Throne of the Deep

Twenty-seven years ago, humanity survived its war against the world beneath the earth. At least, that is what the history books say. Aren Vale was born in the depths and brought to the surface as a child, with almost no memory of the life he left behind. For twenty years, he has done his best to remain there—far from the labyrinths, the monsters, and the strange call that follows those born below. Then an ancient Domain awakens beneath the capital. Its creatures recognize him. Its soldiers kneel before him. And its dying Heart calls Aren by a name he had forgotten. Vael. When his blood awakens the abandoned Domain, Aren inherits something that should no longer exist: authority over a throne whose royal bloodline was supposedly exterminated decades ago. His awakening does not go unnoticed. Across the fifteen known depths of Nadir, dormant Hearts begin to beat. Ancient rulers turn their eyes toward the surface. Armies change course. Forgotten treaties begin to collapse. And somewhere far below every region humanity has ever explored, seven ancient thrones surround an eighth seat that has remained empty for twenty-seven years. It is empty no longer. Aren does not remember the kingdom that once belonged to his blood. He does not remember why it fell. He does not remember why his mother begged him never to answer when a Heart called his name. But Nadir remembers him. And the deeper he descends, the clearer one truth becomes: the war humanity believes it won never actually ended.