Characters

Aris Flamekeeper is a rebel dreamer, drawing maps of his native Ravendorf where the cruel Lord Ravenfire seeks to keep all knowledge and power away from the populace. Aris learns he is condemned to die early as a result of the Shadour Curse cast upon him as a child, and embarks on a quest for vengeance. He discovers the sword Sorrow, one of the two legendary Swords of Ruin said to be capable of siphoning enormous power from their wielder’s anguish. Somewhere in the Fallen Kingdom, Sorrow’s mate, Despair, is hidden, and with both swords Aris might be able to overthrow Lord Ravenfire. He might even be able to rid himself of his curse. But the cost is likely to be far worse even than death.

Evielle Fallenstar is a mysterious innkeeper with a dry wit and an acrid personality. She seems to hold a number of secrets and a painful past, being “emboldened by some inner turmoil and galvanized to action by a secret and titanic woe.” She challenges Aris' core ideals, favoring darkness over light, and pushes him to reconsider his purpose. Aris has his doubts but feels compelled to follow her anyway; she may be the key to helping him understand—and possibly overcome—the Shadour Curse.

Eloran Ironheart is a disillusioned jokester who is quick with a blade. The blacksmith’s apprentice wields the sword Loversbane and will do just about anything to protect his beloved Bethiriel Nightshade and his father, Virolian. But Eloran knows that power “cuts both ways” and is reluctant to embrace it. That is, until he has no other choice, and he discovers a terrible thing: part of him enjoys killing.

Cerewyn Springmeadow is a sprightly girl whose good cheer in the face of Ravendorf’s dreary environs inspires everyone around her. She and Aris share a secret, evidenced by the two violet wildflowers they stole from the edge of the city.

Bethiriel Nightshade is a reserved and independent girl who has been Eloran's beloved since they were six years old. They each wear a mock wedding ring from their childhood, but the time for games appears to be ending. Bethiriel shows great stoicism in the face of adversity, but in a cold new world, Eloran fears losing her more than anything.

Ryn Winterstone is an idealistic girl who sees life as a big adventure, even after (or maybe especially after) living through something horrific. What she lacks in experience she makes up for with pure force of will, but Eloran is certain she will find herself in over her head one day.

Julith Nightingale is a somber child with an unsettlingly mature disposition beyond her years. She sings of death and war after witnessing an atrocity, and she possesses a chilling knowingness that makes her a peculiar partner in crime for Ryn.

Virolian Ironheart is the most famous blacksmith in Ravendorf, Eloran's father and mentor. He is a formidable man owning the build and disposition of a soldier, but his caring shines through for those close to him. He demonstrates strong leadership in assembling a crop of outcasts into an army to contend with an evil magician.

Ravanor Nighthawk is Aris' caretaker, an elderly man who was a friend of his late mother and father. He possesses a wealth of knowledge and is often willing to share it, but he always seems to be leaving out the most important parts.

Sevre Serpentongue is known as the witch of the Badlands, a particularly deteriorated sector of Ravendorf. She possesses a thorough knowledge of the Fallen Kingdom’s history, a macabre sense of humor, and the vitality of a much younger woman. She is also capable of wielding fire to both heal and harm, which Aris witnesses firsthand.

Lord Ravenfire is the masked ruler of Ravendorf, a city of ruins covered in perpetual cloud. Some say he was once an honest man, but after the Sorcerer's War two decades ago, he suffered a grievous loss that might well have destroyed his sanity. Since then, he has locked the gates of the city and deployed a regime of obedient, dispassionate soldiers to monitor his populace. Most people, in their conditioned blindness, do not see it, but Aris and his friends have discerned a disturbing trend in Ravenfire’s most recent decrees. And if they are right, they are all in terrible danger.