Thorn - Ryan Aussie Smith

Thorn was never meant to belong.

Born from death and raised among the immortal children of the forest, Thorn has always been treated as cursed, dangerous, and strange. While the other Viridio cling to peace and conformity, Thorn is haunted by violent dreams, forbidden questions, and a hunger for the secrets hidden beyond the village.

When he discovers an ancient temple filled with traps, treasure, and a mysterious silver dust, Thorn awakens a power tied to blood, memory, and death itself. Then raiders breach the forest, enslave his people, and tear away the only friend who ever understood him.

Thorn dies trying to save her.

Twenty years later, he wakes in a changed body with a god's debt carved into his soul, the memories of dead warriors stirring in his mind, and a mission he never asked for. To rescue Milia and the stolen Viridio, Thorn must leave the only world he has ever known and step into a brutal war between empires, monsters, gods, and men.

Thorn is Book One of Shadow's Lament, a dark epic fantasy series filled with ancient magic, savage battles, forbidden knowledge, and a reluctant hero reborn for war.