Abducted from her wedding to Argul, chief of the Hulta, Claidi finds herself crossing a weather-mad ocean to a strange land, menaced by giant flowers, mysterious animals, and the Rise - a great cliff topped by a mansion.

Here lives the scientist Venn with his army of dull slaves and clockwork dolls.

At dusk each night there is the rising of the flaming 'Wolf Star' and the landscape become a-lurk with Vrabburrs - a sinister carnivorous hybrid of rabbit and tiger.

Claidi is no longer free. Is she lost to Argul for ever? And who is Venn, cruel, arrogant, but also lonely, in pain.

So many menacing secrets and upsetting dilemmas, so much for passionate Claidi to pit her wits against ...