While we’re all waiting for Necropolis, the next book in the Royal Sorceress series by Christopher Nuttall – published next month – we can unveil the cover art.
In the covers of the first two books in the series we have seen Lady Gwendolyn Crichton grow up from a sheltered seventeen year-old girl suddenly thrust into the Royal Sorcerers Corps as Master Thomas’ apprentice, to become the Royal Sorceress although she had hardly even started her training.
But now, as the British Empire is teetering on the brink of war with France – a war that may, for the first time, see magicians in the ranks on both sides – Gwen will be responsible for the Empire’s magical resources when the time comes. Still struggling to overcome prejudice within the Royal College of Sorcerers, she has at least earnt the gratitude of much of the aristocracy, if not their respect. Just when she needs to be firmly focussed on training new sorcerers, her adopted daughter Olivia, the only known living necromancer, is kidnapped. Her abduction could signal a terrible new direction in the impending war. But Intelligence soon establishes that it was Russian agents who took Olivia, so an incognito Gwen joins a British diplomatic mission to Russia, an uncertain element in the coming conflict. Once she has arrived in St Petersburg, she discovers that the Tsar is deranged and with the help of a mad monk has a plan that threatens the entire world.
Can’t wait? The eBook edition of Necropolis be available from the 8th August, the print edition from 10th November.