Young Erasmus Cromwell-Smith II's adventure happens inside the one great capital that hides its clock. Every city of the quest so far has worn its Orloj proudly on a tower — but London's cannot be found in any archive, on any map, in any book, and Big Ben, the most famous clock face on earth, is the first clue: for behind the four glowing dials the whole world watches, a hidden clock keeps a deeper hour, and its zodiac ring has begun to turn. A year after earning the rank of Master Wizards beneath the Orloj of Paris, the six young Harlequins are summoned across the sea into a city of fog, lamplight, gargoyles that turn their heads — and a hooded figure whose face, when the hood slips, is not a face at all but a shadow wearing a shadow's expression. To find the clock that hides, they must answer the three questions the Tower of London asks, keep faith with its ravens, and master the human virtues of Kindness, Patience, and Discipline against the flaws that shadow them — until the trail of the hidden hour leads them beyond the city entirely, to the stars over the Isle of Skye. The Orloj of London is a magical tale filled with non-stop action and thrills, as well as timeless wisdom through its unforgettable fables and poems.
“..Even older readers will find The Orloj... an imaginative rendering—one that should appeal to anyone who enjoys following a creative quest of young wannabe wizards, intertwined with core life lessons..”
Blueink Review
Erasmus Cromwell-Smith II is an American writer, playwright, and poet. The Orloj series has been crafted through a very intense and intimate introspective dive into the author's own life experiences and wisdom. The quest continues in Volume V, The Orloj of Boston; what begins in Prague spans fourteen volumes, concluding with The Orloj of Munich. The complete series is available at www.erasmuscromwellsmith.com.