JENNIFER RIDYARD
JOHN CONNOLLY
Jennifer (better known as Jennie) grew up in the mining town of Benoni, South Africa, and worked as a journalist in Johannesburg, winning several local press awards. She met John when she interviewed him in 2000 following the publication of his second book Dark Hollow, and they struck up a firm friendship which gradually developed into a long-distance romance.
In 2004 Jennie and her two young sons moved to Ireland to be with John, though she still spends much time in South Africa, where her extended family remain.
Jennie and John live in Dublin with their dogs. They do not intend to write together again.
Award-winning writer John Connolly and Chronicles of the Invaders co-author Jennifer Ridyard - John's wife since 2022 - first bonded over their love of fantastical stories, and discovered they shared particular childhood favourites, including The Chrysalids by John Wyndham. They decided to write the Chronicles series together in 2012, quite possibly after John took a knock to the head. It was a tough project for two spirited, opinionated writers, but they stayed the course and remain immensely proud of the results.
The series was translated into Spanish by Tusquets.
The Earth has been invaded. Humanity has been conquered by the Illyri, a civilized yet ruthless alien race.
But the youth-led Resistance grows stronger, for it is not only humanity that is under threat, but both races, and all worlds.
Introducing
Syl Hellais
Conceived among the stars, Syl was the first of the Illyri to be born on Earth. She's now 16 years old. Her father is among the most powerful Illyri on the planet. Syl is smart, obstinate, and curious about her adopted world, while passionately loyal to Illyr, the home planet she's never known.
Paul Kerr
Born just after the Illyrian invasion, Paul is not quite 17 years old. He has been part of the Resistance since the death of his father, and is one of its most valuable intelligence operatives in Edinburgh, seat of the Illyri in Europe. Paul manages a network of young spies throughout his native city.
CONQUEST
CONQUEST is part one of the Chronicles of the Invaders trilogy by New York Times bestselling author John Connolly and Jennifer Ridyard, mixing science fiction with gripping suspense and richly drawn characters.
Syl Hellais is the first of the Earth-born Illyri, a beautiful but ruthless alien species who now rule our planet. Trapped inside the walls of her father's stronghold in Edinburgh Castle, hated by the humans, Syl and her friend Ani long to explore the only home they have ever known.
But outside, humankind has not given up the fight for their world and Paul Kerr is one of the young Resistance leaders waging war on the invaders.
On her sixteenth birthday they meet, and Syl saves Paul's life; soon she and Ani becomes outcasts, enemies of their own people.
EMPIRE
EMPIRE is the second in the Chronicles of the Invaders series, by John Connolly and Jennifer Ridyard.
It is the last chance to save the Earth from its fate.
Although Earth seems lost, the Resistance continues to fight the Ilyrians, who possess far superior technology and military strength. Captured by the Illyri, young resistance fighter Paul Kerr is not only exiled far from his home but also separated from Syl Hellais. Paul has been sent to fight in faraway galaxies; Syl and her best friend Ani are cloistered within the secretive Nairene Sisterhood.
However, the Illyrian invasion of Earth runs far deeper than it seems, for the Illyri themselves have been colonised by an ancient alien species.
Syl and Paul must discover and expose the horrible truth behind the Empire.
But first they must survive.
DOMINION
DOMINION is the third and final adventure in the Chronicles of the Invaders trilogy, by John Connolly and Jennifer Ridyard.
Syl Hellais and Paul Kerr have escaped through the mysterious wormhole Derith and are trapped in a dimension beyond their own. When they finally emerge they discover a universe that has moved on without them.
Years have passed; civil war rages among the Illyri; Earth is lost to the alien parasites known as the Others, and other worlds will soon follow. Meanwhile, Archmage Syrene of the Nairene Sisterhood has disappeared, but not before she chose her replacement, a new leader with her own secret schemes.
And Syl and Paul, teenagers in this deadly adult world, must find a way to save their races, and themselves…