The Sigilord Chronicles Book One
The Fifth Vertex is a sword and magic saga by Kevin Hoffman.
It follows three young people: Ursus Noellor, failed warrior who improves throughout the story; Goodwyn, great warrior and great friend to Ursus; Cailex, a young woman and servant in mountain top monastery who is soon in the hands of a murderous magician.
All them are sorely tested as they seek to save the Vertices, develop their hidden talents and protect their world from threats near and far.
Provides examples of:
- Accidental Hero: Ursus, as he's an outcast in his society
- Bury Your Gays: Subverted, as Goodwyn not only leads a major battle victory, but is prominently honored and ultimately not shamed for this
- The Call Knows Where You Live: Both Ursus and Cailex seem to have homing beacons on them for their various mentors to find them
- Establishing Character Moment: Ursus is introduced on his way to kill himself because he's deaf
- Final Exam Finale: Ursus unlocks the final vertices, temporarily restoring his hearing as well
- Functional Magic: Blood magic counts as this, as it proves to be very useful in controlling and in (obviously) killing people
- Gorn: People explode and compress into pools of blood. Lots of blood magic means lots and lots of blood
- Last of Their Kind: Ursus, a sigilord
- Proud Warrior Race: The Kestian people value battle prowess and fighting bravery above all else; it's a major catalyst in the story
- Villain Protagonist: Cailex starts out this way, but changes her mind when the blood magic gets too much for her
