The Seer is a liar. The treaty must fail. Blue is the beginning of the end. ~ Since its mysterious eruption long ago, the Whisper Heath has been as a living wound in the land of Faerie. Voices from the reeds beckon, but those who enter are never seen again. Despite this looming threat, the Seer's bloodline has maintained peace among the bird-folk called the Bapporre and the grounded animal kin of Havarrow for generations past. Both sides celebrate this unity every year on the equinox, meeting in Forenoon at the great monument to their ancestors' treaty. But unrest has been sprouting among a prominent clan of owls for as long as the Heath has existed, and there are those who believe the current Seer's passivity could lead the flighted to utter ruin. Now, with a new element at play-a powerful blue substance of dubious origin-can the owls finally see beyond the folly of their defiance? Or will they succumb to paranoia and fear, jeopardizing the delicate balance that has been upheld for so long? As the Seer's daughter, Flina is expected to fulfill her duty of marriage to carry on the bloodline, not question every convention set before her. Only her best friend, a raven named Bexa, understands the depth of her curious heart. But even he must grow and fulfill obligations of his own eventually. Indeed it is convention which now threatens to drive the two apart-that is, if shadowy misdeeds and rumors of rebellion do not do so first. Meanwhile, Broom the flying squirrel has fashioned herself the perfect outfit for this year's equinox celebration. She is thrilled to be attending with Muzy and Pari, two animal kin more precious to her than anything in all of Faerie. With them by her side, her life is nearly perfect. If only a certain tan mouse would look her way. A grimsical tale of love, betrayal, and loss, this standalone prequel to The Magic Thief and the Whisper Heath is perfect for fans of The Secret of Nimh and Redwall. Do not heed the whispers of the Heath, for even the Maligned brothers know that those who fall into its grasp may never be seen again... but they may indeed be heard.
