In Sylvaenor, where the rich run the show and everyone else is just a pawn, life’s never been easy for Raelion Veyr.

Half-human, half-elf, and all-around unwanted, he’s never fit in anywhere. Humans think he’s too weird, and elves? They’d rather pretend he doesn’t exist. Life’s been brutal, but it gets even worse when he’s sold into slavery and handed over to the shady House of Veylhar. Turns out, they’re big fans of experimenting on people, and Raelion ends up as their latest lab rat.

What they didn’t see coming? Their experiments unlock a rare, explosive power buried deep in him—something tied to his mixed bloodline. Now, Raelion’s out for revenge. He’s had enough of Sylvaenor’s cruelty and wants to tear the whole corrupt kingdom down.

The problem? Power isn’t enough. To take down the system, he has to learn how to master the three Ascensions—levels of magic that only House Veylhar can teach. So, Raelion’s playing the long con, pretending to be their loyal student while secretly planning their downfall. But the deeper he dives into their messed-up world, the blurrier the lines between right and wrong get.

As Raelion uncovers Sylvaenor’s darkest secrets, he’s forced to make a choice: use his power to free the oppressed or let his thirst for vengeance burn everything to the ground.

In a world where freedom always comes at a cost, Raelion’s going to have to decide just how far he’s willing to go—and how much of himself he’s willing to lose—to take down the kingdom that broke him.

Evan Locke

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