Publisher's Synopsis
When twelve-year-old Thaleia's mischievous cat, Rose, disappears by the eerie Lake Rea, the last thing she expects is to stumble into a mystery that will change her life forever. Beneath the lake's shimmering surface, flickering lights dance, and a glowing artifact waits to be found. What starts as a simple rescue mission for her troublemaking cat quickly spirals into a heart-stopping plunge into another world-Eikesia, a realm of breathtaking magic, untamed wilderness, and unimaginable dangers.
Stranded in this strange and perilous land, Thaleia discovers she's not just a visitor-she's being hunted. Shadowy creatures lurk in the forests, and an ancient enemy, hidden behind the mask of the Empress of a desert kingdom, will stop at nothing to claim the mysterious artifact she now carries: a powerful halo that could save Eikesia or tear it apart. With the help of Aglaea, a spirited forest dryad, and Vidar, a towering guardian with secrets of his own, Thaleia must navigate treacherous terrain and unravel the mysteries of the halo. Torn between the longing for home and the pull of destiny, she faces an impossible choice: leave Eikesia to its fate or risk everything to become the halo's unlikely protector. But in a world filled with secrets and dangers, Thaleia soon learns that her connection to the halo-and to Eikesia-runs far deeper than she could have ever imagined. Bursting with adventure, heart, and the magic of self-discovery, this is a story for anyone who's ever wondered if they were destined for something more.
