Ages ago, the land of Elementum hung on the brink of destruction as an army of fallen spirits—led by the Heart of Corruption itself—stormed the realm in a terrible onslaught. Although the evil Heart has long since been incarcerated in the depths of the Earth, its followers are still scattered about the land, doomed to eternally serve their demonic ruler. After an era of prosperity, dark creatures have begun to stir once more. Hidden away in the peaceful country of Lotheria, thirteen-year-old John has never glimpsed the outside world, nor the dangers that threaten to destroy it. He has managed to avoid trouble so far, but when he learns the secret of his family’s heritage, he becomes involved in a risky mission to collect ancient relics that may represent the only chance of combatting the darkness: the Five Runestones. In the midst of a primeval struggle, John must learn to harness the powerful energy of these mystical artifacts in order to save a world that is bigger than he has ever known. This edition now includes a sneak peak of book 2, Thunder and Rain , available now!