Warrior of the Blood — Vaughn Heppner

It was lonely growing up in a swamp. It was worse after his mother died. Because Jublain had promised her, he stayed out of trouble…but one day trouble came looking for him. Killers slew his dog, burned his hut and loosened spells upon him. Jublain had no idea why, but a Talon of magic-wielding hunters wanted him, and they would track him to the ends of the earth. It turned out there was something special about his blood. Was that why his mother had hidden him in a swamp all these years? Jublain became curious. He found people -- they became friends -- and they taught him. It was hard. They took him to dangerous places, but by degrees he turned into a warrior of the Blood. The Talon was supposed to drag him to the lair of his enemy. Now Jublain was coming on his own to deal with an ancient evil that needed him dead.