An island shattered by years of war. A ruthless enemy poised to descend. A warrior determined to unite the people-or see them fall.Ishar leaves her Haaldyn homeland bearing a fragile offer of peace from her father, Ryen of the Haaldyn, and rides south in search of an alliance that may never come. The peoples of Haaldyn, Britai, and Lute have long been divided by bloodshed and mistrust, and old enemies do not easily become allies. Her fate rests with Varyk, the enigmatic leader of the Britai, and his feared, shadow-bound warriors known to outsiders as the Raanan. Unsure whether she will be welcomed or condemned, Ishar knows only one truth: if the island of Alsaar is to survive the coming Tourna invasion, unity must prevail-or everything will be lost.