Lost Puzzler (Tarakan Chronicles)

‘A rich and vivid future Earth that’s inventive and attention-grabbing in equal measure’
SFX
‘Evokes classics of the genre…throwing in elements of Mad Max and Indiana Jones’
FINANCIAL TIMES
A SAVAGE FUTURE. A VANISHED PAST. A MISSING KEY.
Among the ruins of a civilization beyond their understanding, humanity clings to survival. Guilds vie for control of ancient cities, bandits ride glowing highways, and cyborg adventurers hunt for lost technology.
In the City of Towers, once the heart of the fallen Tarakan empire, a historian searches for clues to explain the disappearance of Rafik, a young boy with extraordinary abilities – a Puzzler.
Marked with strange tattoos and gifted with a miraculous connection to Tarakan technology, Rafik could open doors inside the ruins, uncovering treasures and secrets.
As Rafik’s story is retold, it becomes clear that one lost boy may be the key to reviving a broken world or unleashing a new wave of devastation.

Reviews

‘A coming-of-age story with a difference…intriguing and involving’
DAILY MAIL
‘Evokes classics of the genre such as Jack Vance’s Dying Earth series and Gene Wolfe’s The Book of the New Sun, throwing in elements of Mad Max and Indiana Jones…a virtuoso performance’
FINANCIAL TIMES
‘Readers looking for a crafty puzzle that descends into the twisty depths of loyalty and betrayal will enjoy this far-future adventure’
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
‘A rich and vivid future Earth that’s inventive and attention-grabbing in equal measure’
SFX
‘This rich dystopian world includes snippets of technology that perplex most of the characters, a steady mix of storytelling and action, and intense character development that makes the book hard to put down’
BOOKLIST