In this fantasy adventure tale, Book 1 of the Shadow from the North trilogy, Blair is abducted and taken far from her home by the evil Old Man of the North. Imprisoned in an ice crystal tower, she discovers a secret; a secret that changes her life forever and gives her the courage to escape from the tower. To escape, Blair must reach deep within herself to find the strength to fight for her freedom. And at every step of her way she confronts new foes, and new friends. The giant mysterious Mother Bear offers wisdom and a chance to escape, but can the bear be trusted? The King of the Wolves is a fearsome foe, for he has sworn an oath to serve the Old Man of the North. But Blair must learn to outwit him and overcome other dangers to have any chance of reaching home...Meanwhile Florian, Blair's would-be rescuer, must overcome an evil spell that prevents him from rushing to Blair's aid. And even if he can overcome that spell, other obstacles await, including a giant, a hostile ship's master, and a storm at sea that threatens to take his life. But like Blair, Florian also finds help when all hope seems lost: a talking owl with a very low opinion of the human race, a wise old fisherman, and a shepherd who will help Florian: for a price.The Crystal Tower is an unusual, gentle story, full of gripping adventure and timeless wisdom about the human heart. Readers of all ages will enjoy its rich characterization and humor as they are swept up in the page-turning adventures of Blair, Florian and all the creatures Blair and Florian meet along the way.