When the darkness rises again, the light will return wherever people stand their ground.

Two years after the events of The Standing Ground, the tiny outpost of Y Tir in North Wales becomes a refuge for those who want to live without implants-permanent links to government surveillance that are threatening to dominate people's lives again. But can Alys, Luke and Emrys thwart the growing threats of the new tech-giants whose offers of enhanced memories and virtual lives mask the erosion of privacy and even humanity?

As new enemies threaten Y Tir's existence, and old enemies emerge to sew seeds of destruction, Alys' and Luke's lives are put under increasing pressure. But there are also allies, not least Alys' and Luke's daughter, Iris, who appears to have fallen out of the mists of Greek legend and into Celtic myth. Can Iris, more strange and powerful even than Myrddin Emrys, also known as Merlin, save the day for Y Tir?

Skilfully combining near-future technologies of surveillance and immersive media with Arthurian legend and Greek mythology, The Messenger of the Ground is a story of suspense is full of convincing and extraordinary characters. A breath-taking conclusion to The Standing Ground trilogy. But does this story ever end?

Jan Fortune was born in Middlesbrough and read theology at Cambridge. She completed a doctorate in feminist theology and has worked as a teacher, priest (ordained at the first ordination of women to the CofE) and charity director. She is the founding editor of Cinnamon Press and has edited over 300 books, led numerous creative writing courses in the UK, Spain and France, and mentored writers who have gone on to publication. Her previous publications include non-fiction titles in alternative education and parenting; the novels The Standing Ground and its prequel, The Roots of the Ground; and four previous poetry collections, including Stale Bread & Miracles. Her most recent work includes the Casilda Trilogy of novels (This is the End of the Story, A Remedy for All Things and For Hope Is Always Born), a guide to creative writing, Writing Down Deep: an Alchemy of the Writing Life, and a new collection of poetry, At World's End, Begin.