"I dared to step into the Shadows-and the Shadows pulled away in fear."
Have you ever had a secret that could ruin your life if someone found out? Maelis does-and if anyone were to learn who she is, she worries that Ironstead would cast her out, branded as Shadow Struck. But when a choice between the life and death of an innocent man faces her, she must confront the decision between doing what is wrong or doing what may get her killed. "Readers have made me cry by describing their experiences with Shadowhunt. I've heard them say that the characters feel like real people, and the interactions between them seem deeper than fiction. They've told me about parts that make them laugh out loud, and they've told me about parts that brought them to tears-that means the world to me."Among those daring to step into the unknown is Maelis, a resilient young woman driven by desperation. Her initial quest for food quickly transforms into a harrowing struggle for survival when she encounters a formidable adversary: a Wraith of Arrogance, one of the most powerful Shadowkind.
Haunted by a tumultuous past forged in hardship and spent on the unforgiving streets, Maelis battles not only the malevolent Shadows that threaten her but also the relentless regrets that linger in her heart. In her quest for redemption, she utilizes an ability that has been with her since birth-the Power of Shadows. This Power, however, is a double-edged blade: If it were exposed, it could lead to her banishment from Ironstead.
As Maelis grapples with her own darkness, the fate of Ironstead hangs in the balance. Will she master her Power for good, or will the shadows of her past prove insurmountable?