But as Shard fell lower, he realized that the sun still hovered, dipped in the sea, that the dawn rippled softly across the water. In his dream he’d been late, missed it completely and faced banishment from the pride. Plenty of room to fall, to breathe, to regain safe air. His thoughts collapsed for three breaths as he plummeted on faith toward the sea, blind and gasping. He gave up on grace and tucked his wings to dive. Nightmares of the impending initiation hunt.ĭreams scattered like crows from Shard’s mind. His dreams flocked up from the night before. He had to bank, to get lower, breathe the deeper air. His wings drew in and flapped out sluggishly, feeling separate from his body. His mind flickered lightly in the thin air and he shoved down panic. The sun rose unhurriedly from the sea, and Shard strained against the steep sky, breathing deep, challenging himself to the highest possible dive. Too early, just before sunrise when forbidden darkness still blanketed the islands. Read moreįRESH MORNING AIR LIFTED clouds and gulls above the glimmering sea, and drew one young gryfon early from his den. Now with battle lines drawn, Shard must decide whether to fight beside his own king. When the gryfon king declares open war on the wolves Shard has befriended, it throws his past and uncertain future into the turmoil between. Secrets of his family, the Conquering, and perhaps even his own destiny begin to reveal themselves.

While on the dangerous initiation hunt that will either make or ruin him, Shard desperately takes the unexpected advice of a strange she-wolf who seeks him out, and hints that Shard's past is not all that it seems.ĭrawn to learn more, Shard risks the future he wants by making allies of creatures most gryfons call enemies, and learning ancient skills forbidden by the conquering kings. He must strive to keep up with larger, stronger, crueler gryfons in order to earn his place as a warrior, or face exile. The first book in the award-winning Summer King Chronicles!Īs the last of his kind in a gryfon pride ruled by the conquering Red Kings, Shard has always known his destiny is merely to survive.

Song of the Summer King by Jess E. Owen