The Unbinding by Noor Marji

The Southern Prison has been destroyed. The Fallen King has escaped. These are the words Prince Itsuki Oyama, sole heir to Kabelan's throne, had feared for twenty years, ever since his father killed his mother and left him to die in an unnatural inferno. Now that his father escaped, it’s his responsibility to keep the tyrannical king from destroying all of Kabelan… again. Reports from the South are not promising, though. The entire prison has been burned down, and the unholy, sentient fire has traveled to the nearest village, turning any human it touched into a beastly taint. With the reemergence of vibrant colors beyond Itsuki’s greatest imagination, only one conclusion can be drawn: Old Magic is returning, and the Unbinding has begun. Joined by his advisor and an eccentric band of mercenaries, Itsuki travels to the Southern Prison in search for answers. Magic appears at every turn of their journey, bringing life and vivid color back to the desaturated land. Only with the help of the heretical Order Solis will they make it through this adventure alive. The closer they get to finding King Inon, the more Itsuki realizes this is no longer a mission to stop his father from repeating a twenty-year-old tragedy. His escape was only part of a larger plan to make the entire known world burn—and the Fallen King is but a pawn to a much greater master. What Itsuki learns could change his kingdom’s very identity, if he’s willing to be the first person to tell the truth.