A young woman named Talasyn, gifted with the unique ability to manipulate light, discovers her royal lineage.
Talasyn serves as a soldier in her homeland, Sardovia, which has been embroiled in a decade-long conflict with the formidable and malevolent Night Empire, a war known as the Hurricane Wars. An orphan, Talasyn knows nothing about her family but suspects they may be the origin of her rare Lightweaving magic. During a skirmish with the Night Empire, she crosses swords with Prince Alaric, a formidable warrior and the son of the Night Emperor.
Talasyn is assigned a secret mission to infiltrate Nenavar, a neighboring matriarchal society that has managed to stay neutral during the Hurricane Wars. Her objective is to find a Light Sever, a tool that could enhance her magic. However, she uncovers a shocking truth – she is the rightful heir to Nenavar’s throne. Her mother, now believed to be dead, and she vanished under mysterious circumstances when she was just a baby.
Alaric trails her to Nenavar, and they find out that his power to create darkness and shadows has a startling effect when combined with her Lightweaving. A few weeks later, the Night Empire overpowers Sardovia, marking the end of the Hurricane Wars. The narrative then shifts to a slow-paced tale of court politics and diplomacy.
A group of Sardovian soldiers and refugees seek refuge in Nenavar, but Talasyn’s grandmother consents to shield them only if Talasyn agrees to join the royal court and marry Alaric. The political maneuverings surrounding the impending wedding become the main focus of the remaining narrative, which proves to be a tedious read. The sluggish pace only accentuates the confusing world-building and underdeveloped characters. The attraction between Alaric and Talasyn is unclear, and their budding romance seems as stagnant as the plot itself.
