Lyra's shadow is her curse, her solace, and her only hope.

Born with the Rooted Heart, a powerful magic of absorption and stillness, Lyra has always lived in the secluded shadows of the Whispering Peaks, feared by those who worship the radiant Gilded Bloom. But when a mysterious illness begins to consume her younger brother, Rhys, Lyra is forced to break her solitude. Her desperate quest for a cure leads her from her shadowed home to the very heart of the Verdant Veil—Oakhaven, domain of the life-giving Bloom, and its legendary guardian, Elias.

Yet, the sunlit world offers no answers, only judgment. Instead, Lyra finds herself drawn into the twisted depths of the Bleeding Woods, where she encounters the enigmatic Malakor, a figure of ancient shadow who claims kinship with her forgotten power. He promises a different path to healing, one that demands Lyra embrace the very darkness she has always suppressed, to understand the true, complex nature of the blight, and to confront the long-held lies woven into the fabric of their world.

As a cosmic clash between the raw forces of light and shadow erupts, Lyra must master her forbidden gift, not to destroy, but to unite. Can she find the delicate balance that will save her brother, bridge an ancient divide, and illuminate the forgotten truth: that even in the deepest roots, a profound light can bloom?

Shadows of the Rooted Heart is a gripping tale of forbidden magic, unlikely alliances, and the courage it takes to redefine light and darkness.