A young man faces dangerous political enemies in this epic fantasy series opener.

Devon Mason, 25, and his cousin Corinne are gearing up for the “Examination,” a test presented by Magelord Alexander Mason to see if they are able to call upon the “Veils of Chaos.” The head of the Mason family and many years Devon’s senior, Magelord Alexander can summon the Veils. He has made the family and their home the most prosperous on the continent called Kral by traveling to other worlds and bringing back valuable technology and information. Devon’s Examination turns deadly, and Corinne receives a nearly fatal wound—but while they are collapsed together, hands and blood entwined, the Veils are summoned. After his injuries heal, Devon learns that he and Corinne have a deep, soul-tying bond, allowing them to share emotions and thoughts. The Magelord soon informs Devon that his life is now in danger since the world knows of his ability to call upon the Veils. Devon and Corinne decide to keep their bond and her shared talent concerning the Veils a secret. Now, Devon must learn to control the Veils, apprentice under the Magelord, and discover how to “walk among the five known worlds” in the short time that the Mason family patriarch has left. Hiding Devon on Earth to learn about the planet’s technology and what it has to offer is the Magelord’s first step. But even on another world, Devon’s enemies find ways to draw him back home, where he is a target. It will take all of Devon’s abilities and allies to keep him alive long enough to harness his full powers. In this epic, worlds-spanning novel, Christian skillfully blends classic fantasy tropes with SF elements, fusing magic and technology together to form a captivating tale. Devon grumbles about his mission (“My style of magic is powerful but quite tedious, given the delicate and time-consuming preparations that must go into each spell”) yet he gets easily distracted by a pretty woman’s charms, which makes him both believably fallible and enchantingly endearing. The author has created a fantastic universe with vivid characters and magic systems that will leave readers quickly turning the pages.

A compelling fantasy with political schemes, magic, and lovable characters.