Deadly rivalry breaks out among apprentice shamans in contemporary Siberia when a Western outsider arrives. Shamans have just re-emerged after Soviet repression.
Chimit is a musician from Tuva, not far from the Mongolian border. Childhood friend Zoya, a female shaman, has taken him on as an apprentice. And he begins learning how to heal, access spiritual energy and direct it.
In Boston, graphic artist Ray Farmer strikes up an Internet friendship with an ex-Speznaz paratrooper near Lake Baikal, and decides to visit.
He visits Olkhon, the holy island in Lake Baikal, where he starts making connections with the spirit of the place.
A local artist suggests Ray travels to Tuva where he could ask the shamans about spirituality and art.
There, he becomes a reluctant apprentice, falls in love with Zoya, and gets into a rivalry with another jealous shaman.
Suddenly Ray is plunged into a fast moving turmoil involving trust, belief, betrayal, fear and courage before he completes his task.
• The book cuts across genres and sets out the landscape of the mind, culture and spirituality of Siberia allowing the reader to identify with and understand the action - which often takes place in the altered states of characters.
NOW AVAILABLE AS AN E-BOOK ON AMAZON - ALONGSIDE "HACK ATTACK", A NEW THRILLER CENTRED ON CYBER-TERRORISM.