The Arcanist: Fantasy Publishing

On the eve of his sacred Journey of Patronage, fifteen-year-old Van sets out to earn his place among his people and the respect of his chieftain father, never suspecting that a simple act of kindness will reshape his fate. By offering friendship to outsiders, Van is drawn into secrets his tribe has buried for generations. Van must confront an ancestral conspiracy that threatens Nemia itself. Caught between duty and conscience, first love and first loss, Van must decide what kind of man—and protector—he is willing to become, and whether hope is worth the price it demands.

In a world on the brink, heroes called Synchrony risk everything to protect the Five Great Cities. When Kaia uncovers dark secrets and ancient power, she must decide if the true threat lies within her society—or the monstrous Others beyond its crumbling borders.