New Releases by Liz Williams

Taking in a range of traditions from ancient Britain to the present day, a revealing look at the bristly underside of British folkloric culture. Rough Music explores transgression and shame in British folklore and customs. It takes in a wide array of examples including Bonfire Night, Wassail, Morris dancing, Mari Lwyd, and Twelfth Night, along with happenings like Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, and street football. Liz Williams explores the roots and roles of violence, mockery, protest, and public shaming. She also addresses alternative culture and modern protests, such as the Battle of the Beanfield and the Stonehenge Free Festival. The interaction between racism and traditions involving blackface, alongside the emergence of all-female Morris sides, is also examined. Finally, Rough Music looks at folklore’s evolution in the digital age, highlighting new developments such as ghost bikes. This engaging book offers an entertaining yet rigorous look at British folklore and culture.

A beautifully presented directory of occult history and artefacts and an essential guide for anyone interested in the occult.Explore the mysterious and fascinating world of the occult from ancient Egypt to London''s Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in the 19th century with this visual cabinet of curiosities.

Experience a colorful year in the life of a novelist and her partner as they run a Glastonbury witchcraft supply shop in this charming memoir. While some might know Glastonbury for its five-day music festival, the Somerset market town is also known as a center of pilgrimage and miracles. For over a thousand years, visitors have come to Glastonbury for Christ, the goddess, the god, angels, and fairies, as well as solutions and answers. It is also where novelist Liz Williams met Trevor Jones, the owner of a witchcraft shop. Their relationship began to flourish, and in 2005, Liz took the plunge and moved from Brighton to Glastonbury to live and work with Trevor. Her life would never be the same . . . In Diary of a Witchcraft Shop, Liz and Trevor share anecdotes from the course of one year in their lives. Experience the eccentric day-to-day life of a small business in a tourist town, with staff troubles and quirky customers. Get a glimpse of the pagan world, its rituals, and its holidays. Travel with Liz and Trevor to the Houses of Parliament, Ireland, Brittany, and elsewhere. There are also plenty of surprises, too, like Shetland ponies and the TARDIS. Full of humor as well as insightful observations from life’s light-hearted—and sometimes dark—moments, Diary of a Witchcraft Shop shows that sometimes life is stranger than fiction.

A Journey to Freedom and Faith is a memoir about the author''s quest for purpose as they approach forty. It reflects on Childhood, Early Adulthood, and Motherhood, exploring faith tests and sharing spiritual practices for growth.

A new Fallow Sisters story A new Inspector Chen story set in Singapore Three A new tale set on the Matriarchal Mars of Winterstrike and Phosphorus A new story from the world of The Ghost Sister and Bloodmind All this and so much more in Liz Williams'' stunning new collection. A mix of brand new stories and those only available previously in digital format via subscription comprise the majority of the book, with very few stories available elsewhere. Thirty-two stories that enchant, dazzle, and blur genre boundaries; thirty-two stories that take the reader from realms of wonder and magic to worlds of intrigue and danger. Take a deep breath, and leap in... Contents Introduction Back Through the Flaming Door Blackfast Colder Than the Day Dog Days in the Ghost Garden Doveblack and Rosewhite Flowerface Greene Lyon Mow Cop Nightjar On Milk Hill Radioblack The Teahouse Saint Cold Silence in the House of Moths Swallows The Book Rustlers The Darker Half The Child on the Hill The Green World The Ontologist The White Herd The Winter Garden When we go to the island Ungiven West Wind The Wording Wrecktide The Man in the Glass Wig The Salt Star The Lily White Boys The Language of Fans The Seamistress

