The Children of the Lost

The book is set in a fantasy world called Agora, which is governed by an extreme form of capitalism. Anything can be bought and sold- including thoughts, ideas, emotions and ultimately people. Children are traded by their parents, and only on their twelfth birthday are they allowed to become traders themselves.

There is no money in Agora. Instead, people are ranked according to their reputation. It only takes a small rumour or wrongdoing to send even the most powerful merchant down to the bottom, where they normally become "debtors". With nothing left to trade, they are stuck at the bottom, with no means to climb back up the social hierarchy.

Agora is surrounded by walls. Nobody enters the city, and nobody leaves the city. The city itself is split into twelve districts, all named after Zodiac signs. The Director of Receipts watches over the city, and his Receivers police it.

• Mark: a fourteen-year-old boy who replaced Count Stelli as Agora's greatest astrologer.
• Lily: a fourteen-year-old girl who began the almshouse.
• Dr Theophilus: nephew of Count Stelli. Works as a doctor. Helps Lily run the almshouse.
• Count Stelli: an old astrologist. He is Agora's greatest astrologist.
• Mr Snutworth: Mark's manservant
• Director of Receipts: Highest authority in Agora

• The Midnight Charter
• The Canticle of Whispers
• David Whitley

• Official Site