
At seventeen, all Prince Nuelle had ever known was safety and peace while living in the Supreme Palace of Zephoris. But one night, his older brother, Tane, defies their father by traveling to a cursed land. Now Nuelle holds the signet-ring and carries more responsibility than even Tane bore. Thrust from the palace and sent to a knight-building academy, Nuelle must discover his purpose for the entire kingdom’s sake. The banished Prince Antikai of Kaimana, an attempted murderer, has been tormenting and manipulating his victims with fear while they sleep. Nuelle has the potential
to defeat him, but he needs a powerful book called the Acumen, and the help of six gifted youths. Summoned by Antikai, shape-shifting man-beasts and treacherous peers hunt Nuelle and the Acumen. If either is destroyed, the faithful citizens in Zephoris will enter a new reality where nightmares rule forever.

Spurred on by urgency from the Supreme King, the Sentinels initiate their mission of gathering the Faithful from all five kingdoms. Nuelle and his friends must survive Flesh Hunters, past plagues, and a prodigy-hating politician with terrifying motives. But what may prove even more deadly is the war within.
Will the fiery trials cleanse or consume them?