The Lightning Bolt: Chain of Charms 5

by Kate Forsyth, Jeremy Reston (Illustrator)

Overview

The final three paperbacks of the award-winning six-book series by Kate Forsyth.

Life is always hard for the gypsies, who live to their own rhythm and their own rules, but since Oliver Cromwell had seized control of England, life had been harder - and drabber - than ever. But now life for the Finch tribe has gone even more horribly wrong. They have been accused of vagrancy and murder, and thrown into gaol with only three weeks to live.

The only members of the family to escape are 13-year-old Emilia and her cousin Luka. They have been entrusted to find the six charms and bring them together again. Then, perhaps, the gypsies could once again have some luck... and the Finch tribe could walk free. What Emilia and Luka do not realise is that there is a price to be paid for each lucky charm, and that the cost may prove too high...

27th August 1685:
Sussex was the first county secured by the Roundheads because of its iron foundries. Here in the Weald, the Smith tribe are working for Parliament, making cannons and weaponry. They have prospered under Cromwell's rule, and have no interest in old gypsy charms. And it is here where Luka and Emilia must find the fifth charm, a finely-wrought lightning bolt, and amidst the smoke and noise of the Horsmonden foundry, the gypsy children run into old friends... and old enemies.

Winner of Aurealis Awards' Best Children's Long Fiction 2007

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781742625409
Publisher:	Pan Macmillan Australia
Publication date:	11/10/2007
Series:	The Chain of Charms , #5
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	768 KB
Age Range:	9 - 11 Years

About the Author

Kate Forsyth is a bestselling author across several genres. Apart from the successful Chain of Charms series, her titles include the Witches of Eileanan series, The Starthorn Tree, and Wishing for Trouble and Dragon Gold, her illustrated children's series. Kate lives with her husband, three children and a black cat called Shadow in Sydney. She is also the author of an upcoming picture book called I Am.

Jeremy Reston is a young up and coming illustrator. He has illustrated a few of the Quentaris Chronicles and the covers of the Danika books. He is currently working on a picture book by Gary Crew.

Kate Forsyth is the award-winning author of more than 20 books for children and adults, including a picture book about an adventurous boy called I Am; a series of magical misadventures for younger readers called Dragon Gold, Wishing for Trouble and Sea Magic; and The Puzzle Ring, an exciting timeslip adventure for older readers which sees four children go back to the dangerous days of Mary, Queen of Scots to try and break an ancient fairy curse. Since her first novel was named a Best First Novel of 1998 by Locus Magazine, she has won or been nominated for numerous awards, including a CYBIL Award in the US. She's also the only author to win five Aurealis awards in a single year, for her Chain of Charms series - beginning with The Gypsy Crown - which tells of the adventures of two Romany children in the time of the English Civil War. Book 5 of the series, The Lightning Bolt, was also a CBCA Notable Book.

Her latest book is The Starkin's Curse, a tale of high adventure and true love for readers aged 12+, set in the same world as her bestselling novels The Starthorn Tree and The Wildkin's Curse.

Kate's books have been published in 13 countries around the world, including Russia, Germany, Japan, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Poland and Slovenia. She is currently undertaking a doctorate in fairytale retellings at the University of Technology. Kate is a direct descendant of Charlotte Waring, the author of the first book for children ever published in Australia, A Mother's Offering to her Children.