Bayan’s life is busy but rewarding as he trains to take over his father’s successful farm, until the day his elemental magic manifests. Philo, a eunuch of the Waarden Empire, must follow the law and send Bayan to the distant Duelist Academy to hone his skills—where the empire will claim him as its own property for life.
Before Bayan can reach the Academy campus, he and Philo are attacked by bandits who leave behind a mysterious item. While Philo tracks down its true importance through ancient archives and noble manors, Bayan struggles to fit in at the Academy, where his anger at his situation gets him into as much trouble as his outlander appearance. Worse, his rage poisons his magic, tainting it.
To complicate matters further, an assassin’s strike leads Bayan and Philo to uncover a mysterious, deadly plot whose successful outcome would change the world as they know it. Bayan must choose between his new life as a duelist and the power of his own rage. Who will he save?

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### Review

**#6 in Hot New Releases for Epic Fantasy, March 2013 -- Amazon.com**

**#12 in Hot New Releases for Coming of Age, March 2013 -- Amazon.com**

Giacomo paints a rich world with depth and a storyteller's gift of imagery. The book is a fantasy with a fully fleshed-out world and magic system, populated with memorable characters. -- ***kboards***

...the basic plot is set against the backdrop of a sprawling, ancient empire with a less-than-stellar record when it comes to absorbing other cultures. Social rank and perception, old grievances, outdated traditions, and unspoken rules all affect the way Bayan fits (or fails to fit) into his new role as a servant-for-life to an emperor he's never acknowledged. -- ***IndieView***

...an excellent epic fantasy with several storylines coming together in a richly woven tapestry. The writing is smooth, the plot interesting and fast-flowing, the world varied and fascinating and the characters have depth and are well-developed.  I was compelled to keep turning the pages to see what would happen next. I look forward to the next book in the series.** -- *I'm A Voracious Reader***

Bayan has to burn away far more imperfections in the fires of his will than anyone else, and he forges himself into a force to be reckoned with. And still, even he doesn't know where his loyalties lie. -- ***Red Reader Reviews***

Jasmine Giacomo has envisaged a fantasy world that brings together diverse nations, with a rich history and a clever magic system... The settings are evoked so beautifully that they immediately become realised in the mind's eye.** -- *TrollKing***

### From the Author

Look for the other books in this complete trilogy: *Traitor Savant* and *Prodigal Steelwielder.*