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Born into a family of muscular warriors, Egil Daenyrs is nothing like his father and three older brothers. Scrawny and untrained, Egil prefers books and learning to weapons and politics. But when a royal summons is issued for a recruit to the Ranger’s Guild, Egil is chosen. As the king’s nephew, he is regarded as a despised noble by most of his fellow recruits and the seasoned rangers. He is forced to endure a year and a half of strenuous training consisting of impossible trials and terrible punishments carried out by sadistic instructors. Despite facing constant violence and sustaining multiple life-threatening injuries, Egil manages to make a few hard-won friends, including an elemental mage named Lilina Sarith and the former great flame dragon queen Burcinatrix. When the king declares war on the dragons, Egil sets out to overcome a century of interspecies mistrust. Together with a team of unlikely allies, he must thwart the king’s plans in order to prevent the annihilation of the beautiful, majestic dragons.
Jay delivers an imaginative tale of shape-shifting creatures, powerful mages, and magical bonds. However, at the heart of this fantasy are several powerful, real-world themes. The book explores the detrimental consequences of judging others based on preconceived notions and prejudices. Multiple backstories and side plots portray the capacity for past pain to evolve into blinding bitterness and unforgiveness. Another recurring theme is the corruptive nature of power and the tendency of those in authority to abuse their power to victimize the weak. Through the characters’ development of friendships and romantic relationships, the book also challenges socioeconomic divisions. Most importantly, Jay characterizes true courage and strength not as physical might but rather as compassion and the indomitable will to do what is right, no matter the cost.