This tale of four fey sisters is “a golden slice of British rural fantasy in the tradition of Diana Wynne Jones and Tanith Lee. . . . I loved it” (Paul Cornell, New York Times–bestselling author of Witches of Lychford). Levelheaded Bee still lives at Mooncote, the family home in Somerset, where she has an unconventional boyfriend of whom her sisters are unaware. Stella, a DJ who’s just done some gigs in Ibiza, has vowed never to return to Mooncote after a row with Bee. Single mother and fashion designer Serena lives in Notting Hill with growing doubts about her relationship with her longtime boyfriend, a rock musician. And Luna, the youngest, is a wanderer living out of a horse-drawn van while she follows a trail of horse fairs across the country. The four Fallow sisters are scattered like the four winds. But now, with the comet due, they’re drawn back together, united in their desire to find their mother, free-spirited Alys, who disappeared a year ago. They have help, of course, from the star spirits and the no-longer-living, but such advice tends to be cryptic and is hardly the most dependable of guides . . . “In Comet Weather, Liz Williams has crafted something marvellous. This is a book full of wonder, horror, love, heartbreak, strangeness, and a gorgeously evoked sense of time and place. Between one page and the next you’ll be laughing out loud, then shivering to your bones.” —Alastair Reynolds, award-winning author of Eversion and Revelation Space “This quick-witted and intriguing contemporary fantasy is fresh and original, while also harking back to the mythology of the English landscape and the classic literature that has inspired. A many-faceted delight.” —Juliet E. McKenna, author of the Green Man series “A perfect pleasure to read. Think [Neil] Gaiman: imagination enriched with history, culture, geography, astronomy and archaeology, and a dash of romance.” —Aurealis “One of the most affecting and accomplished fantasy novels of the year so far.” —Locus “Mesmerizing.” —SciFi Mind

The Fallow sisters encounter a mystery in the distant past in “another time-slipping and spirit-battling adventure. . . . Entertaining” (SciFi Mind). As the air begins to hint of spring and the Fallow sisters recover from the events of Christmas, things start to feel normal again—but that’s not going to last long. They’ve made dangerous enemies—not all of them human—and soon darkness intrudes once again on their everyday lives in London and Somerset. The approaching birth of Luna’s child puts her in danger of otherworldly attack. Serena’s relationship with film star Ward is going swimmingly, but when she’s pulled back into the past while on location with him in Brighton, she discovers the body of a dead airman. It must be significant—but how? And what in the world is Ward’s ex doing there in the year 1893? “An acute sense of landscape, the stylistic grace needed to make that landscape pop like a Constable painting, and characters congenial enough to draw us in.” —Locus “A delightful series of books.” —SFCrowsnest Includes a preview chapter of the conclusion of the series, Salt on the Midnight Fire

Four sisters are drawn from their ordinary lives into darker realms: “Combines stellar character work with exploration of British folklore and fairy tales.” —The Fantasy Hive Bee, Stella, Serena, and Luna are preparing for Christmas, but all is not merry and bright when fashion designer Serena’s new collection is maliciously destroyed on the eve of its debut. A wealthy man miraculously comes to the rescue—but he may be hiding something. Meanwhile, Bee has met a frightened, green-skinned child in a churchyard and offered her shelter. Is any of this connected to the magpie changeling who claims to be an angel sent to watch over Stella, or the increasingly frequent timeslips a pregnant Luna is experiencing? Something is coming for the Fallow sisters and those they love, but they don’t know what—and the siblings can’t turn to their mother for help since she’s gone wandering again. . . . Rediscover your sense of wonder in this follow-up to Comet Weather that “matches the charm, magic and lyricism of its predecessor” (The Fantasy Hive). Praise for the Fallow Sisters novels “The coolest sisters in contemporary fantasy.” —Locus “I’m on board for anything Liz Williams writes.” —SciFi Mind

Ten-year-old James and his family worry about the stigma that surrounds cannabis and the legal implications that come with growing medicine at home but, like many children his age, James just wants to invite his friends over to play. How can James and his family lead happy, sociable lives when the only medicine that helps his father is cannabis?

A book of enduring hope for families and children facing blood cancers like leukemia and bone marrow or stem cell transplant, The Junk-Bike Crew and Mattie''s Match tells the story of a creative and tough girl named Mattie and how her community of bike-riding friends search the world to find her Match.

Editor Donna Scott has scoured magazines, anthologies, webzines and obscure genre corners to discover the very best science fiction stories by British and British-based authors published during 2021. Two dozen stories, varying greatly in subject matter and style, from superb technological mystery to conflict on very alien worlds, from sweet, sad stories symptomatic of the tense times we have lived through to tales optimistic for better times to come, and even a dash of wry humour here and there for good measure. Donna Scott is a director and recent chair of the BSFA, as well as being a distinguished poet, writer, and stand-up comedian. Donna is also a free-lance editor who has worked behind the scenes for a number of major publishers over the course of several years. Contents Introduction - Donna Scott Distribution - Paul Cornell Stealthcare - Liz Williams Down and Out Under the Tannhauser Gate - David Gullen Me Two - Keith Brooke and Eric Brown The Andraiad - Tim Major Bloodbirds - Martin Sketchley Going Home - Martin Westlake Okamoto''s Lens - A.N. Myers Love in the Age of Operator Errors - Ryan Vance Stone of Sorrow - Peter Sutton Henrietta - T.H. Dray A History of Food Additives in 22nd Century Britain - Emma Levin The Trip - Michael Crouch The Ghosts of Trees - Fiona Moore The Opaque Mirror of Your Face - Russell Hemmell More Sea Creatures to See - Aliya Whiteley The End of All Our Exploring - Gary Couzens How Does My Garden Grow? - David Cleden Girls'' Night Out - Teika Marija Smits Bar Hopping for Astronauts - Leo X. Robertson In Aeturnus - Phillip Irving A Spark in a Flask - Emma Johanna Puranen A Pall of Moondust - Nick Wood About the Authors Acknowledgements

