"Ashanti's Quest" is a children's fantasy novel from Elizabeth Edwards but can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. The novel tells the story of Alstan, a nation built both on land and in water, which comes under attack from the Dark Forces from the Voltan Mountains. 1000 years before, the Alstan general ignored prophecies which warned of a great war and his nation suffered the consequences. Now, as history threatens to repeat itself, the present general of Alstan determines not to make the same mistakes and consults the Book of Truths to save his nation. Against the wishes of her parents, Ashanti, a fourteen year old warrior apprentice, is sent on a quest to the Hetron Convention to bring back the Nagxov Orb, Alstan's only hope. She is pursued tirelessly by the Shadows of the Dark Forces and experiences many strange adventures along the way. Battling prejudice and doubt, she finally returns to Alstan with the orb. Through the unlikely assistance of her daydreaming younger sister and the arrogant prince of a neighbouring nation, Ashanti attempts to trick her enemy and fulfil the ancient prophecy. But is she to find that she is too late?"Ashanti's Quest" is the first in the series of "The Alstan Chronicles" but is also a complete story, to be enjoyed in its own right.