Twelve children, gifted far beyond their years, banished by their queen and given sanctuary at Rotherweird.

Some say they are the golden generation; some say the devil's spawn. But everyone knows there is something to be revered and feared.

Four and a half centuries on, the town of Rotherweird is still bound by the Elizabethan laws that keep it isolated from the rest of England, any study of its past forbidden.

Then an Outsider arrives: a man of unparallelled wealth and power, enough to buy the town of Rotherweird - deep-buried secrets and all . . .

'Enthralling' - M.R. Carey

'A history-tragic-comedy all rolled into one,' says Wolf Hall author Hilary Mantel

'An enthralling puzzle-picture of a book' (M.R. Carey), perfect for fans of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and Gormenghast with a dash of Neil Gaiman and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.

'Intricate and crisp, witty and solemn: a book with special and dangerous properties' - Hilary Mantel