A feisty young girl with plenty of pluck and a slightly shady young boy with an agenda of his own navigate their way through the murky world of traders in African slaves, piracy and immoral commerce in a world of injustice.
The conflict between a race of aquatic near-humans and their bigoted land-based relatives is the basis for this complex tale that mirrors current events. Immigrants and those from different cultures have long been at odds, as they are in this tale.
A book said to have been an influence on J.R.R. Tolkien, this tale of abandoned children and fantastical beings is pure delight. Witches, ogres, magical animals and hobbit-like beings populate this bright and amusing story.
This most-early mention of a mechanically enhanced human presages the notion of the cyborg with the technology of time but a universal verity. Charming and clearly a product of the early 20 th century this is a delight to read and a revelation to comprehend.