In a kingdom where wielding magic means certain death, Dorenn Adair's simple life as an innkeeper's son is about to be shattered forever. When a mysterious noblewoman arrives in the mountain village of Brookhaven, Dorenn finds himself thrust into a perilous journey that will test his courage, loyalty, and very identity. As war brews beyond the safety of the Jagged Mountains and ancient prophecies begin to unfold, Dorenn discovers a power within himself that both terrifies and fascinates him. Alongside his loyal friends-Rennon, a stubborn apothecary's apprentice with secrets of his own; Tatrice, the woman he loves but might lose; and Vesperin, a cleric touched by the goddess Loracia herself-Dorenn must navigate a treacherous path of betrayal and deception. For not everyone is as they appear, and shapeshifting Drasmyd Duil lurk in human form, watching their every move. With the mad king Naneden amassing an army to claim the Sacred Land, Dorenn must confront his destiny and the terrible choice that awaits him: embrace the forbidden magic flowing through his veins or watch as everything he loves burns to ash. The fate of kingdoms hang in the balance as Dorenn and his friends navigate the world from under the Shadows of the First Trine.