Raised in a loving but sheltered Duvarharian home, Thaddeus' tranquil world is upheaved by a dark cloaked figure-one who wants him and his brother dead. To appease the man, the brothers are enrolled in an academy dedicated to training arena fighters. While being ostracized by his brother and the other violent students, Thaddeus strives to unravel the academy's dark secrets. What he discovers drives him to uncover the truth buried in himself and Rasa.
Haunted by impending danger and empowered by whispers saying he may be the Savior of the Dragon Prophecy, Thaddeus and his dragon seek to destroy the cult controlling the academy and Duvarharia's government. But when Thaddeus' trust in a forgotten deity fails to stop the torment of those he loves, he's left with no choice but to pursue a darker power to succeed.
Will Thaddeus free Duvarharia from the evil entrapping the Dragon Riders? Or will his actions shape him into the traitor Duvarharia fears most?
Read after Heir of Two Kingdoms, or as a prequel to the series. For fans of Shadow and Bone, Lord of the Rings, and The Inheritance Cycle.