is the fifth year of the Lord Protector's rule and while life has always been hard for the gypsies, since Oliver Cromwell has seized control of England, life has become harder than ever.
Emilia and Luka are on a dangerous quest to find six ancient gypsy charms that will, with a little bit of luck — or, as Emilia believes, magic- help them save their family from the gallows.
They have the first four, an old gold coin, a small silver horse, a sprig of rue wrought in silver and a cat's eye shell, but now they seek the fifth, a bolt of lightning forged from the heart of a falling star.
Sussex was the first county secured by the Roundheads because of its iron foundries. Here in the Weald the Smith tribe are working for Parliament, making cannons and weaponry. They have prospered under Cromwell's rule, and have no interest in old gypsy charms.
Amidst the smoke and noise of the Hormonden foundry, Emilia and Luka run into old friends... and old enemies.
The fifth book in this exciting six-book series about the adventures of two daring children, a monkey, a dog and a dancing bear in search of the chain of charms.