Keelan and Declan Rea were orphaned as boy sand raised by th Mages in the Guild, a world where magical Gifts determine status and power. While Keelan wielded the rare ability of Truthreading, Declan was born without magic, leaving him to carve out a place for himself in a society that reveres the Gifted and dismisses the rest. At sixteen, Keelan joined the Guard to become an investigator, while Declan remained behind at the Guild, struggling to find his own path an dwrestling with resentments that both bind and divide them. A prequel in the Of Crowns & Quills series, this unforgettable origin story speaks of magic, family, adn the unbreakable bond of brothers, and is perfect for fans of coming-of-age fantasy.