Starchild

The foreshadowing of a dark future threatens the seven nations of Sahas. Mai is selected to train with the mysterious elemental master Sah Dohba, who will prepare her to become the protector of the desert lands. Her brother Long steps forward to travel with her as her chaperone to the Valley of a Thousand Thoughts. A mysterious encounter brings them together with Akra, the Starchild. The trio travels on into a battle with the elements. Sandstorms. Deadly creatures. Starvation. Then a chance meeting with powerful earth follower sets them on a new path where they must each find the strength to face a terrifying foe from the Underworld.

With a new addition to their journey, a sealer boy who is bound by the collar of slavery, Mai, Long, and Akra escape the clutches of the sand slavers and then vicious Melkarie beasts. They travel to Naroan — the forest lands of the soulbankers, the regulators of life and death. Against the backdrop of rules and suspicion, the children are challenged with unravelling the mystery of the Silvershade, which has been calling to Akra from the moment he arrived in the forest city. But Long is tormented by his own doubts — he must face a deadly power from the Underworld before it takes him into the darkness.

DOES POWER SHAPE THE USER, OR DOES THE USER SHAPE THE POWEREscaping Araxis and his Balandran forces has trapped Kaphri and the Geffitzi warriors in the South. For the warriors, the return to empty holds and caers while their people battle for survival in the North is a bitter triumph. Their only option is to help Kaphri confront the force that is ruthlessly driving her deeper into their lost lands in the hope that she, in turn, can take down the barrier Araxis created to divide their world But powerful forces are moving against them, some of which they are not even aware. The ancient Wyxa, who dwell in the vast swamp known as the Palenquemas, remember the history of the world, and they consider Araxis a minor threat compared to what is moving in the darkness at the edge of their existence. They certainly don't view Kaphri and the warriors as capable of defeating that threat. The Swampdwellers are only interested in maintaining things in their current state and they are willing to sacrifice the Geffitzi warriors, Gemma, and Kaphri to achieve that balance. Bobbie Falin wields magic, thwarts evil forces, pilots sleek ships through space, drinks and carouses with aliens in shabby station bars, and wanders the worlds of other writers with wide-eyed wonder-in her head. Here on Earth, well that's different. Here, she records Kaphri's adventures in the Starchild Series, stows away on the Thief's Hand, and complicates Gideon Rhue and Mei's life in Deformation. She still feeds the local stray cats who show up for breakfast and dinner every day, and, yes, it's unreservedly true; if there were a space program to explore the stars, She'd be first in line.

After finding the Silvershade and escaping the attacking forces as the Wilder Forest city was scorched to the ground, Mai, Akra and Kalin must now face the evil that has consumed Long. When they reach the land of Cruscar and enter the ice city of Algus, the children are confronted with an ice challenge to win an audience with Queen Isolda. A treacherous journey now awaits them if they are to reach the Healing Stone to save Long. But Piceptus, the underworld king, will not give up his search and he will do anything to bring the pilgrims' journey to an end. The children grow stronger as they begin to master their powers, but will this be enough to escape this danger and continue on their pilgrimage to fulfil the prophecy?

With a treacherous ice journey behind them and Long's health restored by the Healing Stone, Mai, Akra, and Kalin must now find the falcon guard called Tupuck in the fireruler's city of Calor. It's not long before they discover the city is ruled by a ruthless governor who has captured the falcon guard and the daughter of Ignis. The four children become soldiers in a rebellion and aid in a plan to free the falcon guard and Ignis's daughter. All the while the dark force of Piceptus continues to gather strength. As the children fight in the rebellion, Piceptus increases his position and readies himself to receive an even greater army. Will the information the falcon guard holds help to bring the children closer to fulfilling the prophecy and stop Piceptus from conquering all of the nations?