As Johnis, Silvie, Billos, and Darsal continue their quest for the four still missing Books of History, Billos makes a decision that has devastating consequences for himself and his companions, especially the devoted Darsal.

As the land of the Forest Dwellers is increasingly decimated by the Horde, Thomas Hunter, supreme commander of the Forest Guard, choses four sixteen-year-old recruits for a special mission--to find the seven lost Books of History that have power over the past, present, and future.

Five years after leaving home, Johnis, Silvie, and Darsal return to find that the Horde has taken over Middle, Thomas and the rest of the Forest Guard have gone into hiding, and a strange new force has begun challenging everything they thought they knew.