The Lantern of Forgotten Shores oleh Raven Griffin

Sixteen-year-old Tessa Macleod lives a solitary life on the windswept isle of Aisling, her world a symphony of crashing waves and ancient whispers. But the rhythmic pulse of the ocean is shattered when a violent storm delivers a mysterious artifact to her doorstep – a barnacle-encrusted lantern humming with otherworldly energy.  Igniting its flame unveils Ailoria, a breathtaking archipelago hidden from human eyes, a realm said to appear only once a century. The lantern marks Tessa as its Keeper, the bridge between two worlds, and binds her to a desperate quest.

Ailoria is dying. Its vibrant magic fades, consumed by a creeping darkness. The lantern holds the key to reigniting the Flame of Ailoria, the source of its power, but the path is fraught with peril.

Drawn by rumors of the archipelago’s emergence, Finnigan Rhys, a brilliant but obsessive cartographer, arrives on Aisling. He sees Ailoria not as a danger but as his life’s purpose, his arcane maps their guide through treacherous currents and shifting landscapes.  Their paths collide with Rielle Vance, a fierce warrior exiled from her clan, haunted by her past and burning for redemption. Her knowledge of Ailoria’s lore and unmatched combat skills become essential to their survival.

From Whisperwind Isle, where bioluminescent flora whisper secrets on the wind, to Chronos Reef, an island fractured by time itself, they uncover the archipelago’s hidden history and the terrifying truth of the Nightshade, a parasitic entity feeding on Ailoria’s fading magic.  On the volcanic isle of Pyra, they must earn the trust of a fire-worshipping civilization to unlock the secrets of the Flame.

But their greatest challenge lies not in the external dangers, but within themselves. Finnigan’s obsession threatens to consume him, Rielle must confront the ghosts of her past, and Tessa must grapple with the immense burden of her role as Keeper.  As they journey deeper into Ailoria’s heart, they discover the shocking truth: the Flame wasn’t extinguished, it was contained.  Reigniting it could unleash a power that destroys the very world they are trying to save.

In the Sunken City of Eldoria, where the Flame once burned bright, Tessa faces an impossible choice: sacrifice or symbiosis. Can she find a way to restore Ailoria’s magic without unleashing the Nightshade’s full power?  The fate of two worlds rests on her shoulders, and the lantern’s glow illuminates a path not to conquest, but to balance, not to immortality, but to the ephemeral beauty of existence.