outstanding new adult fantasy from an author acclaimed for her fiction aimed at younger readers. The setting is a fabulously wealthy maritime city where created humans (genics) are despised and exploited by the genuine human citizens. But then the sinister Count Dracone plots to seize ultimate power with the aid of infernal beings and the emissaries and technology of the sinister northern Empire. Set in a parallel Venice, this is a beautifully written fantasy of good versus evil, tolerance and charity versus fanaticism and self-interest. It draws us into not only the rich beauty and opulence of a wealthy city, undersea inhabitants and the eccentric inventiveness of the northern neighbours, but is also an excursion to hell itself.

In an ancient maritime city full of beauty and wealth, the people are ruled by an elderly duke - and also by the Church. From the mysterious Empire to the north are imported products of amazing technology, including 'genics' - the genetically engineered people coveted by the wealthy as their servants and playthings. Since the Church refuses to recognize genics as human, they lead an existence of degradation and virtual slavery. Yet, beyond the city itself, sea genics live in freedom on and around the outer islands of the lagoon, placed there by the Council to regulate the city's water levels. Long ignored and unrecognized, they have come to form among themselves a second republic of the sea.This is the story of four genics in their quest for fulfilment, following the discovery of a ring containing a holy relic of immense significance. 'Baldry's greatest skill is in sketching the contrast between the city's jewelled surface and the corruption underneath' Guardian 'Colourful and entertaining' The Alien Online --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Cerith Baldry is well known for her writing for a juvenile readership, and lives in Surrey.