Humanity has chosen to forget its war-torn past, but ancient powers rise, hungry for revenge. In a world where magic is forbidden, awkward, scholarly Kieryn discovers he is a vessel for the powers that have lain dormant in his family for centuries. While his family marches to war, Kieryn must turn his back on those he loves and muster the courage to uncover his family’s past and his gift with magic, though his efforts may cost him his sanity and his soul. On a far-flung battlefield, Kieryn’s twin brother, Kelyn, joins the fight between the warring Falcon Kings. While seeking to distinguish himself with the sword, he must wrestle with decisions that threaten his family's honor and the lives of thousands. Meanwhile, hidden from human eyes, deep inside the magical Veil, Lothiar remembers that Kieryn’s and Kelyn’s ancestors were not the heroes sung in human legend, but murderers who tried to annihilate an entire race. Lothiar decides it’s time to stop hiding in the shadows and remind humanity of its age-old crimes.