Foundling

Set in a world of tri-corner hats, frockcoats and flintlock pistols, Monster Blood Tattoo is a world of monsters, chemical potions and surgically altered people. In the first book, Foundling, David Cornish begins the journey of Rossamund, a young boy with a girl's name, who is about to begin life as a lamplighter in the service of the Haacobin Emperor. What begins as a simple journey is threatened by encounters with monsters-and people, who may be worse. Learning who to trust and who to fear is neither easy nor without its perils, and Rossamund must choose his path carefully. This is a truly original story-highly unusual among the vast array of fantasy novels available today. Lavishly illustrated by the author, an accomplished artist.