Everything You Need to Plan Your Pagan Wedding Handfasting is quickly becoming a widely practiced tradition, not only for pagans, but for people from all walks of life. This book is a thorough resource that shares rituals, sample vows, and all the information you need to plan your own ceremony or serve as a celebrant for others. In Modern Handfasting, you will discover the history, legal considerations, logistics, and magic of the big day. Author Liz Williams—a priestess and longtime celebrant—guides you through writing your vows, opening the ceremony, creating and consecrating a circle, calling the quarters, tying the knot, and closing the ceremony. You will also discover tips and stories from other couples and celebrants as well as practical information on early planning, troubleshooting unexpected problems, finding a celebrant, and performing love magic. Learn how to choose flowers, dates, and other details with magical correspondences.

An anthology featuring stories that take the reader deep into the strangeness of the landscape, where reality flickers like summer''s heat. An empty car with a door hanging open by an endless field of wheat; shimmering heat at midsummer, when something walks unseen in the sunlight; a sense of presence in the view below you as you reach the crest of a hill and look down upon... a story yet untold. Contents: Between Skin and Sea - Cat Hellisen All That Dead Beauty - Andrew Hook The White Wood - Sarah Singleton Bog Goddess - Fiona McGavin Parrot''s Drumble - Jordan Biddulph Ochre and Faience - Nerine Dorman A Hard Country to Die In - Paula Wakefield Lightening - Rose Biggin The Green Calling - Storm Constantine The Mydford Medusa - Freda Warrington Sanatorium - Grace Alice Evans The Lighthouse - Emma Coleman The Winter Wife - Kari Sperring The Road to Tempol - Wendy Darling Crabtree Field - Jessica Gilling On Venus Street - Liz Williams Work, Die, Heh Heh - Paul Houghton Borderline - J. E. Bryant Icarus Fall - John Kaiine About the Authors "Shadows on the Hillside is a sightseeing odyssey into the literary strange. The anthology is dysfunctional in all its lucidity, where summer evenings stretch and stark black hills deadstare against a blood sky at weathered sandhills and tors in a beauty of heartache and place." - Aurealis

"Great depth and a satisfyingly inventive history." -- Booklist. In the distant future, Mars monitors activity on its rival planet Nightshade with "haunt-tech" -- powerful objects possessed by spirits of the dead. When the technology reveals a threat to a young messiah, a Martian warrior attempts to protect the girl from Nightshade''s assassins. An atmospheric blend of fantasy and science fiction shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award in 2006.

A bewitching and authoritative historical overview of magic in the British Isles, from the ancient peoples of Britain to the rich and cosmopolitan landscape of contemporary paganism. “An absolute must for anyone interested in the development of paganism in the modern world. I cannot recommend this book enough.”—Janet Farrar, coauthor of A Witches’ Bible “At last, we have a history of British Paganism written from the inside, by somebody who not only has a good knowledge of the sources, but explicitly understands how Pagans and magicians think.”—Ronald Hutton, author of The Triumph of the Moon and The Witch What do we mean by “paganism”—druids, witches, and occult rituals? Healing charms and forbidden knowledge? Miracles of Our Own Making is a historical overview of pagan magic in the British Isles, from the ancient peoples of Britain to the rich and cosmopolitan landscape of contemporary paganism. Exploring the beliefs of the druids, Anglo-Saxons, and Vikings, as well as Elizabethan Court alchemy and witch trials, we encounter grimoires, ceremonial magic, and the Romantic revival of arcane deities. The influential and well-known—the Golden Dawn, Wicca, and figures such as Aleister Crowley—are considered alongside the everyday “cunning folk” who formed the magical fabric of previous centuries. Ranging widely across literature, art, science, and beyond, Liz Williams debunks many of the prevailing myths surrounding magical practice, past and present, while offering a rigorously researched and highly accessible account of what it means to be a pagan today.

