AustLit

'When a fire is deliberately lit in the city of Quentaris, Nisha Fairsight and her minstrel friend Tal investigate and soon uncover a plot threatening its inhabitants. Adding to the city’s woes is the threat of invasion from the vicious, insect-like Zolka, who are making it even more dangerous than usual to pass through the rift caves.

'Nisha must discover her fire-magic heritage and her place in Quentaris. Will she be able to save the city and her friends?' (Publication summary)

'Tab Vidler is an orphan who works for the Dung Brigade, sweeping the streets of Quentaris. One day she meets a mysterious stranger called Azt Marossa and before long she is helping him escape from the Archon's guards and avoid Duelph and Nibhelline sword fighters. Most importantly of all, she's finding out what really happened to her heroine, the Perfect Princess, who fled Quentaris years ago... ' (Publication summary)

'Rad is a street lad who yearns to belong to the Thieves’ Guild. More than anything he would love to be a guide to heroes journeying to the rift caves—but he knows this is well beyond his capabilities.

'It’s while Rad is watching out for the infamous skycrawlers—raiders from the rift caves—that his chance to become anything he wants is offered to him. He steals aboard a skyship and finds a map pertaining to the rift caves.

'He escapes the craft and shows his ‘hard science’ map to a famous fence, who then dies mysteriously. Rad realises that the map is worth a lot more than he’d anticipated.

'With the stablemaster’s daughter, Tulcia, he sets off to explore the famous scar rift—a rift cave said to be an urban myth. Here he finds all the proof he needs that the ancient race called the Hamil actually existed.

'But before he can claim what is his by birthright, he must escape the Thieves’ Guild and the notorious Vindon Nibhelline.Only then will he be proclaimed the greatest guide since his ancestor, the famous Nathine.' (Publication summary)

'When a fire is deliberately lit in the city of Quentaris, Nisha Fairsight and her minstrel friend Tal investigate and soon uncover a plot threatening its inhabitants. Adding to the city’s woes is the threat of invasion from the vicious, insect-like Zolka, who are making it even more dangerous than usual to pass through the rift caves.

'Nisha must discover her fire-magic heritage and her place in Quentaris. Will she be able to save the city and her friends?' (Publication summary)

'Yukin and his mate, Yulen, flee their campsite when Akcarum slave-traders attack. Unable to escape the Akcarum hunter birds, they are caught and transported to Quentaris. On their journey through the rift caves Yukin discovers a power that taps into the senses of insects and animals. But can it save them in time?' (Publication summary)

'Who is stealing the stones of Quentaris? With Quentaris preparing for the annual Carnivale celebration, Jaq Coblin is thrown into an adventure with four mysterious strangers, powerful magic and a horde of barbarians made of sand. What can Jaq do but use his wits and hold on tight?' (Publication summary)

'An ancient stalker prowls Quentaris. He seeks to destroy a powerful book of spells, and has defeated the Murderer’s Guild, the City Watch, and the City Militia. No one is safe, or so it seems, until a student called Zelder translates a spell that could be the key to his undoing…' (Publication summary)

Eely is the lonely, simple-minded younger sister of one of the Quentaris city guards. She dreams of becoming a fearless rift guide, but knows there is no hope of her dream coming true. Then comes a rain-filled day when she rescues an enormous and beautiful winged man in the rift caves. From that moment on, nothing will ever be the same for Eely again…' (Publication summary)

'Rad de La’rel is about to sign a trade agreement with the devious Fendonians when he is captured by sky pirates. Sold into slavery, he becomes a pawn to the all-conquering dragonlords of Udari. When he returns to Quentaris it has been invaded by the very creatures Rad has escaped from. Worse – nearly every citizen is wearing a slave’s neck collar. Can the famous Quentaran rift guide release his people from the grip of the invaders?' (Publication summary)

'Can one boy change the course of Quentaran history?

