A space age mystery!Twelve-year-old Violynne Vivant wants answers. Orphaned and anguished, she wonders daily what happened to her parents, archaeologists who went digging for the ancient city of Ninthon and vanished into the red sands of Lindos never to return.Things heat up when a thief breaks into the Vivant’s house, looking for Violynne. Suddenly, she is swept into a maze of powerful adult forces: from the planetary ruler called the Arbiter to the murky underworld figure, the Coil—they all have a sudden deep interest in Violynne. Why? And what does it have to do with her parent’s disappearance? It becomes apparent that only Violynne herself can uncover her parents’ whereabouts—along with age-old secrets of the mysterious planet that many would rather stay buried . . .Imaginative and gripping, this unique blend of sci-fi and mystery will captivate young readers.

Susan Maupin Schmid lives in Iowa.