The Ill-made Mute - Cecilia Dart-Thornton

While the lordly Stormriders land their splendid winged stallions on the airy battlements of Isse Tower, far below them, in the fortress's depths, their superstitious servants sit by the hearth to tell each other ghastly tales of evil creatures inhabiting the world outside - a world most of them have only glimpsed. Yet it is the least of these servants - a mute, lowly, utterly despised foundling - who dares to scale the Tower, sneak aboard a Windship, and then dive from the sky.

The terrified fugitive is rescued by a kindhearted adventurer, who finally gives the poor creature a name-as wel as the gift of communicating by handspeak, and an amazing truth never guessed at previously. Now the newly named Imrhien' begins a journey to distant Caermelor, in search of a wise woman whose skills may change everything.

Along the way, Imrhien struggles in a wilderness endless danger- for those hearthside tales are all true. Unhuman wights haunt every pool, every turn in the road, and they perpetually threaten and torment travellers. Lost, and pursued by these monsters, Imrhien is finally saved by a mysterious Dainnan ranger whose gallantry and courage are matched only by his martial skills. Unknown to them both, however, a deadly plot is unfolding . . . as a dark force summons the malignant hordes of Unseelie, and foul things amass in the night.

As the journey grows longer, the challenges more deadly, Imrhien discovers something more terrifying than all of the evil eldriths wights combined. For this spurned outsider, with an angel's soul and a gargoyle's face, is suddenly falling in love.