Miriam Verbeek – förlag

Stunning. Rugged. Ancient. Cold. The Antarctic island of Si’Empra is like no other. For thousands of years Cryptals, Skyseekers and Crystalmakers have lived peacefully together, but now Skyseekers have decided to go it alone. Conflict between the groups is tearing the fabric of the island apart. The mysterious, bestial Cryptals work through the young Skyseeker, Ellen, nudging her to rescue Si’Empra.

Don’t expect magic, giants, goblins, fairies, parallel universes, or other such trappings usual for a fantasy novel. There are only two fantastical creatures in this story: the wonderful glasaur, Rosa, and the Cryptals. The people you meet don’t have powers beyond what we all possess. They form relationships, love and hate, appreciate beauty and fear being hurt; they struggle with life’s issues in the same way we all people, and they search for meaning in their lives.

In this first book of the Si’Empra series, Ellen escapes the clutches of her half-brother, Redel, the ruler of Si’Empra. She joins a group of refugees and helps Crystalmakers and the increasingly downtrodden people living in summer villages to survive winter. Redel discovers his purpose in life and plots to increase his power to serve his divine purpose.

Si’Empra is stark and harsh but beautiful. Its peoples are ruled by ancient lore that have sustained them for thousands of years. Times may be changing, but, for some, change is out of the question. In a climate of conflict, madmen can thrive, and their followers will perform deeds they would otherwise detest. In this second book of the Si’Empra series, Ellen’s choices narrow further: should she follow her heart or take on the role she was born into and rescue Si’Emprans from the destructiveness of her possessive, obsessed half-brother, Redel?

Ellen’s attempt to rescue the victims of an earthquake go badly wrong. In her attempt to save the situation, she bargains with the privateer, Norm Tucker, plunging Si’Empra into unforeseen chaos. “Everything I touch turns to disaster,” she thinks. Still, she believes she has no option but to go on trying: she has made promises and she, alone, has the power to stop Si’Empra’s slide to ruin.