The second title in the Vault of Heaven series, Peter Orullian’s Trial of Intentions is a mesmerizing fantasy epic that turns the conventions of the genre on its head

The gods who created this world have abandoned it. Within their mercy, however, they chained the rogue god-and the monstrous creatures he created to plague mortalkind-in the huge and inhospitable wasteland from the Bourne. The magical Veil which has them has secured humankind for millennia and the monsters are bit more than about Trial of Intentions tales informed to frighten kids. But the Veil has become weak and animals of Nightmare attended through. To fight them, the races of guys must form a great alliance to try and stop the animals.

But there is dissent. One king won’t answer the call, his satisfaction blinding him also to the poison in his own courtroom. Another would see Convocation fail for his personal political advantage. And still others believe Convocation isn’t enough. Some consider the talents of the Sheason, who are able to shape the very essence of the world to their will. But their purchase is divided, around the brink of collapse.

Tahn Junell remembers friends who despaired in a location left barren by war. One of the few who have actually confronted the unspeakable horde in battle, Tahn sees something else at the job and miracles about the type of the animals on the other side of the Veil. He selects to visit a location of his youngsters, a place of science, daring to believe he will get a way to prevent slaughter, prevent battle.

And his choices may reshape a world . .