The Forgotten Rules of Magic

When the evil Empire releases a devastating Spell of Ultimate Destruction on the city of Kneaton, all the residents are killed. Years later, the shadow of that spell still lingers. Richard, the orphaned son of two victims, is now a plantation owner who secretly shelters escaped slaves from a nearby mine. His resistance draws the attention of a relentless imperial agent, Bernard, who is determined to expose him.
When Richard's estranged brother betrays him, Richard and his slave, Kali, a magician, are forced to flee when the spell is cast once again, this time to destroy their own city. With nothing left to lose, Richard sets out to stop the spell once and for all. Joined by an imperial magician and two rebels willing to risk everything to take down the Empire for good, he embarks on a dangerous quest to create a counterspell and save what's left of their world.

Matthew Penner is a lifelong reader with a love of fantasy and speculative fiction. After spending years immersed in these stories, he began to wonder what would happen if the most powerful magic in the world was used without restraint. While he is particularly interested in creating fantasy that speaks to young adult male readers, this novel is for anyone who loves magic and high-stakes adventure. Matthew is from Edmonton, Alberta. The Forgotten Rules of Magic is his first book.