Outcast in the Shadows

Everest, a Raincarver in the water-ruled land of Cascada, is marked as an outcast by her half-brother Ransom and their father, Commander Rake. Despite her mother's encouragement, Everest is ostracized for her differences and her yet-to-emerge Order (shapeshifting form). Her only solace is her friendship with Harlon, another misfit, and her determination to become a warrior at Never Keep, the legendary training fortress. The world is divided by elemental nations—water, air, earth, and fire—locked in endless war, and Everest's only hope for belonging is to prove herself in battle, even as her family and peers try to break her spirit.

Sky Witch's Ascent

Vesper, a crossborn Sinfair in the air kingdom of Stormfell, is both feared and desired for her Succubus Order and mastery of blood magic. Under Prince Dragor's command, she leads her sisters-in-arms, Dalia and Moraine, in brutal raids and battles, earning a reputation as the Sky Witch. Vesper's loyalty to Dragor is absolute, but her position is precarious—she is both weapon and outcast, her beauty and power a double-edged sword. Her world is one of ruthless ambition, court intrigue, and the constant threat of betrayal, as she navigates the politics of war and the dangers of her own desires.

Blood and Boundaries

The fragile peace between the elemental nations is shattered as Skyforgers attack Cascada, using their floating island, Ironwraith, to rain destruction. Everest, fleeing her brother's cruelty, is thrown through the magical Boundary and survives, discovering the lies told about the barrier's lethality. As the Skyforgers' assault devastates her town, Everest's mother is killed in a horrific attack by Flamebringers, leaving Everest scarred and vengeful. The trauma forges her resolve to seek vengeance and a place at Never Keep, even as her father rejects her and her hand is maimed by Basilisk venom.

The Waning Lands Collide

Every year, un-Awakened Fae from all four nations are summoned to Helle Fort for the Awakening and assessment. Everest, despite her injury, fights for a place at Never Keep, facing brutal combat and magical trials. Vesper and her Skyforger sisters also arrive, their own ambitions and secrets in tow. The Keep is a crucible, pitting the best of each nation against one another, with the Reapers—mysterious, star-blessed arbiters—overseeing the trials. Alliances and rivalries form, and the threat of death is ever-present, as only the strongest will survive to become warriors.

The Forge Burns

During the Skyforger attack, Flamebringers infiltrate Cascada and set the Forge ablaze, killing Everest's mother in a rain of Basilisk venom. The trauma leaves Everest physically and emotionally scarred, her dreams of Never Keep nearly destroyed. Her father's indifference and her brother's cruelty deepen her isolation, but Harlon's loyalty and her mother's dying wish for vengeance drive her forward. Everest's resolve hardens—she will find her mother's killer, no matter the cost.

Skyforgers Descend

Vesper, Dalia, and Moraine lead a Skyforger strike on Cascada, retrieving a kidnapped Basilisk and clashing with Everest's people. The battle is a dance of elemental magic, blood, and ambition, with Vesper's Succubus powers and blood magic turning the tide. The raid exposes the cruelty of the war and the personal vendettas that fuel it. Vesper's complicated relationship with Prince Dragor and the enigmatic Cayde Avior adds layers of intrigue and danger, as alliances shift and secrets are kept.

Vengeance and Loss

Haunted by her mother's death, Everest swears vengeance on the Flamebringer responsible—Kaiser Brimtheon, a soulless Fury. Her journey to Never Keep is marked by hardship, humiliation, and the struggle to master her water magic despite her maimed hand. She forges a dagger for vengeance, trains relentlessly, and forms a fragile alliance with Harlon. As she faces the trials of Never Keep, Everest's determination is tested, and her mysterious Order finally emerges—a white Leopard, rare and underestimated.

The Keep's Deadly Trials

Within Never Keep, Everest and Vesper endure grueling magical and combat trials, each fighting for survival and recognition. Everest's one-handed casting makes her a target, but her ingenuity and resilience earn her a precarious place. Vesper navigates the treacherous politics of the Skyforgers, her bond with Dalia and Moraine deepening even as she is drawn into a dangerous affair with Cayde. The Reapers' secrets, the threat of assassination, and the ever-present risk of death create a crucible that forges and breaks the neophytes.

