The emperor of Shinyan had declared war on the island nation of Teroshi. Worse, he has made a deal with the animaru, the dark monsters invading the world to end all life.

Jia Toun needs to rectify the situation.

The Gohari are a race of nomadic, pansexual people with inherent magic who are suffering at the hands of the Kingdom of Anzor’s angry god, Cenk. By harnessing the nomads’ skills in horsemanship and archery, Anzor has built a powerful, elite class of slave-soldiers who are above and beyond any other kingdom’s army: the Manzakars.

Evon Desconse has spent most of his life at the vaunted Hero Academy. As Marla Shrike’s best friend, he has seen his share of adventure. How else could it be when Marla is prophesied to save the entire world?

Danger abounds in Dizhelim in these dark days, and he is better equipped than most to face it. But his true desire is to focus on his study of prophecy and magic. Up until now, battling monsters has been a necessary chore. He has been trained to be heroic, after all.

The war ends here.

Paulo MacGregor cares for nothing besides changing Laurel’s future and convincing her to trust him. After the rebels took the capital, fleeing to Iatrus Castle, his home, seemed the only option. However, even though he’s brought Laurel to his home, fate has other plans. Not only are Laurel’s convictions not to trust him deepening, but both their pasts are catching up with them. The rebels are coming to Iatrus Castle and there’s little Paulo can do to stop fate from unfolding.

Raki Sinde only wanted to help, like heroes in the stories he loves so much. He was barely more than a boy when he left everything familiar to join Aeden and Fahtin as they fled the dark monsters invading the world. Now he has fought—and killed—and learned hard truths about what it means to be a hero.

His affinity for dark magic scared him at first. Then it excited him. But after the horrifying events of a recent mission to Shinyan, Raki is left shaken and questioning everything. His grandmother believes dark magic will turn him into a monster—and she might be right.