Lucy Branch
Terrifying and thrilling, this book will take everything you think you know about alchemy and turn it on its head.
Abigail Argent is a skilled craftsman. Her particular talent lies in seeing the beauty in a plain piece of metal and being able to draw it out. When she comes across a book that links her craft with the ancient myth of alchemy, she's intrigued. While working in Venice, Abigail continues to discover more about the history of her trade while making friends, and a lover, whose lives become inextricably linked with her own. Digging deeper, she discovers that innocent research can lead to dangerous places. Delving into one of Italy's darkest secrets, curiosity comes at a price that no-one should have to pay.
If you like a conspiracy theory that walks the line between science and myth, you'll love A Rarer Gift Than Gold.
THE FANTASY GUIDE says " Branch obviously makes a fantastic entry into professional fantasy writing"
Featured on Radio 4, Time Out London and The BBC World Service
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Discover More About The Golden Illuminati
Robert Fitzpatrick is a member of The Golden Illuminati but he has a grudge. Abigail Argent remains their number one person of interest, but guilt and fear over what happened last year, mean she’s struggling to know how to move forward with her life. When handsome architect, Robert, offers her a helping hand, she’s naturally suspicious, but with very few options open to her, he persuades her to give him a chance.
Characters old and new come together to help her gain control of the gift that flashed into existence last and form a plan to combat the most formidable secret society in history.
As Abigail’s begins to learn more about her strange relationship with metal, and the Underworld she never knew existed. Robert’s relationship with Abigail is going in a direction he could never have predicted and he finds himself having to grapples with difficult decisions.
Abigail is not unaware that Robert’s intentions don’t always stack up, but then again, it seems to be a common theme with all the people around her. Art and Alchemy clash in this thriller-romance where the dark side of the art world meets a classic myth.
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She has an eye for detail but can she see the truth?
Making decisions is not one of Francesca Miliardo's strengths so when something mysterious starts unfolding in her father's mansion in Milan - it's no surprise that she's unsure what to do.
Francesca dreams of becoming a star in the contemporary art world and she has all the right connections, though what should be a summer of fun is turning out to be anything but. Crippling migraines have always been a burden, now strange happenings are making her question whether they really are a curse.
It's not the best timing to fall for someone, but who could resist a man with wolf's eyes? Knowing who to trust is vital when those closest to you are suddenly not all they seem.
It's the time in Francesca's life to make some hard choices: follow her own path or step into somebody else's story.
'Low Fantasy, High stakes - Girl in A Golden Cage introduces a new character into the Gold Gift Series.'
NEW SERIES
'There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.' W Shakespeare
An unsolved murder in a picturesque seaside town, the disappearance of a genius craftsman admired by The Royal Family, linked by a priceless pocket watch. When the timepiece finds its way into the hands of down on his luck, Ben Robertson, he sees an opportunity to get his life back on track. Entering the curious world of restoration, he sets about returning the watch back to its former glory.
Removing layers of corrosion reveals its exquisite beauty and also yields details about its dark past with connections to a hoard of jewels lost long ago.
The temptation to discover more sets Ben on a path he didn’t anticipate and with the unconventional eye of expert restorer, Rebecca Ruskin, the pursuit of truth and treasure begins.
Are these cases too cold to solve? Could the fate of the former owners become their own? Or could restoration mean redemption for more than just the watch?
"Again, a wonderful story in which your knowledge of and enthusiasm for restoration work raises it to a level of reality that most novels lack. A really wonderful piece of creation."
Rodney Munday