In Guard’s YA fantasy novel, a teenager marked by an ancient prophecy must survive war, captivity, and the wilderness.

Nin is a fierce and resourceful girl whose people are slaughtered by Gore and his men; he’s a brutal warlord who senses something dangerous in the pale markings that are etched across her skin. She’s dragged into captivity and branded a threat, and although she endures loss, isolation, and relentless brutality, she refuses to break. Her connection to the feared Dagger Mouth Demons, and particularly a shadowy beast whom she names Shadow, begins to unlock a deeper truth: She’s tied to an ancient prophecy that speaks of “the Ruler with the skin of shadows” who “will bow to none.” Guard’s world is richly imagined and vividly rendered, with atmospheric detail in every snowy forest, war camp, and mythical confrontation. The book’s emotional power lies in Nin’s unwavering spirit; her trauma is not softened but fully realized, making her transformation into a leader feel earned. Her bond with animals—especially the wolflike Shadow and a rescued dire wolf cub is tender and symbolic, reinforcing themes of loyalty, instinct, and kinship across species: “Perhaps this was how true bonds formed - not through blood or tribe, but through mercy in darkness.” As she forms a pack and finds unexpected allies, her journey builds to legendary proportions, culminating in scenes of visceral battle, moral reckoning, and quiet resilience. The prose is lyrical yet muscular, alternating between action-driven sequences and introspective passages. Some exposition-heavy moments and abrupt perspective shifts may challenge some readers, and the cast is vast, with side players and subplots that sometimes overwhelm the main arc. Still, for readers drawn to survival epics with emotional depth and mythic stakes, this story will resonate. Overall, Guard writes with cinematic scope and emotional sensitivity, offering a hero whose scars become symbols of power.

An ambitious and immersive coming-of-age survival tale.