Earth and Shadow — David C. Smith

For the past five hundred years, the human Kingdom of Paks has been forged upon the ruins of a magical age of Magi. Bishop Kaiser is thrust onto the throne following the horrific murder of his parents. After years of its own wars, the Kingdom returns to peace, until a near fatal attack changes Bishop in a way that nobody can understand or explain. Bishops new and aggressive persona sends the kingdom into turmoil and reignites war between the sects.

The young Prince Farren finds himself caught between the love for his brother, and war. Farren is quickly forced out of his rambunctious, adolescent ways and struggles to gain strength to save his friends. The danger is far greater than everyone realizes, and it will take help from some very unexpected sources for Farren and Commander Coal Lucer to avert war, and worse; the coming of a new and dark age. Just as it was beginning to be thought of as legend, magic starts to flow once again in the land of Paks.