In an alternate Russia, where humans live side by side with magical creatures like orcs and elves, a proletarian revolution has broken out. The tsar, an aged dragon, has lost touch with reality and become a bloody tyrant. To stop the fighting, Ajjer, a formidable female warrior, assassinates the tsar and flees with the last heir to the empire: a dragon’s egg. She finds herself hotly pursued: every faction wants to get their hands on the precious egg, which will hatch into a living god — if someone doesn’t make an omelette out of it first. Luckily for Ajjer, she can count on the help of the dainty Katianna, an apprentice magician whom Ajjer has taken under her wing.

This is the first venture into a new genre. “Steampunk” is a sub-genre of fantasy which revisits the early twentieth century — with a difference. The idea is to reinvent the society of the period from a fantasy perspective, with larger-than-life literary figures and amazing inventions that run on steam. “The Ostruce Cycle” reveals a universe very close to the real Russia at the moment of the October Revolution, with the addition of magic and of the imaginary races inspired by Tolkien. A genuinely original story, full of action, passion and energy.