
by J.ASHWOOD
From the ashes of a fallen kingdom, a Sentinel’s promise becomes a weapon. The capital of Verdant Vale burned in a single night. Betrayed from within and overwhelmed by the combined forces of Valoria and dark mages, the kingdom fell into ruin. Among the flames, five-year-old Kai witnesses the ultimate cost of war: his world shattered, his home destroyed, and his father dismembered after making one final promise. Inheriting the volatile, life-consuming power of the Mother Tree—the Verdant Eye—Kai is captured and smuggled into the heart of the enemy empire as a slave. Powerless to control the wild magic burning in his veins, he must navigate the brutal underworld of Valoria. To survive, Kai must hide his identity, master a dangerous power that threatens to burn him alive, and protect Princess Aurelia from the shadows. When the embers of the Vale burn out, only ash and vengeance remain.