Freedom was the easy part.
Soren Valamir has spent six years as a slave fighter in the Belgaran fortress of Kailen-Dur. When a devastating sacrifice buys him a chance to escape, the freedom he craved feels like a curse. Haunted by the friends he left behind and a debt he can never repay, Soren vows to return as the warrior who will break their chains.
Far from the fortress, Allia Dilaran’s desire for a normal life is shattered when a mysterious book falls into her father’s hands—one the Belgarans and an assassin with supernatural abilities are desperate to reclaim. Worse, she carries a secret that could spark a revolution—and paint a target on everyone she loves.
As the world draws closer to the Gifted Era—when every three-and-a-half centuries magic awakens in a chosen few—Soren and Allia’s paths converge. They are thrust into the heart of a smoldering rebellion and into a shared destiny that neither of them understands.
To survive, Allia must embrace a power she cannot control.
To stand against the empire, Soren may have to abandon the very people he vowed to save.
Because breaking chains is only the beginning.
