Malice: Book One of The Faithful and the Fallen (Faithful & the Fallen 1) by Gwynne, John (2013) Paperback

In a land shadowed by a foreboding black sun, young Corban feels a twinge of longing as he observes his peers training to become fierce warriors. Growing up in a village where legends of valor and strife shape daily life, he dreams of following in their footsteps, but the weight of destiny looms. As ancient rivalries and dark powers begin to stir, Corban’s simple existence is upended, thrusting him into a world filled with both peril and promise.

As loyalties are tested and friendships forged in fire, the lines between right and wrong blur. The looming threat of war pits the faithful against their enemies, igniting a battle for survival that will shape the future of their land. Amid the chaos, Corban must find his place in a story much larger than himself, learning that courage comes in many forms, and even the most unlikely of heroes can rise.