Shadow Sister is a fantasy novel set in a far-distant future on Earth. The Empire where the story runs is low-tech, but magic based on singing is common. Its society is cultured and broadly peaceful, but slavery is normal and displays of wealth are ostentatious and expected. The Empire may be comparable to a number of ancient empires - Byzantium, Ghana, Egypt, Babylon, Atlantis...
The story is told in three interweaving parts:
The first is the past story of Sai, a girl sold into slavery and bought by a powerful couple, who use her as a tool in their power games. We see her from birth till her eventual freedom, and we learn about her and the world where she has to live as she does.
The second is the story of Saiyali the ex-slave, who finds that her skills, talents and experience - also the people she meets - push her into a life as a dancer, thief and finally assassin - a member of the mythical Sisterhood of Shadows.
The third is a book-within-a-book entitled ''The Pocket Guide to the Empire'' which gives snippets of information about the setting in which the story takes place.
Shadow Sister is the first in a set of three of books set in the Empire and the lands around it. The second, ''Voidstone'' is available on Smashwords.
The third, ''Wanderer Returns'' is scheduled for publication during Spring 2017; watch this space.