Grand Prize Winner of the 2024 CIBA BEST SERIES A prince becomes an outlaw to save the people he once helped oppress. Stripped of his command and branded a traitor, former prince and Captain of the Sentinels, Laeden, now leads a band of rebel knights against rising tyranny. His mission seems impossible: distract the realm's merciless hunters long enough for a prophesied champion to cross the kingdom and stop a divine conspiracy that threatens both mortal and godly realms. As civil war erupts and ancient prophecies unfold, Laeden discovers an even darker truth: a traitor god is murdering deities and pushing the world toward destruction. The only one who can stop it is the same champion he once betrayed. To save both realms, Laeden must risk everything — his honor, his followers, and his life — to help the very person he was sworn to destroy. The battle for freedom rages on in this breathtaking sequel to THE SCALES OF BALANCE, where honor and justice clash with prophecy and power. In a world where even gods can die, breaking chains may require sacrificing everything. Perfect for readers who love: Epic fantasy with multiple compelling POVs - Complex magical systems with devastating costs - Stories of redemption, revolution, and impossible choices - Military fantasy with complex moral dilemmas - Political intrigue across mortal and divine realms "This is probably the best trilogy I've read in a long time." — Let Zygons be Zygons "The building of this world and its characters, the attention to detail of the terrain, the depictions of the characters' facial expressions, the mood/emotion of the environment, and the verbiage, are also 10 out of 10 ... This book has kings and mages, seers, gladiators, blood, battles, alliances, betrayal, EXCITEMENT!!" — Goodreads reviewer