In a world where power is hoarded by the elite and honour is a currency few can afford, Asche is a nobody—or so he thought. Mocked as a beggar and burdened by rumours whispered through market stalls, he cares for only one thing: protecting his brother, Jorg.
But everything changes when an uncovered secret and a prophecy name Asche as the saviour of a kingdom he loathes. Thrust into the glittering halls of royalty, he is crowned the protector of a corrupt system that has only ever crushed people like him. The nobles sneer at him, the prophecy’s true meaning is cloaked in mystery, and enemies within and without conspire to bring him down.
Caught between duty and defiance, Asche must navigate a labyrinth of deceit, combat forces beyond comprehension, and decide whether to save a kingdom he despises—or let it burn to ash.
