About the Book
A young harling comes of age in the ruined City of Ghosts, unaware of his heritage and the secrets his father has kept for so long. In the city of Immanion, Calanthe has ousted Thiede from power and a new age has dawned for Wraeththukind; the reverberations of its arrival shake every corner of the earth. In the wake of this event, a remarkable child is conceived, affected by weird energies to become something more than the sum of his parents. The Tigron, Pellaz, is faced with the dilemma that something huge and terrifying threatens the new race of Wraeththu, just as it is trying to establish itself in the ruins of human civilisation. It is a threat from beyond earthly reality, and it is searching for avatars to work in its name. The Forest of Gebaddon is about to spew forth its captives, the disempowered Varrs. Their leader, Ponclast, is about to be transformed into a foe worthy of taking on the Tigron himself. The warring factions of Wraeththu must unite to protect their world, and Pellaz must venture into unimaginable new territories. Will he make the ultimate sacrifice to protect his people?
About the Author :
Since The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit first appeared in 1987 (and long before that), Storm Constantine's "cauldron" has produced a phantasmagoric array of creative works, everything from her best known piece, the Wraeththu trilogy, to Andrew Collins-inspired works like the Grigori trilogy and Burying the Shadow, on down to fantastic visions like Calenture, non-fiction books like Egyptian Birth Signs, and dozens of short stories. To read one of Storm's books is to enter a world where there is much more than meets the eye and mysteries lie at the heart of things. Magic is essential, and sexuality, often of the forbidden variety, yields not only pleasure but a means of altering reality and opening up the doors to these mysteries. Storm's different races and cultures-- the Wraeththu, the Grigori, the Eloim, the Artemesians, and more -- all struggle with balancing magic with the everyday, maintaining harmony in their own world while pushing open the doors to worlds less known, although sometimes far more ancient or exotic. In recent years Storm has returned to the world of Wraeththu with a roar and cry, creating a second trilogy that interlocks with and then continues the story of the original. The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure, the first book in the series, was published in 2003 to acclaim by fans, and the second book, The Shades of Time and Memory, appeared in 2004. The final book in the new series, The Ghosts of Blood and Innocence, is set for U.S. and U.K. release in 2005. Storm has also written a new stand-alone Wraeththu novella, The Hienama, to be published this year by Immanion Press. In 2003 Storm began new chapter in her life, starting up a new publishing company called Immanion Press, which has put out editions of books in her out-of-print back catalog, U.K. editions of her latest works, as well as "Wraeththu Mythos" novels and works by other authors, both seasoned authors (Ian Watson, Freda Warrington, etc.) and new faces. IP's first release was an edited, deluxe edition of The Enchantments of Flesh and Spirit, followed by new editions of The Bewitchments of Love and Hate and The Fulfilments of Fate and Desire. All three books are re-edited with cover and interior artwork by Ruby as well as expanded, updated appendices. In 2003, IP released the first "Wraeththu Mythos" novel, Breeding Discontent (Oct. 2003), by Wendy Darling and Bridgette Parker. Another major Wraeththu project coming out of Immanion Press is From Enchantments to Fulfilment, a Wraeththu role-playing game. Storm has also been busy with conventions, after some years away. It began in October 2003, when Storm and her friends held Grissecon 1, the first ever Wraeththu convention in Stafford, England. This was a great success, and in 2004 was repeated as part of the huge Dragon*Con fantasy convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, where it had its own programme track. In 2004 Storm was "Author Guest of Honor" at Lunacon, the annual convention of the New York Science Fiction Society; Storm will make a repeat appearance in 2005 as she and associates offer more "Grissecon" programming.
Review :
"Storm Constantine is a mythmaking, Gothic queen, whose lush tales are compulsive reading. Her stories are poetic, involving, delightful, and depraved. I wouldn't swap her for a dozen Anne Rices!" --Neil Gaiman on the Wraeththu series
"Constantine delivers a complicated and ultimately engaging novel sure to be embraced."--"Publishers Weekly" on "The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure"
"Storm Constantine is a literary fantast of outstanding power and originality."--Michael Moorcock on the Wraeththu series
"Constantine is a tremendously impressive novelist."--Locus on "The Wraiths of Will and Pleasure"
