Fate's Forsaken Series by Shae Ford

A story told by one of the series’ most intriguing villains: Years before the Whispering War, there was a girl named Olivia. Her family murdered, her home destroyed — a darkness she can't control. Olivia has never quite fit in amongst the lords and ladies of the seas... but things are about to get worse. Forced into the service of a powerful enemy, she must use her gifts to kill. The darkness grows fiercer with every step; each murder drags her closer to edge of villainy... moreA story told by one of the series’ most intriguing villains: Years before the Whispering War, there was a girl named Olivia. Her family murdered, her home destroyed — a darkness she can't control. Olivia has never quite fit in amongst the lords and ladies of the seas... but things are about to get worse. Forced into the service of a powerful enemy, she must use her gifts to kill. The darkness grows fiercer with every step; each murder drags her closer to edge of villainy. Only one force in the Kingdom might have the power to save her, but she knows it's too late. Olivia has already fallen to the darkness — into the jaws of a monster she calls The Poison. less

Seventeen years ago, a long and bloody rebellion wracked the six united regions of the Kingdom. Now the new King wields the vast and unvanquished army of Midlan with his right hand, and with his left has granted a small group of thugs — the nobles he calls his Sovereign Five — unbridled rule over the other regions. As if this weren’t bad enough, the King has also outlawed the practice of whispering — which is a problem for Kael... moreSeventeen years ago, a long and bloody rebellion wracked the six united regions of the Kingdom. Now the new King wields the vast and unvanquished army of Midlan with his right hand, and with his left has granted a small group of thugs — the nobles he calls his Sovereign Five — unbridled rule over the other regions. As if this weren’t bad enough, the King has also outlawed the practice of whispering — which is a problem for Kael. It’s not like he asked to be born a whisperer: he didn’t ask for his strange healing powers anymore than he asked to be the village runt. And when he rescues a wounded girl from the perils of the Unforgivable Mountains, his luck only gets worse. She couldn’t have been just any girl: she had to be Kyleigh —the sword-wielding renegade knight with all of Midlan on her trail. Then one miserable, snowy evening, things go from bad to worse, and Kael is left with no choice but to follow Kyleigh down the mountains and into the tumultuous lowlands. She leads him on one mad quest after the next — eventually pulling off an act of such mischievous proportions that it threatens to change the Kingdom as they know it. less

Winter has finally broken its hold over the Kingdom — but as the snows melt, trouble springs up in its place. A dark cloud hangs over Midlan: the army has retreated behind its high walls, not a word slips out from between its gates. And rumors swirl that the King has gone mad.Kael knows nothing of this: his sights are on the plains. But with his horrible luck following him wherever he goes, it doesn’t take long for his plan to unravel... moreWinter has finally broken its hold over the Kingdom — but as the snows melt, trouble springs up in its place. A dark cloud hangs over Midlan: the army has retreated behind its high walls, not a word slips out from between its gates. And rumors swirl that the King has gone mad.Kael knows nothing of this: his sights are on the plains. But with his horrible luck following him wherever he goes, it doesn’t take long for his plan to unravel. In fact, he begins to suspect that some would rather see him dead. If Kael is going to have any chance to survive, he’ll have to come up with a new plan — and quickly. Meanwhile, Kyleigh finds herself locked in a sprint across the desert. Time presses against her: there is a force gathered in Whitebone that threatens to undo everything, should it reach the plains. But her pride blinds her to the dangers, and it isn’t long before she and her companions are lost among the towering dunes. less

With the thrones of the Sovereign Five broken, the Kingdom sits on the brink of ruin. A new threat rises from the north — an alliance between two rulers. While the Earl and the Countess plot for the throne, King Crevan slips deeper into madness. All of their fates are intertwined … and may yet be tied to a boy from the mountains.Forced to choose between avenging his village and protecting those he loves, Kael begins the long journey home... moreWith the thrones of the Sovereign Five broken, the Kingdom sits on the brink of ruin. A new threat rises from the north — an alliance between two rulers. While the Earl and the Countess plot for the throne, King Crevan slips deeper into madness. All of their fates are intertwined … and may yet be tied to a boy from the mountains.Forced to choose between avenging his village and protecting those he loves, Kael begins the long journey home. His travels soon dissolve into chaos: dark rumors plague him, a war between shamans has erupted in his path, and he’s fairly certain one of the Countess’s agents is following him. Still, he knows that all of these troubles are nothing compared to the danger that lurks in the Unforgivable Mountains — what he doesn’t know is how one simple choice may change his world forever.The die has been cast. less

Midlan has awoken. Soldiers pour from between the gates and monsters descend upon the Kingdom. When Midlan turns its eye to Copperdock, Kael quickly discovers that no realm is safe from the wrath of the King. But while he fights to keep Crevan’s soldiers away from his friends, other powers rise up behind him — including an army so terrible that it threatens to devour everything... moreMidlan has awoken. Soldiers pour from between the gates and monsters descend upon the Kingdom. When Midlan turns its eye to Copperdock, Kael quickly discovers that no realm is safe from the wrath of the King. But while he fights to keep Crevan’s soldiers away from his friends, other powers rise up behind him — including an army so terrible that it threatens to devour everything. All paths lead to Midlan, every fate hinges upon a final battle, and the bloodshed will bring about a reckoning a thousand years in the making — a plan woven by Fate, herself. There’s only one soul she can’t cast for: a boy from the mountains who might undo everything, if he isn’t stopped. When Kael’s journey carries him to the battle’s end, he doesn’t know that the fate of the Kingdom rests upon his shoulders. The choice he makes will forever change his world … and bring him to the story’s end. less