Lyra Strike had never believed the stories. The stories of heroes and gods. The stories of magic. They were all lies. They always included a hero, someone who would save everyone. It was all a lie, there were no heroes. Only liars and murderers. Lyra is a mercenary who has a thirst for revenge. After the burning of her hometown, Forton, she has sought to kill anyone who had a part in the slaughtering of her village. Starting with the King of Anelia. Lyra is offered a proposition from the very same man she has vowed to kill. Slay the beast, walk away rich. But to Lyra, it was so much more than money. Dmitri Raz is an Elementalist with a sense of unwavering loyalty. Elementalist's are a race of magic wielders who were thought to have gone extinct seven centuries ago. After being sold off to the King of Anelia by his mother for an unknown reason, he has worked under the King's name for years without complaint. But when a mysterious woman arrives at the castle, he starts to question everything he'd grown to love. In this world of magic and blood, no on is who they seem. When long kept secrets are uncovered, Lyra and Dmitri come face to face with an enemy everyone thought dead. Will they be able to fend off the rising evil, or will darkness prevail?

read when you need a little picker-upper.