The Fifth

In Alesaria, power is inherited at birth. Those born without a Gift are dismissed as lesser, no matter how brilliant they prove themselves to be. Nineteen-year-old Alexander has no Gift, but he possesses a near-perfect memory, a strategist's mind and an ambition fierce enough to defy kings. He advises Alesaria's war council and dreams of earning a place in history. When a northern campaign collapses into massacre, Alexander is captured, sold and forced into an arena where survival becomes his only path forward. His victories draw the attention of Aurelian, the legendary Immortal King, who brings Alexander into the company of warriors whose powers have shaped empires. But beyond the battlefield, a masked movement is rising among the Giftless, and an enemy known as Copycat is collecting the abilities of the world's most dangerous figures. To defeat him, Alexander must become the one thing the world insists he can never be. The power to see the future could make him the Fifth, but every vision demands a price. The Fifth is a dark epic fantasy of war, ambition, class and sacrifice, perfect for readers who enjoy ancient-inspired worlds, strategic battles, morally complex heroes and magic with a price.