Kirrin needs a way out of the shadows.

Expert spy. Cunning assassin. In the cutthroat politics of Tatak Rhe, he is the ultimate weapon.

But being the hand that holds the knife isn’t enough. Kirrin hungers for something more.

His latest mission is to explore an ancient ruin to find the lost paradise of ancient prophecies. The desert region is a hotbed of conflict, between the coastal lords and the hill tribes, making his foray to the ruins fraught with peril.

As secrets and truths emerge, he begins to believe in the farfetched superstitions and to question his orders. With this chance to redeem himself and prove his worth as more than a killer, Kirrin must balance his ambition against the doubts growing inside.

If he fails his overlord, it will mean the death of his family, including a son he has never seen. If he succeeds, it could also mean that a dangerous ruler may start a war in the hopes of fulfilling a prophecy a thousand years old.