Haunted by the death of his parents and the dangerous ability to wield fire, Roan isolates himself far from his home village. In a hand-crafted treehouse, he learns to live with his power and finds comfort in his self-sufficiency until an odd stranger wanders into his life. Lyria waits anxiously for her father to return from the village where he occasionally makes money as a bard. A wolf enters her house and startles her into telepathic communication. Stunned by her new ability, she leaves the empty house and follows the wolf into the deep forest. James and Kael escape from their brutal orphanage during a violent storm. While they run, James discovers that the lightning around him responds chaotically to his emotions of anger and revenge. His father comes home drunk and abusive one too many times and Aran blindly defends himself with water formed into powerful lashes. When it is over, Aran runs from the sight of his father's beaten body. Brianna's herb-gathering foray is interrupted by attackers. She manipulates the earth around her to engineer her escape, but is left with the same question all of the others ask: Why me? Drawn together by Corbin, their ancient mentor and guide, the five companions must learn to control their unexpected and perilous powers as well as navigate their personal tragedies if they hope to fulfill their prophetic roles. Only their combined abilities can overcome the Shadow King and his wraith-like servants who threaten the freedom of all souls throughout the kingdom.