by Steven Maus

In the kingdom of Branchwater, the humans have peacefully lived alongside their guardians, the mantliks, for the last seven hundred years. But that changes one morning when they wake up to find a foreign army encamped outside the castle town.

What follows is a gripping story of several young friends-human and mantlik-and how they come together to survive. Facing an onslaught like no one imagined, the two races must stand side-by-side on the walls of Branchwater, bracing themselves for the future.

As the siege commences with lifted shields and drawn bows, the children hide deep inside the castle. It is the young Desirae who wanders through the inner halls and down into the basement. What she stumbles on below the castle could mean either salvation for Branchwater or its destructive end.