The Dawn of the Sacred

13,000 years ago on the Itabacan Archipelago, the Itabayiti struggle to find normalcy after the conspiracy to murder their ruler five years earlier. Some seek alternative distractions, while others seize the opportunity to expand their influence. When they are faced with the full wrath of the Rain Spirit, their lands and communities are devastated, and ancient threats emerge in the chaos to challenge their resolve. With the suffering of their people heavy on their hearts, Itabacan's unlikely heroes confront these unexpected foes, hopeful to earn the admiration of their friends and families, but not everyone can return home unchanged.

As the rain season begins, Anki continues in his father's footsteps to become the next Chief of Wares, while his brother Atu lazes about, content in his de facto position as the heir apparent to the Yaya. Kina and Anki married the year before and are expecting their first child, but as if pregnancy and labor aren't difficult enough, Kina's mother and the Sisterhood of Lesini seem intent on making life even more miserable. Biacoya deservedly earns a leadership position of his own but battles with his past trauma to find peace in his success, while Tabba must return to Bahaca to train the incoming Mawoakin and delay her own recovery.

When a mysterious buzzing cloud sweeps through Itabacan and illness spreads, the Itabayiti bring their grievances to their ruler, who struggles to provide them with answers or empathy. As the rains continue, returning to normalcy seems impossible and the village streets are all but abandoned entirely, which encourages wicked forces to emerge from the shadows. Floodwaters ravish the lands, a murderous cult is on the loose, the people are prevented from performing the necessary rights for their dead, and just when a glimmer of hope appears on the horizon, the muwan descend upon the islands.

The hunt is on, not just for the heads of the dreaded giant hawks, but the missing and feared dead heir apparent. Old bonds are tested, new ones forged, and although some enjoy growth through adversity, most are desperate for their tumultuous fates to be changed.

The Dawn of the Sacred: Boynay's Fury is a riveting story where the lines between family and friendship, love and hate, and blood and spirit become blurred. The dark spaces between can be comforting, especially when all hope seems lost, but though the bright light at the end of the tunnel is dimmer than expected, choosing to accept fate is still a choice...or is it?