KETOGENIC DIET INSTANT POT COOKBOOKCook your way to a healthy state with the dependable freestyle instant pot cookbook laden with Quick and Reliable Weight loss Recipes for Instant weight loss On a mission to make ketogenic diet more convenient, Liz Williams combines delicious low-carb recipes with the busy home cook''s favorite appliance - The Instant Pot. The Ketogenic Diet Instant Pot Cookbook is one of the authorized ketogenic diet Instant Pot cookbook for tried-and-true recipes that are ridiculously easy and fast to whip u. The ketogenic recipes outlined in this instant pot cookbook are selectively outlined to give your desired weight loss goal. The ingredient lists in ketogenic Diet Instant Pot Cookbook are refreshingly approachable, and the recipes are the clearest guides to navigating your Instant Pot or other multicooker that you''ll find. The ketogenic Diet Instant Pot cookbook is a cookbook for keto-friendly recipes, The Keto Diet Instant Pot Cookbook includes: -The Instant Pot usage with step-by-step instructions and useful tips for using the Instant Pot, how the instant pot buttons functions, the advantages of its usage and a lot more about the instant pot.-An Intro to Keto that explains the basic guidelines of the ketogenic diet, and teaches you to maximise the concept behind the ketogenic dieting.-Over 120 Satisfyingly Simple Ketogenic Diet Instant Pot Recipes that require only a few minutes to make from start to finish and the ingredients are readily available at the groceries.-Nutritional information for every recipes.-Quick question and answers as regards the instant pot to help clear some questions you have concerning the instant pot.Eliminate the stress of sticking to the ketogenic diet with the stove cooker and save more cooking time by way of using the instant pot cooker to prepare your ketogenic meal.With the instant pot, you will cook more with little time. The Ketogenic Diet Instant Pot Cookbook is here to make ketogenic diet meal prep more convenient for you!!

Most times preparing a good home-made meal seems to be very challenging for most of us especially if you are trying to follow a diet, due to our very busy schedules which doesn

Keep it keto with this guide to pre-made weeknight meals that are always ready to go A little planning and prepping go a long way toward success on the ketogenic diet. In Keto Meal Prep, you''ll make healthy, homemade keto meals a regular part of your routine with tips, lists, and instructions for preparing your meals in advance. This keto guide sets you up for success on the ketogenic diet with: Weeknight meals, ready to serve—With your meals organized and ready five days a week, sticking to a keto diet is easier than ever. Keto meal prep 101—Get a crash course on the best practices for meal prep, including batch cooking, storage tips, and finding the right schedule for you. Three meal-plan sections—Work through 10 days of meal prep for each type of plan: beginners, those who work out regularly, and longer-term keto eaters looking to maintain results. Get the keto diet book that keeps it simple with a straightforward plan for weekly meals from the ultimate keto meal prep book.

Three paranormal mysteries in an “exotic amalgam of police procedural, SF, comic fantasy, and horror . . . a delight from start to finish” (Locus). Det. Inspector Wei Chen of Singapore Three’s Thirteenth Precinct is “a detective whose beat reaches to the fringes of Heaven and Hell” (Booklist). Along with his demon partner from Hell’s vice squad, Zhu Irzh, Chen is the man to turn to for paranormal problems that are literally out of this world. Snake Agent: This “entertaining supernatural mystery” introduces an occult detective who is as serious as his beat is strange (Publishers Weekly). With a demon for his beloved wife, Det. Inspector Wei Chen possesses a comfort with the supernatural that most mortals cannot match. But his journey to Hell to find the waylaid ghost of Pearl Tang, the deceased daughter of a wealthy industrialist, will take him further into the abyss than ever before—to a mystifying place where he will need the help of a demonic detective to survive. Getting into Hell is easy. Getting out is another story. “Snake Agent combines disparate elements of Chinese mythology, urban fantasy, science fiction and mystery to create a rich milieu and a highly entertaining story.” —Jacqueline Carey, New York Times–bestselling author The Demon and the City: In this “wildly imaginative” second novel, demon Zhu Irzh has been assigned to aid the Singapore Three police department as they investigate cases that overlap this world and the world to come (Publishers Weekly). With Detective Inspector Chen on a well-deserved vacation, Zhu Irzh’s first murder case involves the savage killing of a rich would-be witch outside of the occult market. Soon he’s unearthed a supernatural conspiracy that proves Hell holds no monopoly on evil. Chen just may have to cut his vacation short. “Uniquely imaginative . . . [a] surreal fusion of Chinese mythology, paranormal high jinks, and satisfyingly suspenseful sleuthing.” —Booklist Precious Dragon: Chen and Zhu Irzh have been assigned to escort the Heavenly functionary Mi Li Qi on a diplomatic mission to the underworld. Soon after they check in to their hellish hotel, Qi vanishes into the abyss. Now they must follow her into the bowels of a demonic bureaucracy, where they will be forced to dodge all manner of otherworldly dangers if they wish to avoid a political incident with apocalyptic ramifications. “One of the most colorfully imaginative packages in recent fantasy.” —Booklist

