Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The Northlands are dying. Only the Czar has the power to halt the destruction and he refuses.
The young witch, Shingebiss, believes that if she can 'spell' the Czar, the northlands can still be saved.
In her innocence, she little understands that the Imperial palace is a place of treachery and murder, ruled by a half-mad Czar with a mind 'like a broken mirror, reflecting many things and all crookedly.'
The Czar welcomes Shingebiss at first. Her magical skills cause him to mistake her for an angel, sent from God to advise him. She is hopeful of influencing him.
But the Czar fears death more than he loves God or angels. A favourite at his court is the English wizard, Master Jenkins, who has promised that he will find an elixir to make the Czar immortal.
Master Jenkins is jealous of Shingebiss, fearing she will unmask him as a fraud. He devises a plan to be rid of her and win reward from the Czar at the same time. He tells the Czar that he has discovered the elixir of immortality - and the most vital ingredient is the blood of an angel.
The Czar orders the elixir to be made immediately, even if it means his angel's death.
Shingebiss arrived at the court to save the northlands - but at the court she is surrounded by jealousy, fear and hatred. Can she escape with her life?
If you like intense, dark fantasies, then you'll love Susan Price's sinister take on fairy-tales, Ghost Dance.
Buy Ghost Dance to walk with angels and devils today
Synopsis
The young witch, Shingebiss, believes she can 'spell' the Czar and make him save her beloved Northlands from destruction.
In her innocence, she little understands that the Imperial Palace is a place of treachery and murder, ruled by a madman with a mind like 'a broken mirror, reflecting all things crookedly.'
At first the Czar takes Shingebiss for an angel, sent to him by God, and welcomes her. But none of her spells seem able to blunt his greed and cruelty.
Shingebiss has a rival at court who hates her -- the English wizard, Master Jenkins, who pretends to the Czar that he can summon demons.
Fearing that Shingebiss will unmask him, Master Jenkins plans to be rid of her. He tells the Czar that he can make him an Elixir of Immortality. The most potent ingredient is the blood of an angel.
The Czar orders the elixir made immediately.
h5>Can Shingebiss save the Northlands?Can she save her own life?An intense, Gothic fantasy
Susan Price is an acclaimed writer for young people. The first book in the Ghost World sequence, The Ghost Drum, won the prestigious Carnegie medal.