Publisher's Synopsis
The city of Blackthorn had always been cursed. Long before its towering skyline and bustling streets, it was a place of whispered legends-stories of ancient rituals, forbidden knowledge, and a darkness that never truly faded. The land itself seemed to breathe with unseen horrors, a malignant force woven into its very foundations. For centuries, Blackthorn thrived despite its ominous past. Its people-built walls, erected temples, and established rules, hoping that order could keep the lurking evil at bay. They buried their fears beneath progress, convincing themselves that the horrors of the past were nothing more than myths. But evil does not vanish. It waits. It watches. And when the time is right, it returns. The Man Who Opened the Gate Taymis Henshaw was once a brilliant scientist, a man of unparalleled ambition. He did not believe in the supernatural; he only believed in power. For years, he experimented with forces beyond human comprehension, desperate to unlock the secrets of immortality. His obsession led him to forbidden texts and ancient relics-objects whispered about in frightened tones by those who knew their true nature. Taymis saw them as tools, instruments to reshape his destiny. He did not heed the warnings. Then, one night, deep beneath the city in a hidden laboratory, he succeeded. In his final experiment, he crossed the threshold between life and death. But what returned was no longer human. Taymis had become something else-something the world had never seen before. A being of immense spectral power, fuelled by the suffering of the past, feeding on the fear of the present. He was no longer a man. He was a ghost that could never be exorcised, a shadow that could never be erased. He had become the nightmare of Blackthorn. And he would never leave. The City's Last Hope For years, Taymis's presence was felt in whispers, in strange occurrences, in shadows that moved when no one was looking. His power grew, and with it, the city trembled. People vanished. Buildings collapsed. The very air seemed poisoned with dread. But one man refused to run. Lucas Caldwell had never believed in ghosts-until the night he faced Taymis. Until the night he lost everything. Now, with the help of Moonsinay Moore, a chemist with knowledge of alchemy and ancient rituals, Lucas must uncover the truth behind Taymis's power and find a way to end his reign of terror. But time is running out. Taymis is stronger than ever. The city is falling apart. And Blackthorn's fate hangs by a thread. For in a city of evil forever, the battle is never truly over.
