Ouroboros

Interplanetary invasion threatens…

In Ouroboros, 3rd novel of the trilogy ‘Where Giants Sleep‘, it’s 14 years in the future, and the second Scitha invasion is imminent. This time, there seems to be no hope of survival for the nature-loving peoples of the Rift. Daughter Leah Esvane, now aged 21, is more gifted even than her mother, the Witch Queen Caia. Equally feisty and passionate, she is very like her mother, and with whom she agrees on nothing. Caia’s youngest daughter, Asha, is now the troubled teenager. Fire-witch Asha is jealous of her older sister, only adding to Caia’s problems.

In desperation, Caia asks Leah to mind-join with the Scitha fleet. She must search for a Navigator to help disable the primary weapon systems and to buy some time. Leah will be there in thought only but her wyvern, Whiteflame, must destroy the primary weapon system.

The return of the emperor

Former ruler of City 5, Hedra Darke returns from the Outlands and finds her city much changed. She discovers her daughter Electra still lives but has surrendered her sight and joined the blind inhabitants of the city. Hedra also discovers she’s a grandmother… She tries to persuade Electra to re-arm City 5. Electra reluctantly agrees to allow Hedra back into her life, but demands that she first travel to Centuria to rescue the father of Electra’s son, Jacob.

Hedra makes the long journey across the Outlands to the centurion fortress as a powerful ice-storm arrives. Many land-ships are sheltering inside as the flagship of Centurion Commander Hol Xan arrives with a fresh consignment of slaves. Amongst them is Timor Rohan, the self-styled Feeler King. Hedra locates Hol Xan as he is about to rape and strangle a young slave from the rift. She leaves him blinded and dying. Hedra also rescues a female gladiator, Nivalus, who has been repeatedly tortured by Hol Xan.

She learns that Hol Xan possesses Essence and has been keeping her alive. The Feeler King becomes commander and forms a pact with Hedra before she returns by land-ship with Den Zobe, Nivalus and the Rift family that helped her. On the way, Hedra witnesses the falling debris from the Emperor Stone.

Caia knows of the location of the ancient Electro-Magnetic Pulse weapon that defeated the first invasion. And if using the same technology as City 5, maybe it will still work. But no one knows how to activate it. Someone must return to the time of the original invasion, but even Caia doesn’t possess the power. Leah alone can make such a journey, and it will be a one-way trip.

As the Scitha war begins, Leah seeks a host living 17,000 years in the past and mind-joins with fighter pilot Leanne Tai. Leah must find the secret of the pulse weapon, but first must come to terms with man-hungry Leanne. And with the added complication of falling in love with Squadron Leader John Mack, the father of Leanne’s unborn child… Just like an ouroboros – a snake eating its tail.

Find out more about the ‘Where Giants Sleep’ trilogy – EMERGENCE, SECOND DAWN, and OUROBOROS.