The Braided Path: Weavers of Saramyr Bk. 1 - Tapa dura

A richly textured, darkly evocative fantasy set in a beautifully realised fantasy world, the Saramyr trilogy tells the story of an empire that rules over a land being overwhelmed by evil. An evil that comes from within the empire's centre, a sect of magicians close to the throne intent on killing any child born with magical powers. But now the empress has given birth to just such a child and revolution is brewing. Akin to the works of Robin Hobb, this is a hugely involving fantasy set in a world with an enticing oriental flavour.

Chris Wooding is only 26 yet he has already signed his first Hollywood film deal and won the Silver Smarties award. He is the author of, amongst others, the Broken Sky series and The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray. He studied English Literature at Sheffield and played lead guitar in a band called Otherwise.