Two paranormal mysteries in an “exotic amalgam of police procedural, SF, comic fantasy, and horror . . . a delight from start to finish” (Locus). Det. Inspector Wei Chen of Singapore Three’s Thirteenth Precinct is “a detective whose beat reaches to the fringes of Heaven and Hell” (Booklist). Along with his demon partner from Hell’s vice squad, Zhu Irzh, Chen is the man to turn to for paranormal problems that are literally out of this world. The Shadow Pavilion: An assassin is trying to kill the Emperor of Heaven, and Detective Inspector Chen does not have his demonic partner, Zhu Irzh, to fall back on. Irzh has vanished, Chen’s wife is in danger, and a psychotic Bollywood star is on the warpath. Good thing the occult detective is no stranger to chaos—because if he doesn’t restore order quickly, this could be the end of the universe. “[A] clever mix of Chinese folklore and police procedural . . . The plot zips along . . . Williams seamlessly blends the occult with modern issues like feminism and illegal immigration to create a thoroughly original fantasy.” —Publishers Weekly The Iron Khan: No mortal has ever heard of the Book. Few in Heaven even believe it is real. But Mhara, the Emperor of Heaven, knows the Book is very real, very powerful, and very much missing. It has a mind of its own, and it appears to have wandered off—taking the secrets of the universe with it. No ordinary mortal, Detective Inspector Chen has a lot on his plate: His wife is pregnant, his demonic partner is tracking the movement of an immortal horde, and he’s the only one who can retrieve the Book and restore order to the cosmos. Before all Hell breaks loose . . . “Williams continues to expand her unique future Asia, stuffing it with lively characters, chop-socky action, demonic intrigue, amazing magic, and a tasty dash of screwball comedy. This fantasy mystery adventure will delight readers who crave originality and excitement.” —Publishers Weekly

This highly accessible and much-needed resource sets out practical advice on positive behaviour management in primary schools, exploring how to support children effectively with their personal, social and emotional development. With an emphasis on implementable strategies, this book will give primary school teachers and staff an understanding as to why children may behave as they do, and what steps can be taken by the school to support a child''s development. Considering a variety of factors that influence positive behaviour, such as environment, mental health, parents, and the importance of planning, this book is full of ideas that can be dipped in and out of for support in the classroom. Bite-sized and practical, this is a perfect book for busy teachers.

Far across the sands of Mars, deep within the walls of a dead city, something stirs; an awakening that threatens to return a malice so ancient it is no longer remembered, except in darkest legend... Winterstrike is at war and the target of deadly bombardment. Even so, the last thing Canteley expects is for her mother to send her away, and in the company of her formidable aunt at that. Aunt Sulie is a member of the ruling Matriarchy, who wrap secrets around them as thick as winter snowfall. When Sulie takes her to the abandoned city of Tharsis, Cateley little imagines that the trip will unearth secrets long hidden and reveal the truth behind her own past. Recurring images of a blood red tower standing in the shadow of Olympus Mons have haunted her dreams. Now, at last, she has the chance to discover what they mean. In Phosphorus, Liz Williams returns to the harsh Mars of her critically acclaimed novels Banner of Souls (shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award) and Winterstrike, delivering a tale laden with mystery and menace, as the Red Planet''s bloody past and troubled present collide.

