The Shadow of Back Rock

The Forbidden Scrolls: Book 1

Raef does not fit in anywhere.
Born into a priestly caste he falls short of the rigid conformity it demands. He secretly admires his warrior-class friends, but they see him as weak. He longs for the approval of his father but is never able to measure up. Every day reinforces the same crushing truth: he will never be enough. Never be accepted. Never be valued.

Everything changes the day he meets the dragon.
Raef stumbles upon the creature from Black Rock mountain that his people have branded as evil incarnate. Yet the dragon offers him something no human ever has—understanding, acceptance, and friendship. For the first time, Raef feels seen. For the first time, he matters. But their bond defies every law, every belief, every foundation of the world Raef has always known.

Raef must decide where to put his loyalty, and either choice requires sacrifice.
Choose the dragon, the only friend who ever gave him a sense of value, and become an outcast forever. Stay true to the beliefs impressed on him since birth by his religious caste and give up the only thing that ever made him feel seen. In a society built on the distortion of facts, finding the best path to follow is more complicated than anyone dares to believe. And sometimes, discovering the truth only comes at great cost.
Available in paperback and kindle
© 2026 by john w fort