Haven has passed many generations in peace, protected against encroaching Shadow by the Light that nurtures and sustains its people. Shadow brings chaos, and a dissolution of self for those who cannot withstand and control its power. But now, something has changed the balance between darkness and light, and Shadow has begun to encroach on Haven's lands. Trained by Graemor, a horribly maimed veteran with a cryptic history, a handful of young adults become Rangers to protect Haven. They've learned how to harness the power of Shadow to change and take on whatever form they desire, and to rescue those who have been claimed by Shadow. But their training hasn't prepared them for what's coming: Graemor's hidden past has caught up with him, and has brought the enmity of Shadow upon Haven. Amodai, one of his Rangers, must learn the true natures of Shadow and Light and, in so doing, save his village. For Shadow wraps ever closer about Haven, and little time remains before it washes over the village and its people.

Geoff Hart has reputedly been telling tales (sometimes ending up in considerable trouble thereby) since he was 6, but took many years to realize he could earn a living at this trade. Since 1987, he's worked as a technical writer and scientific editor for IBM, the Canadian Forest Service, and the Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada. Since 2004, he's been a freelancer, and only occasionally stops complaining about his boss. Geoff has worked primarily as a scientific and technical editor, specializing in authors who have English as a second language, but also does technical writing and French translation. He claims to have survived at least two bouts of leading or managing publications groups with only a minor need for ongoing therapy. A Fellow of the Society for Technical Communication (STC, www.stc.org), he has published 400+ nonfiction articles on communication, and spends an altogether unreasonable amount of time mentoring colleagues. His training is in plant ecology and plant physiology, which continue to fascinate him. In his spare time, he has committed three SFnal novels and a short story collection.