
Book #1 in the The Books of Umber series
A boy with no memory must uncover his identity while evading a deadly assassin in a magical world.
Happenstance wakes in a cave, memory erased, and is whisked away by the enigmatic Umber and his companions. In the vibrant city of Kurahaven, Hap discovers Umber's extraordinary life but remains haunted by his own forgotten past. As he joins Umber on perilous missions, Hap realizes powerful enemies lurk within the kingdom, and a relentless assassin is closing in. With danger at every turn, Hap must unravel the mystery of his identity and why Umber has chosen him. Can he find answers before it's too late, or will the shadows of his past consume him?
Twelve-year-old Happenstance awakens in a cave with no memory of who he is or how he came to be there. Soon a mysterious trio arrives to take him away: the explorer Umber, the shy archer Sophie, and Oates, whose strength and honesty are both brutal. Hap and his new acquaintances narrowly escape the cavernous underworld and make their way to Lord Umber’s bustling jewel of a harbor city, Kurahaven. Once there, Hap learns that Lord Umber is an extraordinary man – he’s a merchant, adventurer, inventor, royal adviser, and chronicler of all things monstrous and magical. But Umber’s accomplishments can’t answer the question closest to the boy’s heart: Who is Happenstance? Desperate to uncover clues in his new, baffling surroundings, Hap accompanies Umber on dangerous and unusual missions. But Hap soon learns that there are powerful enemies inside the kingdom, and a ruthless assassin is hot on his trail. Faced with many unknowns, Hap knows one thing is certain: There’s a reason Umber has chosen him…if only he could determine it. P. W. Catanese’s richly spun fantasy chronicles one boy’s quest for answers and hope in a world riddled by knowledge and power corrupted.
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