Torrad, a young peasant, has uncovered an evil plot unfolding in Quentaris. Help comes from many quarters: a young contessa, a crippled town crier, a wolf-hound, the roach people, and Torrad's own hidden talents…' (Publication summary)

'Adyren Worthing longs to be anything but what she is: an apprentice in the League of Bibliophiles. But master thief does not figure in her daydreams. When she is accused of stealing, no one, not even her own family, believes her claims of innocence. To uncover the truth, she must travel to another world and discover the terrible secret of her birth.' (Publication summary)

'But on the last night of the Three-Day Dark, some said they saw a shape in the starry sky, a black void, where no star shone, a void in the shape of a rat…

'Is this a warning of fantastical events to befall Quentaris? What part do the rat children, Anton and Vega, play in this horror? Is this the final calamity that will destroy the mighty city?' (Publication summary)

'Like her father and mother before her, Merrith is apprenticed to become an assassin with the Murderers' Guild. But Merrith is hopeless with a dagger and sword, inept at mixing poison, and doesn't like the idea of killing people anyway. Then a prophecy from the Soothsayers' Guild says Merrith must join an expedition to the rift caves, or Quentaris will be destroyed. Can Merrith save Quentaris - even if it means she must become a professional murderer?'

Source: The Quentaris Chronicles website, http://www.quentaris.com/books_murderers.htm
Sighted: 13/07/2005

'Arna Greentower and her Old Tree Guesthouse are experiencing difficult times. Employees mysteriously disappear, deliveries go astray and business is faltering. Arna's foster-daughter Nisha, a fire magician, and her friend Tal are determined to uncover the secrets behind a forbidden room in the guesthouse and the memory-eating powers of its menacing occupant. But he is only one of Arna 's enemies. Former business rival and fugitive Gorv Vildish is back in Quentaris and looking for revenge.'

Source: The Quentaris Chronicles website, http://www.quentaris.com/books_nightmare.htm
Sighted: 13/07/2005

'When a dreadful curse descends on Quentaris Tamaika uncovers an ancient book that bestows magical powers on the finder. She transforms into the mythical Princess of Shadows, but is she strong enough to control such power? And will Tamaika be able to lift the curse that turns citizens into stone?'

Source: The Quentaris Chronicles website, http://www.quentaris.com/books_princess_shadows.htm
Sighted: 13/07/2005

'A strange, mind-numbing fog shrouds Quentaris and a cat that is more than it seems enters the city. It is a dangerous time in Quentaris. Before it is over, the city and its magical rift caves will face destruction. It is up to Igorik and the girl who visits him in his dreams to do all they can to save Quentaris and its inhabitants...'

Source: The Quentaris Chronicles website, http://www.quentaris.com/books_cat_dreamer.htm
Sighted:13/07/2005

'A missing star? A fabulous reward? Nisha and Tal are ready for adventure!

'With the well-meaning assistance of Tal’s musical mentor Esbandalon, Nisha and Tal are matched against hordes of other treasure seekers in a helter-skelter race to find a missing celestial visitor. But first they must face pursuit by Voiceless Rin and his brigade of ruffians.' (Publication summary)

'Joshi is a disappointment to those around him. Born into the powerful Nibhelline family, he prefers growing flowers to living up to the family name. So when Joshi meets Abelha, and learns of the existence of a mysterious green flower beyond an unexplored rift, he finally has a chance to earn his family's respect. But first he and Abelha must journey into an exotic world where trees reach into the sky, unicorns feed in ferny groves and unexpected dangers lie in wait for the unwary ... ' (Publication summary)

' ‘I know of a land of giants, where one man could wipe out all the people in leprechaun land with a single sneez,’ boasts Heaney.

'He soon regrets his words, for when Finnegan, king of the leprechauns, ventures through the rift caves to see this dangerous land for himself. he is taken prisoner by the giants! Heaney and the other leprechauns set out in a valiant attempt to rescue their king. But can these tiny warriors possibly overpower the mighty giants of Quentaris?' (Publication summary)

'Kiall and Eena’s father has been thrown in prison for failure to repay merchants for goods lost in a series of disastrous shipwrecks. Desperate to save him, their only option is to go fortune-hunting in the rift caves – but they can’t afford a guide. Kiall decides to sneak onto a pirate ship and travel through the caves. If he can just steal gold from the pirates and bring it back, all will be saved …' (Publication summary)

'[In this last book in] Series One of the Quentaris Chronicles... Nisha and Tal are faced with a challenge that threatens all Quentaris - but one where the response needs to come from the entire city...'

(Source: The Quentaris Chronicles website, http://www.quentaris.com (Sighted 19/02/2008)