Shield and the Shadow

Some destinies are chosen. Olli's was waiting in the shadows.

When sixteen-year-old Olli moves to sleepy Horizon Creek, she expects boredom—not a shadowy presence in the woods or a burst of magic that changes everything.

Suddenly, she's a Shield: protector of the powerful, secretive Gates family. But her new role comes with dangerous questions—about her father's death, the magic awakening inside her, and the Dowager who will do anything to claim a Shield of her own.

Then there's Brend, the maddening boy who seems to know more than he says, and whose secrets may be the key to it all.

As ancient forces stir, Olli must uncover the truth about her past and find the strength to face what's coming—before the darkness claims her.

Shield and the Shadow is the first book in The Horizon Cycle, a dark, magical YA fantasy full of secrets, slow-burn romance, and reluctant heroes.