Who can you trust when you are the key to what everyone wants?

Allakoi Meras only wants one thing: to journey south and flee from the conflict that consumes the north. So long as he keeps his head down and avoids notice until spring, his escape from a society that actively hates him will be successful.

Fate, however, has other plans for him.

When an encounter with a psychopathic dragon leads to a rare and dangerous power awakening within him, Allakoi suddenly finds himself targeted by all entities involved in a centuries-long war?entities that are willing to do anything to have him under their control.

Surrounded on all sides and not knowing who he can trust, Allakoi finds himself faced with a terrible choice...

Either choose a master to be enslaved to, or risk everything in pursuit of his freedom.

Before the Sky Breaks is the first book in The Shattered Pulse, an adult epic fantasy series that pulls on the atmosphere and tropes of classic fantasy while giving them a dark, modern twist. Great for fans of The Wheel of Time, The Licanius trilogy, and The First Law.