The Cronnex Series by Trewin Greenaway

The first volume of The Cronnex relates how Jessan, the first of the story's two teenage protagonists, is snatched away from his quiet life as a fisherboy by a mysterious stranger. From then on, he is thrust into one highly dangerous situation after another, pursued by an implacable enemy intent on preventing him from realizing his true powers... moreThe first volume of The Cronnex relates how Jessan, the first of the story's two teenage protagonists, is snatched away from his quiet life as a fisherboy by a mysterious stranger. From then on, he is thrust into one highly dangerous situation after another, pursued by an implacable enemy intent on preventing him from realizing his true powers. Ultimately, Jessan must undertake a perilous journey—to escape capture, to find his twin, Niccas, and to realize his destiny as one of the two Nithaial, magical beings who experiences life as humans, but incorporate within themselves the power to bring harmony to the world and the lives of men. Fortunately for Jessan, the herbalist Alfrund, his companion through most of the volume, is as brave and resourceful an ally during their long journey as he is a willing and considerate lover. With him (and on his own), Jessan explores the possibilities of male sex and learns to master his many powers, as the two make a long journey, first by sea, then across the entire kingdom, to a hidden valley where he will fight a climactic battle with a powerful and ingenious necromancer and an entire army of the undead. less

In the second volume of The Cronnex we follow the fate of Niccas, the second of the story's two teenage protagonists. Like Jessan, he, too, is finds himself plunged into a series of frightening episodes where quick wits and mastering his mysterious powers are his only hope of survival. But, unlike Jessan, he must fight for his life in a city already under the power of his enemy... moreIn the second volume of The Cronnex we follow the fate of Niccas, the second of the story's two teenage protagonists. Like Jessan, he, too, is finds himself plunged into a series of frightening episodes where quick wits and mastering his mysterious powers are his only hope of survival. But, unlike Jessan, he must fight for his life in a city already under the power of his enemy. Niccas finds refuge by assuming the identify of a lowly apprentice in the house of a powerful alchemist—until events conspire to send him into situations of ever-escalating violence. Fortunately, he finds lovers (not all of them human) who assist and comfort him (although one of them is occasionally inclined to do just the opposite) as he struggles to assume his rightful powers. Jessan ends with the first of our protagonists coming into his full powers; in Niccas, the second of the two has to struggle just to survive, and his plight will keep you on the edge of your seat right to the story's last explosive pages. less

Wisferon is the third volume of The Cronnex. In it, the story alternates between the two Nithaial, born to be the supernatural Avatars under the Great Mother Gesryma, if they manage to live long enough to assume their powers and defeat Maerdas, the rogue Nithaial who killed his twin, ate his soul, and, now seeks to perpetuate himself and his evil rule by hunting down the two youths who have come to replace him. As this volume begins, Jessan has claimed his powers, of air and of water... moreWisferon is the third volume of The Cronnex. In it, the story alternates between the two Nithaial, born to be the supernatural Avatars under the Great Mother Gesryma, if they manage to live long enough to assume their powers and defeat Maerdas, the rogue Nithaial who killed his twin, ate his soul, and, now seeks to perpetuate himself and his evil rule by hunting down the two youths who have come to replace him. As this volume begins, Jessan has claimed his powers, of air and of water. After a respite, he decides to go search for Niccas. At the very same moment, Niccas has fallen into the hands of Maerdas, who, for reasons of his own, has not yet killed the boy. Niccas manages to escape from Gorzungâd, the fortress in which Maerdas has imprisoned him, and in the company of the evil lord's love boy, Sepharan, is fleeing north, pursued by his enemies, among them a new form of evil being, freed from its confinement in the realm of the dead. Before the end of this volume, both Jessan and Niccas will find new lovers, fight new enemies, and gain new powers, even as event crowds on event, and the situation grows increasingly grim. less

Welcome to the fourth volume of The Cronnex. Twelve years have passed since the events in Wisferon unfolded. The story begins in the temple complex, where Nassazia is the high priestess. Her child by either Niccas or Helias has reached the age where he must decide either to follow his mother's wishes and allow himself to be transformed into a girl, or to remain a boy... moreWelcome to the fourth volume of The Cronnex. Twelve years have passed since the events in Wisferon unfolded. The story begins in the temple complex, where Nassazia is the high priestess. Her child by either Niccas or Helias has reached the age where he must decide either to follow his mother's wishes and allow himself to be transformed into a girl, or to remain a boy. If he decides to become the girl Diona, her mother intends that, at the age of sixteen, she will be proclaimed a new, female Avatar to replace the two Nithaial, one of whom (Niccas) has vanished forever in the flaming pit, and the other (Jessan) has retreated to Wisferon, crippled by despair. On the other hand, if Dionis elects to remain a boy, he will be cursed, banished from the temple, and hunted by necromancers, who wish to use him—or, rather, his heart and other body parts—for spellmaking of a most vile and powerful kind. The choice is made even more difficult for Dionis because he has been raised within the temple and has never even met a boy—at least, that is, until the spirit of Sepharan (a youth the same age as Dionis who was Niccas's companion until murdered) appears in his bedroom the night that the decision must be made. And thus this part of the tale begins. less