No muss, no fuss—easy, one-pot recipes for keeping up with the ketogenic diet on busy weeknights Figuring out what to make on busy nights can sometimes seem impossible—especially if you''re trying to follow the ketogenic diet. The One-Pot Ketogenic Diet Cookbook makes it easy to keep keto on the table every day of the week with family-friendly, one-pot meals for your skillet, slow cooker, sheet pan, stock pot, and more. With recipes ready to eat in under 45 minutes, this ketogenic diet cookbook is your go-to guide for setting the stress of staying in ketosis aside. The One-Pot Ketogenic Diet Cookbook includes: No-Mess Meals with simple-to-prep recipes using only one-pot or pan Over 100 Easy Ketogenic Diet Recipes with clear instructions for recipes such as Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole, Cheesy Cauliflower Rice, Keto Hot Fudge, and much more Quick to Set with ketogenic diet recipes ready in 30-45 minutes Simple Ingredients with less than 8 ingredients per recipe Handy Extras with cooking tips, nutritional information, and weekly menu planners to help you stay on track with the ketogenic diet Keeping things simple and delicious, The One-Pot Ketogenic Diet Cookbook helps you stay on track with the ketogenic diet and lifestyle.

Informed by the author''s wealth of practical experience, this is an essential guide to promoting positive behaviour in early years settings. It explains why children may act the way they do, describes the key factors in promoting appropriate behaviour and provides a range of easy to use techniques for improving behaviour and supporting development.

A compilation of watercolour sketches of inhabitants and welcome visitors to the UK.

A simple look into designing for fabrics and wallpaper.

En un futuro muy lejano, la mano de hierro del Matriarcado Marciano gobierna una Tierra destruida e inundada. La guerrera marciana Sueños-de-Guerra debe viajar a la Tierra para proteger a una niña especial de una amenaza desconocida. Esta niña es Lunae, una clon con un extraordinario legado, que envejece a una velocidad antinatural y tiene el talento especial de manipular el tiempo. Cuando están a punto de asesinar a su protegida, la guerrera marciana debe huir con Lunae a las islas inundadas del norte de lo que fuera Japón. Pero durante el trayecto la niña desaparece, y la guerrera decide volver a las planicies de Marte para descubrir la verdad sobre el control marciano sobre la Tierra, y la naturaleza de todos los secretos que esconde…

''Highly engaging and fascinating... this thought-provoking collection reminded me why I used to like science fiction so much... Eventually, one hopes, science fiction will regain its rightful place - as once again stranger than science.'' - The Guardian, 20 Dec 09. ''All hit, no miss... thought-provoking at worst, and stunning at best... shows that science can inspire anyone and everyone.'' – New Scientist, 5 Dec 09. ''Inspiring'' – THE, 19 Nov 09. ''A diamond of compression.'' – Financial Times, 20 Dec 09. When It Changed is an attempt to put authors and scientists back in touch with each other, to re-introduce research ideas with literary concerns, and to re-forge the alloy that once made SF great. Composed collaboratively – through a series of visits and conversations between leading authors and practicing scientists – it offers fictionalised glimpses into the far corners of current research fields, be they in nanotechnology, invertebrate physiology, particle physics, or software archaeology. From Planck''s Length (the smallest indivisible distance) to Plankton (potential saviours of the Earth''s ecosystem), from virtual encounters between Witgenstein and Turing, to future civilisations torn asunder by different readings of the Standard Model, together these stories represent a literary ''experiment'' in the true sense of the word, and endeavour to isolate a whole new strain of the SF bug. * * Featuring Sara Maitland''s ''Moss Witch'' - Runner Up in the BBC National Short Story Prize 2009.* *

In the far-distant future Vali Hallsdottir, assassin of an organisation known as the Skald, is sent on a mission to the world of Nhem. Her assignment is to eliminate the destructive patriarchal regime of the Hierolath. But shortly after her arrival, Vali finds herself betrayed by her mission partner, who is not the man he seems. Frey, once Vali''s lover, has undergone a genetic transformation to disguise himself and has his own agenda for travelling to Nhem. After Vali''s escape from the clutches of the Hierolath''s militia she goes in search of Frey in order to discover the reasons for his betrayal. Her journey takes Vali to Darkland, where sinister forces known as the vitki wreak havoc... Praise for Liz Williams and her novel BANNER OF SOULS: ''A vivid adventure . . . that lingers long after the last page is turned'' K. J. Bishop ''A gothic feast for the imagination that places Liz Williams in the first rank of visionary science fiction writers'' Charles Stross ''Liz Williams is this generation''s answer to Margaret Atwood and Sheri Tepper'' Chris Moriarty