Although his apprenticeship was not done when John Gregory died, Tom Ward spent years learning to fight boggarts, witches, demons, and more and feels prepared to be the new county Spook, but while his youth causes many people to distrust him, Jenny is determined to be his apprentice.

Maren, desperate to save her kidnapped girlfriend, plans to steal one of the emporer's dragons and storm the Aurati stronghold, but her success depends on becoming an apprentice to the emporor's mysterious dragon trainer, which proves to be a dangerous venture. Raised among the ruins of a conquered mountain nation, Maren dreams only of sharing a quiet life with her girlfriend Kaia. When Kaia is abducted by the Aurati, prophetic agents of the emperor,...