Quin Black, an influential military-government liaison, and John, a top scientist and mathematician, are pulled in to help with the investigation of Chair Aderick’s death, and quickly discover that something much more sinister is going on—and have to consider that the Clock of Legend might not be just a legend.
Meanwhile, Auvek Oliphant has just shown up for an internship at his uncle’s bookstore—only to discover his uncle is unprepared, unwelcoming, and incompetent at best. So when his uncle is arrested for drunken and disorderly behavior, it’s a bit of a relief. Perhaps he can bring some respectability back to this business, which has been in the family for generations.
But it turns out, it’s not that simple, between the sudden appearances of a local gang leader in the store, a robot monkey, a curious reporter searching for a good story, and a secret Door hidden inside the establishment which leads to a room filled with mysterious ancient texts.
Not to mention Bronwyn, a woman who comes into the shop shortly after Auvek’s arrival, looking for books about the secrets of the Clock of Legend, and with a very odd tale about being stalked by her aunt’s butler.
Yes, something strange is going on—but it’s going to take a lot of digging and a little luck to figure out precisely what.
This portal fiction novel is the second in the Zirian Chronicles series. Content warnings can be found on the copyright page.
Ariele Sieling is a Pennsylvania-based writer who enjoys books, cats, and trees. Her first love, however, is science fiction and fantasy, and she has four series in the genres: post-apocalyptic monsters in Land of Szornyek; soft science fiction series, The Zirian Chronicles; scifi fairytale retellings in Rove City; and future fantasy trilogy, Aria's Song. She has numerous short stories published in a variety of anthologies and magazines and is the author of children's books series Rutherford the Unicorn Sheep, and publishes non-fiction books about writing and publishing under the name A.J. Sieling.
She lives with her spouse, enormous Great Pyrenees dog, and three cats.
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