A Harbinger of Darkness

As one of the Touched, Amara Cho hides her magic in a kingdom that forbids it. But an unprecedented offer awaits her: to be the first openly Touched in Eloria. If only she wasn’t about to discover the dark secret explaining why they exile her kind to begin with.

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A Fantasy About

Magic

In Eloria, every child is tested for magic. If their blood turns black, red dots are inked into the flesh under their eyes, marking them as Touched. Reviled and scorned for their magical abilities, they are seen as no better than the enemy, the Oskilians, thriving just across the border.

Secrets

The Luminary Alignment is the first full lunar eclipse to take place in 1,000 years, and astronomers expect the celestial event to last for six hours. Rumors race around the city, faster than wildfire. All portents point to darkness, a harbinger, and a sleeping deity.

Politics

The Cursed Wars ended 300 years ago. Since then, the kingdoms of Eloria and Oskil have managed a tenuous truce, but the peace treaty just expired—and 17-year-old Amara Cho is caught in the middle. As one of the Touched, Amara hides what she can do. Until now.

Nefer Doane

Hi there, it's nice to meet you.

An avid reader since childhood, I'm fascinated by imagined worlds, complex relationships, and how perception shapes reality. In years past, I worked at Apple, consulted for an organic juice shop, and became a Twitch Affiliate. When not writing, I can be found reading, hiking through the forests, and playing cozy computer games.