The Cambirils

An ancient birthright--hidden, dangerous, hunted. In a time when mortal men and the magical, immortal Fay inhabit the world together, Balê, dark god-king of the blighted north, plots to remake the world in His own image. Young Brend is left an orphan when his parents are murdered by a shadowy assassin. Brend is rescued by Hale, a capable but taciturn man in the service of the Bright Lady, Tin'ntiri. Spirited away to the mountain village of Meadow Park, Brend is raised as Hale's son. In The Park, Brend finds friendship with Aly, Ned, and Tic, but his new, idyllic life is soon upended. Balê's assassins discover Brend's hiding place, and he is again forced to flee with the help of Hale, "Aunt Tiri," and Tiri's shadowy friend, Cam'ndair--a traitor to Balê and a worrisome ally. Brend's flight to safety begins an epic adventure that will reveal to him his forgotten heritage and deliver to him his birthright--a magical Cloak of Midnight, a Cambiril. With the birthright will come whispers about the Secret of the Gods--a secret to change the world--if only Brend can survive. The Cambirils, Books of Earth is the first volume of The Thirteenth Essene.