The High Council is tightening its grip on Aerlann, silencing the Ancient Spirits whose magic once held the fragile balance between humanity and nature. In their place rises the Mother goddess-powerful, insatiable, and deadly.

Living apart from the world on her family's farm, Jayne knows nothing of the secret war spreading across the kingdom-or of how dangerous her hidden gifts truly are. But when a duke of the High Council arrives with an offer of marriage too generous to trust, Jayne's carefully sheltered world shatters and an almost-forgotten warning from her grandmother resurfaces.

To keep those she loves safe from the ruthless power hunting her, Jayne is forced to flee with the help of a mysterious fire-starter sent by the Spirits themselves to guide her path. Her only chance of survival lies beyond the kingdom's borders, in the shadowed forest of Berghelm-the last refuge of the Great Spirits and the final sanctuary for those marked for extinction by the Council.

As ancient magic stirs and enemies long thought myth return, Jayne must carry a prophecy across a broken land. The fate of Aerlann may depend on whether she can reach Berghelm... and whether hope can survive the fire meant to destroy it.

Praise for Jessica Hill on Goodreads:

"Jessica Hill's ability to create a world where love and destiny collide is truly remarkable." - Rowqas

"With her colorful and skillful writing, Jessica Hill has extraordinary talent, weaving a rich tapestry that captivates the reader's imagination." - Bookish

"Jessica Hill's writing captures the depth of emotion and the intensity of forbidden love in a way that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page." - Cynufa