Secrets Beneath the Keep

Driven by suspicion and the need to find Harlon, Everest and Vesper form an uneasy alliance to investigate the mysteries beneath Never Keep. They discover hidden passages, forbidden rituals, and the existence of chained Dragons and the Void—a monstrous, ancient power. The Reapers' true motives are called into question, and the pair realize that the prophecies guiding the war may be lies. Their discoveries bind them together, even as their nations remain enemies.

The Prophecy's Lies

Everest and Vesper find a hidden version of the Elysium Prophecy, contradicting the versions told in their homelands. The prophecy, which each nation believes promises their victory, is exposed as a tool for control, its true meaning obscured by the Reapers and the ruling powers. The revelation shakes their faith and forces them to question everything they have been taught about the war, the stars, and their destinies.

Allies and Enemies

As Everest and Vesper's alliance deepens, so do the dangers. Everest's quest to save Harlon leads her into the heart of the Reapers' darkest rituals, while Vesper's forbidden romance with Cayde is revealed to be a deadly deception—he is a Stonebreaker spy, responsible for the deaths of her closest friends. The cost of trust is high, and both women are forced to confront the reality that love and loyalty can be weapons as sharp as any blade.

The Fury's Chains

In a devastating confrontation, Kaiser uses his Fury Order's Nightfire to bind Everest to him, making her his Fearsire—a soul-bound source of fear and power. The soul-tie robs Everest of her agency, forcing her to obey Kaiser's will and preventing her from killing him. The bond is both a curse and a key, as Kaiser believes Everest is the Void—the weapon of prophecy. Everest's quest for vengeance is twisted into a new, darker path, as she becomes both prisoner and potential destroyer.

Betrayal in the Blood

Cayde's true allegiance is revealed as he murders Dalia and Moraine, Vesper's sisters-in-arms, in a bid to claim the secret of the archways for the Stonebreakers. Vesper, devastated and powerless, uses blood magic to curse Cayde before barely escaping with her life. The betrayal shatters her, leaving her alone and consumed by grief and the need for vengeance. The cost of trust is made brutally clear, and Vesper's path is forever changed.

The Dragon's Awakening

In the chaos of betrayal and loss, Vesper frees a chained Dragon from the depths of the Keep, unleashing a force of legend upon the world. The Dragon's suffering and rage mirror Vesper's own, and their fates become intertwined. The escape of the Dragon signals a new era, as the ancient powers long hidden by the Reapers and the ruling nations begin to awaken, threatening to upend the war and the world itself.

The Void's Chosen

Kaiser's soul-tie and the revelations beneath the Keep confirm Everest's role as the Void—the weapon foretold to end the Endless War. The true nature of the prophecy, the Reapers' manipulations, and the ancient powers at play are laid bare. Everest's fate is no longer her own, and the choices she and Vesper make will determine the future of the Waning Lands. As the first book ends, both women stand on the precipice of transformation, their destinies forever altered by blood, betrayal, and the secrets of the stars.

Characters

Everest Arcadia

Everest is a Raincarver from Cascada, marked as an outcast by her family and peers for her differences and her yet-to-emerge Order. Scarred by trauma and driven by the loss of her mother, Everest is fiercely determined, resilient, and inventive. Her relationship with Harlon is her anchor, and her quest for vengeance against Kaiser Brimtheon shapes her journey. Everest's psychological landscape is defined by her struggle for belonging, her refusal to yield, and her capacity for both compassion and ruthless violence. Her emergence as a white Leopard Order and her eventual binding as Kaiser's Fearsire mark her as both underestimated and uniquely powerful.

Vesper (Sky Witch)

Vesper is a crossborn Sinfair in Stormfell, wielding the powers of a Succubus and blood magic. Feared and desired, she is both weapon and outcast, her loyalty to Prince Dragor absolute—until betrayal and loss force her to question everything. Vesper's psychological complexity lies in her need for control, her fear of vulnerability, and her hunger for recognition. Her relationships with Dalia, Moraine, and Cayde reveal her capacity for love and trust, even as they become sources of pain. Vesper's journey is one of self-discovery, as she confronts the lies of prophecy, the cost of loyalty, and the meaning of power.

