From being his downfall, Viner’s craft becomes his means to power
‘How could I know you wanted water? Where I come from, no one wants water. They’ve got too much water. They drove me out because they thought I could call it up.’
Viner is astonished to discover that his ability to find water with his divining rod is highly prized by his murderous captors. He is taken to their drought-stricken land, where the rain-king has had little success in recent times. Viner finds himself the key in an intrigue to overthrow the rain-king. But he has his own ideas, and instead befriends the tragic and despised king. This extraordinary compelling novel of power, manipulation, corruption and ambition by one of the most acclaimed writers for the young today was joint winner of the Young Observer/Rank Organisation Fiction Prize.