The Light of the Dawn

“An enthralling blend of court politics, ancient myth, and slow-burning connection. Frances writes with lyrical confidence, creating characters whose wounds feel as sharp as their swords". - Chris Riches, Daily Express

In a kingdom built on certainty, doubt is the deadliest magic.

In the Kingdom of Dytikon, the goddess Siniia is considered a myth, her magic an ancient hoax. Under the guidance of the Rectitude — a powerful scholarly order — the unpredictable magic once thought to bind the living world has been disproven, left behind in favour of logic and progress.

But when a wasting sickness begins to rot the northern forests, the old ways become impossible to ignore.

As the world begins to fracture, three lives collide:

Elettaria, heir to the Dytikon throne, who has spent her life hiding an unexplainable illness and dreaming of the old magic.
Aixen, her childhood friend, who disappeared eight years ago and has now returned to the Rectitude carrying a secret capable of unravelling a kingdom — and a grief that burns for revenge.
Atha, a leader of the Daru Lands, Dytikon's bitter rival, who races to decipher a prophecy that spans both realms — and a fate entwined with Elettaria's.
As the lines between protection and propaganda blur, these three must navigate a world where questioning what you have been taught is the most dangerous path of all.

Steeped in atmospheric worldbuilding and profound emotional depth, The Light of the Dawn is a sweeping epic fantasy about invisible battles, forgotten pasts, and the agonising cost of a life dictated by duty.

Readers who love the atmospheric intensity of Tasha Suri's The Jasmine Throne, the institutional scale of Samantha Shannon's The Priory of the Orange Tree, or the psychological weight of Shelley Parker-Chan's She Who Became the Sun will be swept away by this intricate, high-stakes debut.

“A richly textured tale of fractured kingdoms, forbidden powers, and impossible choices. Izzy Frances combines the grandeur of epic fantasy with the addictive pull of a deeply human story.” - Richard Moriarty, The Sun

"An epic fantasy tale evoking past, present, and future... The Light of the Dawn is a cautionary tale and a plea for transformation in a world that has lost its way."— Jonathan and Angela Scott, The Big Cat People