The Blackbird and the Ghost

PRAISE FOR THE BLACKBIRD AND THE GHOST: "full of imagination... over far too soon" - Beauty In Ruins ★★★★★ - "a real page-turner" - The Voracious Bibliophile The Boiling Seas are the mariner's bane - and the adventurer's delight. The waters may be hot enough to warp wood and boil a hapless swimmer, but their scalding expanse is full of wonders. Strange islands lurk in the steamy mists, and stranger ruins hold ancient secrets, remnants of forgotten empires waiting for the bold... or lying in wait for the unwary. On the Corpus Isles, gateway to the Boiling Seas, Tal Wenlock, the Blackbird, seeks a fortune of his own. The treasure he pursues could change the world - but he just wants to change a single life, and it's not his own. To reach it, he'll descend into the bowels of the earth and take ship on burning waters, brave dark streets and steal forbidden knowledge. He'll lie, cheat, steal and fight - but he won't get far alone. The ghosts of Tal's past dog his every step - and one in particular keeps his knives sharp. The Blackbird will need help to reach his goal... and he'll need all his luck to get back home alive. Hûw Steer is an author, historian and sketch comedian from London. You may have seen him with the UCL Graters at the Edinburgh Fringe, read his theses on ancient Roman science-fiction, or even read one of his short stories. You probably haven't, but at least you're reading this. Hûw has previously been published in 'Making Monsters' (The Future Fire, 2018), and the UCL Publisher's Prize anthologies for 2018 and 2016. This is his first published novel. You can reach him at [email protected], and read more of his work at huwsteer.wordpress.com.