Starstone: Book One: Legends of The Lower Realm

by Tess Burnett

Something evil is threatening the Lower Realm, magical land of myths and legends. Or, to put it more accuarately, somebody. Grand Mage Skullamus Blis believes his rightful place is as supreme overlord, and he has no scruples about how he achieves that goal. Vastly talented, inordinately vain, and capable of the most heinous of acts, he must first gain possession of the Starstone and its four shards. Ruby Nonesuch believes she is useless, wracked by feelings of futility and self-doubt. And even worse, her red hair hints of Khellig ancestry. But when her best friend Archie is snatched, together with his newly discovered twin brother, Ruby throws off her demons and is propelled on a journey to Am-Bhatheir, home of the Guild of Mages, in an attempt to find him. Two people as unalike as night and day, yet could their destinies be linked? Will Ruby find Archie, or will she find something more, something she couldn’t possibly have imagined? Meet a cast of colourful characters, explore the captivating places that enrich this diverse land, and uncover the legends for which the Lower Realm is so renowned.

542 pages, Paperback

Published January 5, 2021

About the author

Tess is a late bloomer. She has always loved writing, but only started writing seriously in her late 50s.

The Hanging of Hettie Gale was written whilst Tess lived in Ireland. She self published, then entered the Dorchester Literary Festival local writers' competition which she won. Now available in a shiny new version through Bloodhound Books.

Tess currently lives in Dorset and works as a medical secretary, dreaming about the day she can write full time. She has written four more books in various stages of completion, and has a head full of ideas yet to hit the page.