Harlon

Harlon is Everest's childhood friend and protector, a Monolrian Bear shifter whose loyalty and strength are unwavering. His emergence as a dual-element Reaper acolyte separates him from Everest, but his presence remains a guiding force in her life. Harlon's psychological role is that of the lost ideal—his absence and potential suffering drive Everest's actions, and his fate is tied to the mysteries beneath the Keep.

Kaiser Brimtheon

Kaiser is a Flamebringer and Fury, an orphan of The Matriarch, and the killer of Everest's mother. His power is immense, his emotions seemingly absent, and his actions are driven by duty, manipulation, and a twisted sense of destiny. Kaiser's psychological profile is that of the monster who recognizes the monster in others—his binding of Everest as his Fearsire is both a claim and a curse, and his belief in her as the Void sets the stage for the war's endgame.

Cayde Avior

Cayde is introduced as a Skyforger, a Sinfair with a mysterious past and a magnetic presence. His relationship with Vesper is passionate and fraught, culminating in a devastating betrayal—he is revealed as a Stonebreaker spy, responsible for the deaths of Dalia and Moraine. Cayde's psychological complexity lies in his ability to manipulate, his hunger for power, and the genuine connection he forges with Vesper before shattering it.

Dalia

Dalia is Vesper's closest friend and battle-sister, a Chimera Order known for her ferocity and wit. Her loyalty to Vesper is absolute, and her death at Cayde's hands is a turning point that leaves Vesper unmoored and vengeful.

Moraine

Moraine is the third member of Vesper's inner circle, a Harpy Order whose strength and wisdom balance the trio. Her death alongside Dalia is a profound loss, stripping Vesper of her chosen family and forcing her to confront the true cost of trust.

Ransom

Ransom is Everest's half-brother and the favored child of Commander Rake. His bullying and betrayal are central to Everest's early trauma, and his role as antagonist is both personal and emblematic of the society that rejects Everest.

Commander Rake

Commander Rake is Everest's father, a war hero who values strength and conformity above all. His rejection of Everest and preference for Ransom shape her psychological landscape, fueling her need for recognition and vengeance.

The Matriarch (Mirelle Brimtheon)

The Matriarch is the enigmatic ruler of Pyros, adopting orphans and forging them into weapons. Her influence over Kaiser and North, her role in the war's escalation, and her belief in prophecy make her a shadowy but pivotal figure.

Plot Devices

Dual Protagonists and Mirrored Journeys

The novel alternates between Everest and Vesper, each facing unique but thematically linked challenges. Their mirrored experiences—ostracism, trauma, ambition, and betrayal—create a narrative resonance that deepens the exploration of power, loyalty, and self-worth.

Elemental Nations and Orders

The elemental nations (water, air, earth, fire) and their associated Orders (shapeshifting forms) provide a rich backdrop for conflict and character development. The Orders serve as both sources of power and markers of identity, shaping the characters' fates and the dynamics of war.

The Elysium Prophecy and the Void

The Elysium Prophecy is a central plot device, its meaning and authenticity questioned as Everest and Vesper uncover hidden versions and the true nature of the Void. The prophecy's ambiguity and the Reapers' control over its narrative drive the characters to question their destinies and the legitimacy of the war.

Blood Magic, Soul-Ties, and Possession

Blood magic, soul-ties, and possession are used to explore themes of agency, control, and the cost of power. Everest's binding as Kaiser's Fearsire and Vesper's use of blood magic to curse Cayde illustrate the double-edged nature of magic—its ability to both empower and enslave.

Hidden Passages and Forbidden Knowledge

The discovery of hidden passages, chained Dragons, and the true nature of the Reapers' rituals serve as catalysts for the protagonists' transformation. The pursuit of forbidden knowledge is both a literal and metaphorical journey, forcing Everest and Vesper to confront the lies that shape their world.

Betrayal and the Cost of Trust

The novel uses betrayal—by family, friends, and lovers—as a means to explore the psychological cost of trust. Vesper's devastation at Cayde's hands and Everest's soul-tie to Kaiser are the ultimate expressions of this theme, leaving both women changed and isolated.

Analysis

Never Keep is a dark, immersive fantasy that interrogates the nature of power, identity, and destiny in a world riven by war and lies. Through the dual perspectives of [Everest](#ever

Last updated: July 2, 2025