A hundred years ago, the armies of the Suni Empire crossed the seas and set foot in the Ravengard, ending its two millennia of splendid isolation. Today, they continue to advance into its untamed wilderness, their soldiers, bankers, builders and settlers eager to bring the light of civilisation to the native barbarians and transport them into the modern world. That the Ravenfolk are perfectly happy with things the way they are, and have no desire to abandon their semi-nomadic lifestyle, is only a minor detail.
After decades of conflict an uneasy truce has been established between the two peoples, a truce which satisfies no-one. The Suni leaders impatiently wait to complete their colonisation, but the Ravenfolk are keen to ensure no more land is lost to the invaders. Much of the southern Ravengard is now firmly a part of the Empire, and pioneer towns and cities stretch deep into the untamed interior.
On the Frontier, the lines blur. Suni and Raven live in a state of uneasy cooperation, trading and negotiating with each other whilst always watching for a knife in the back. But simply surviving in the untamed outback, far from the security of civilisation, may demand trust in ancestral enemies that neither peoples are ready to place. Prejudices must be confronted, old certainties questioned, and new ways explored, if peace is ever to return to the Ravengard.
Chloe wants to show the kingdom of Sarias, where music is everything, that song should be filled with emotion and passion. But living in the shadow of her popstar step-sister, she has no choice but to hide who she is, even when her voice captures Prince Ethan Alexander's heart...
*****
In the kingdom of Sarias, popularity and worth are defined by a ranking on Musetunes. Music is how every Ace in the land discovers their mate. Only when two Aces sing to each other can they find their true love. Chloe Leighton has decided to give singing a try - as long as no one finds out who she is. There is no profile picture. No age. No name. Just Anonymous. That's how she must stay. But can she hide her identity when she gets to the top of the charts?
[[word count: 70,000-80,000 words]]
Cover designed by April Alforque