Acknowledgments

Book Two means even more people to thank! Pip Klimentou remains committed to waking the household with her daily call, for which I am indebted to her. Friend Paul Meehan has created a terrific website—please visit soon. Sonya Caddy is warmly welcomed as draft reader, alongside the much appreciated Anne Maddox. Plenty of other people have been fantastically supportive—too many to list here, but I hope they know how much I appreciate their continuing enthusiasm—particularly Graham Richards, my lovely brother; Kim Bleeker, my ‘other brother’; and Lynne Schinella, whom I think truly believes in my magic and the importance of fairy dust!

My editor, Nicola O’Shea, is not only a joy to work with but is supremely talented at her craft—I am fortunate indeed. Thank you to all at HarperCollins, especially to Linda Funnell and Stephanie Smith for their support. I’m in some awe of the fact that Robin Hobb and Sara Douglass are associated with this trilogy and I will be forever grateful for their generous comments and encouragement.

Finally, to the wonderful and sometimes eccentric trinity I share my life with. May I voice once again my love and thanks to Will and Jack, who keep pulling me back from Tallinor into the reality of family life, but especially—and always—to Ian.

Fx.