AustLit

'A young queen who rules seven kingdoms is far too busy and important to leave her palace, so her loyal subjects send gifts from far and wide: monkeys, flamingoes, giraffes, exotic fruits...But the thing she longs for most of all has never survived the journey.

'Who can bring the Queen her heart's desire? Only Bartlett has the inventiveness, desperation and perseverence to complete the task. Does the Queen have patience enough to keep her side of the bargain?

'A flamboyant adventure story, full of atmosphere, wit and suspense, by the author of Antonio S and the Mystery of Theodore Guzman.' (Publication summary)

'The explorer Bartlett and his sidekicks, the young Gozo and Jacques le Grand emerge from the Margoulis Caverns only to be captured by guards from the City of the Sun. But when city's leader, the Pasha, lays eyes on Gozo, he is convinced that the young boy is actually his own son, who has been captured by the mysterious Underground people. In order to get Gozo back, Bartlett must get the Pasha's real son back from the underground City of Flames, where the "Ahsap" will only release him if Bartlett brings him his greatest desire, the sun. By using Ingenuity, Perseverance and Desperation, Bartlett and Jacques save the day once again.' (Publication summary)

'Stay close, Bartlett whispered. Gozo rolled his eyes. What did Bartlett think he was going to do? The bird calls and rustling continued all around them. Branches swayed, shadows wavered. Was that a person flitting past them over there? Or there? Or there? When Bartlett, Gozo and Jacques le Grand arrive on an island far off in the ocean, they have no idea what they ll find. Awaiting them are four kings, a towering volcano, and a strange, shadowy man who appears in a flash of light and disappears in a cloud of smoke. And underlying everything is a dark secret that no one will reveal. As the volcano comes to life, the three explorers must use all their legendary Inventiveness, Desperation and Perseverance and all the help they can get to uncover the truth and find their way home. Another gripping Bartlett adventure from Odo Hirsch.' (Publication summary)