A trilogy by German author Michael Peinkofer.
Eons ago, the world was shattered into pieces. These pieces, now small worlds of their own, are ruled by local lords, that are more or less loyal to the king at the center. The only way to travel between these worlds is with the help of the Levitatinnen, magical sisters who can fly and carry entire ships between the worlds.
On the outskirts, though, neither the Guild nor the king have any power...
When a Levitatin is murdered on one of the outskirt worlds, Nordrak, Master Cedara and her student Kalliope are send to investigate. Far away from everything she has ever known Kalliope has to find out who she can trust fast, as the murderer is still free and the local lord distrusts them.
At the same time, far away from the rule of king and sisters, the young slave Kieron is saved by the thief Croy, and has to embark a dangerous quest to stay alive...
Tropes:
- After the End: Something happened long before the story starts that shattered the world into many little pieces.
- Attempted Rape: Two of the crewmen to Kalliope on the way to Nordrak. Master Cedara kills them, which is legal, as laying hands on a sister of the Guild carries a death sentence, but Master Cedara doesn't like having to do it.
- Born into Slavery: Kieron. He never questioned it before Croy saved him.
- Character Development: Kalliope learns that the Guild has some truly dark sides, that the people of Nordrak aren't stupid just because they're different, and that Animalen and Chimaeren aren't immediately evil. Kieron realizes that he can be free and learns to stand up for himself. Prisca, on the other hand, becomes an inquisitor who believes that only fear can guarantee safety and kills and tortures without a problem.
- Cloud Cuckoolander: Sister Audra.
- Coming of Age Story: For Kalliope and Kieron, to a lesser degree for Prisca and Erik, too.
- Dark Secret: A few. The Elevated Sister, chief of the Guild, which hates all Animalen and Chimaeren, is a Chimaere herself. Master Cedara used to be an inquisitor. At least Prisca claims this. Erik is a Chimaere. He doesn't seem to think of it as a dark secret though, as he doesn't seem particularly ashamed of it. It just seems that way to Innocent Bigot Kalliope
- Emotions vs. Stoicism: Sisters of the Levitatinnen aren't allowed to fall in love, as that is said to disturb their inner balance. Master Harona, Prisca's teacher, uses the fact that Prisca and Kalliope kissed to make sure Prisca stays loyal. This is also the main reason that Kalliope fights against her feelings for Erik.
- Evil Former Friend: Prisca to Kalliope. While Kalliope left Ethara and learned that maybe the Guild is not always right, Prisca follows her teacher Harona in reinstating the inquisition, torturing and killing those they deem as unbelievers. When the girls meet again at the end of the first book, they're essentially enemies. There's also hints that Harona and Cedara regarded each other as this
- Fish out of Water: Kalliope has never left Ethara, the home world of the Guild of the Levitatinnen, before, and is quite surprised by how things are handled on Nordrak.
- Gentleman Thief: Croy. He is a thief and proud of it, but he also saves Kieron because it is the right thing to do and later goes on the quest simply because he gave his word.
- Innocent Bigot: Kalliope. She was raised to hate Animalen and Chimaere, and truly believes they have no soul. Being confronted with them on Nordrak is a huge shock for her. Especially when it turns out that Erik is a Chimaere, too. She sort of gets over it enough to trust him at the end of the first book, but it takes a long time.
- Lady Land: The Guild. Kalliope and Prisca have both never seen men before leaving Ethara.
- Mentor Occupational Hazard: Master Cedara succumbs to this halfway through the first book.
- Mysterious Past: There's hints that there's more to Kieron than even he himself knows.
- Naïve Newcomer: Both Kalliope, who has never left Ethara before, and Kieron, who has been a slave his whole life and doesn't know how to act outside of that.
- Norse Mythology: This is clearly the inspiration for Nordrak. The lord is named Thor, there are warriors named Einherjar, and they believe in a prophecy about Ragnarok.
- Proud Warrior Race: The people of Nordrak are proud to be warriors.
- Science Is Bad: The Guild believes this.
- Slave Race: In the outskirts, far away from the reach of the king and the Guild, humans are this.
- The Chosen One: There's been quite a few hints that both Kalliope and Kieron are this.
- The End of the World as We Know It: The Elevated Sister saw this in her dreams. Others expect it to happen as well.
- Warrior Prince: Erik.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: Master Harona. Well, she appears as this at the start. The longer the story goes, the more it seems like she's just plain evil, though.
