Only one person can save the kingdom from utter darkness—but it will take a power she can’t control.

The dragon kingdom of Alveria has enjoyed years of peace under King Lasaro and Queen Kaelan’s reign—until never-ending darkness falls across the land, and ghosts are unleashed from the underworld. As attacks on innocents rise, there’s little the noble dragons can do to protect the people from spirits impervious to magic.

Laini Unclaimed is one of the first to face the terrifying ghosts. After a lifetime of rejection, all the orphan wants is to find her place as an accepted member of society. But when the realm plunges into eternal night, her uncontrollable—unheard of—power awakens: the power over light and dark.

Despite whispers of suspicion and blame, Laini refuses to accept she’s responsible for the darkness. Under the king’s guidance, she heads to the prestigious Akademy to learn control of this newfound magic. But even the strong Akademy walls may not keep Laini safe, for a hunter lurks in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to assassinate her.

Now Laini must discover the source of her powers and banish the darkness covering Alveria—before whispers become a cry for her death.

Return to the Alveria Akademy in an all new dragon fantasy adventure!

Ava Richardson writes epic page-turning Young Adult Fantasy books. She creates lovable characters and drops them into intricate worlds that are barely contained within your eReader. Her current work is the ‘Return of the Darkening Series’, which features Seb, Thea and their shared dragon, Kalax.