Summary
Named Best First Novel by Locus
'Twas a time when dragons left their lair and evil shadowed the land....
On the Day of Reckoning, the witches of Eileanan were outlawed--and violations of the new order were punishable by death. Eileanan's Great Towers, once meccas of magic and learning, were left in ruins. And now, the entire land trembles in fear....
Yet deep in the mountains, in the shadow of Dragonclaw, a young girl is being tutored in the old ways. Ignorant of her past, uncertain of her future, the foundling Isabeau will soon be forced down a dangerous path of prophesy, conspiracy, and magic. It is a world where dragons possess the key to ancient mysteries...where a lost prince will discover a strange and wondrous destiny...and where the ultimate battle between good and evil will be waged....
A new Day of Reckoning is at hand....
She is an Australian author who is well known for her historical novel Bitter Greens, which won the Historical Fiction category on the American Literary Association 2015 Reading List. She is the author of several children's books including The Gypsy Crown, The Puzzle Ring, The Starthorn Tree, The Wildkin's Curse, The Starkin Crown, and Dragon Gold. She has also published two heroic fantasy series, The Witches of Eileanan and Rhiannon's Ride, the poetry collection Radiance, and the novel Full Fathom Five under her maiden name, Kate Humphrey. Her more recent books include Vasilisa the Wise and Tales of Other Brave Young Women, and The Silver Well, which won the 2017 Aurealis Award for the best Australian collection.
(Bowker Author Biography)