The Tainted Realm 01. Vengeance

The first volume in Ian Irvine's new fast-paced fantasy adventure series Ten years ago, two children witnessed a murder. Tali saw two people kill her mother, and though she is only a slave in underground Cython, she has sworn revenge. She may be nothing to those who live above ground, but she will bring the killers to justice.Rix, heir to Hightspall's greatest fortune, watched as two masked figures murdered a woman for reasons he still doesn't understand. Even now, he is haunted by the killing.Tali's escape from slavery leads to war with Hightspall and, when she is rescued by Rix, they're hunted through a land in chaos. As Tali and Rix set out to unravel the mystery behind her mother's death, Rix is tormented by sickening premonitions that he too will commit murder - Tali's murder.Within days, Hightspall is close to defeat. The only way to save the realm is to unmask and defeat the killer. But how can Tali avenge herself on a sorcerer who died two thousand years ago?Praise for Ian Irvine:'A compelling adventure in a landscape full of wonders' Locus'A page-turner of the highest order ... Formidable!' SFX'Epic, non-stop action adventure' Starburst A story of a betrayal, murder and a girl's hunt for justice in a world where two peoples are divided and where mistrust can only lead to war.