The King's Champion

The first book in a fantasy series of swords, sorcery, and adventure.
A nameless orphan and a despised prince must conquer a living magic that threatens to destroy them and the people of their sprawling, beautiful land.
A generation ago, a great war convulsed Cantwin. Amidst blood-soaked battles the Stormlifter kings rose up to save the kingdom by imprisoning the dark god Moleck in hell for all eternity.
Or so they thought.
Seventeen-year-old Lance thinks his life is just about perfect now that the prettiest girl in the village wants him. Sure, he dreams of fighting far off battles, but that's nothing more than a fantasy. Until the elders order him away to find a name for himself.
In the dazzling capital, Lance navigates court intrigues with Prince Kieran's unlikely friendship. Yet the glitter and gold obscures a dark conspiracy. Soon the two friends find themselves propelled to the edges of the world on a desperate quest. The stakes: Lance's life, Kieran's throne, and the survival of the Land itself.
Hunted by assassins, and haunted by the awakening of a strange and frightful power within them, they must find proof of Kieran's claim to the throne before a dark god's vengeance destroys them all. For the Power is summoning a champion, and it will not be denied.