The first volume in a fantasy sequence running to at least five parts. This is not Nix on top form but then it appears to be older than the Old Kingdom books (easily Nix' best work in my view) - it was first published in the USA in 2000 but did not see a British edition until 2007. Part two is now available here, but volumes 3, 4 and 5 are in print in the USA. That said it is intriguing enough to persue and I will probably tackle the second volume soon.