Young Atisa thought he was all set for a cushy ride on Daedalus s balloon to join his mother Gaea in Central Asia. But Danyi, a warrior from the Chinese Emperor s court, a fierce Gobi blizzard and a mysterious white horse compel him to cross paths with Hieun Tsang, the famed monk and traveller who is on his way to King Harshavardhan s court. It soon becomes clear that Hieun Tsang is a hunted man, and despite Atisa s invaluable assistance, the situation only becomes ever more dangerous. Sea pirates, several assassination attempts, friends who cannot be trusted somebody is determined to make sure that he never returns to China.

Who is the implacable enemy that seeks to harm Hieun Tsang? Will Atisa find the courage needed to defeat the dark forces? Will he reach China safe with the knowledge so arduously collected? Join Atisa and the great monk on their fantastic adventures across 7th century Central Asia and India.

Anu Kumar s fiction for young adults include In the Country of Golddigging Ants and Atisa and the Seven Wonders (Puffin); a book on Gandhi called, The Mahatma and the Monkeys (Hachette India). She has written fiction for adults (Letters for Paul and The Dollmakers Island). Her stories have been awarded by The Little Magazine, and the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association. She hopes one day her two-year-old daughter, Devyani, will enjoy reading her books too.