Thorns of Devotion

A history of amounting hatred has built the village of Danara piece by piece. A future dictated by an unprecedented war between royalty and poverty will shatter it.

A wall separates Danara, keeping the royal families of Mountainside and their associates in Hillside away from the Palientes of Lowside who struggle to survive now that they are no longer needed to fill pockets for those above. 

Strengthened through Apocalimentes, the religion honoring their Drowned Father, the Palientes have one desire - to pour their flaming saltwater on their foes. Controlled by the criminal bands of Van Riel and Atiereze, which have called for a truce in their religious conflict for this specific goal, they will chase what their Father requires.

And they won’t stop until their saltwater scorches the royals.

A glimmer of hope exists. Sophia, heir to the Armine family, hasn't abandoned love despite what her role demands she do and what her allies request. Likewise, David, leader of Van Riel, drags a broken past after him that shapes his present and leads him to envision a future for Danara that is more complicated than anyone realizes.

Their paths cross, and their souls clash — a battle over devotion itself taking root. Malice has ruled Danara long enough to become unwritten law. Love, meek as it is against a war fueled by saltwater and rage, must become strong enough to stand against it.