Rebellion always comes with a cost.

Keara is running for her life. On her twelfth birthday, she was supposed to sacrifice her magical darkbeast raven on a holy altar. Instead, she spared Caw’s life. Now, the priestly Inquisitors have declared her Lost–a heretic and traitor to the Primate and all twelve gods.

Desperately seeking safety, Keara and Caw travel the Great Road with two other infidels. Together they search for a rumored community of Darkers, rebellious Lost who live beyond the reach of the law.

Winter winds blow hard. Inquisitors stalk the Great Road. Keara and her companions, near-frozen by a blizzard and close to starvation, discover an underground encampment of strangers. They’re offered food and shelter, and their darkbeasts are welcome. But are these folk truly the Darkers they claim to be? Or will they betray Keara to the authorities who want to enslave her–or worse?