An epic dark fantasy where prophecy meets a devastating truth no hero is prepared to face.

The darkness is spreading. Kingdoms are falling. And the only person who can stop it never wanted to be chosen at all.

Niama is an elven hunter from the ancient forests of Mistwood—skilled, independent, and determined to survive the growing war on her own terms. But when a mysterious Seer delivers a prophecy naming her as the key to stopping the Second Rising, an ancient evil consuming the world, refusing is no longer an option. The Staff of Light is the only weapon powerful enough to end the darkness—and only Niama can claim it.

But the path to the staff is a gauntlet of impossible trials.

Crossing a continent ravaged by war, Niama must gather rare and dangerous ingredients for a sacred potion, survive encounters with creatures born from nightmares, and navigate treacherous alliances with those who have their own reasons to see the darkness destroyed. A disgraced prince haunted by loss. A battle-hardened Magika guarding deadly secrets. A skin changer bound to the ancient forests. Each carries their own shadows. Each will be tested beyond breaking.

Because the staff demands a price—and the truth of who can pay it will shatter everything.

Niama has always known she was a foundling, raised by elves but not born to them. What she doesn’t know is that her bloodline holds the key to both salvation and damnation. When she finally learns whose blood runs through her veins, she’ll discover that the monsters destroying the world aren’t the only evil she must face. Some horrors were forged by her own people. And redemption—if it’s even possible—will cost more than she ever imagined.

Perfect for readers who love the lyrical worldbuilding of The Name of the Wind, the moral complexity of The Poppy War, and the epic scope of Mistborn. THE SECOND RISING is a dark fantasy adventure where prophecy is just the beginning, chosen ones aren’t always heroes, and some truths can only be answered—never undone.

Scroll up and discover why readers are calling this “the fantasy debut of the year.”