Discover

Lightborn

Beck Windborn has cheated death many times in his twenty-five years. But he didn’t consider himself lucky when, at the age of seven, he survived an epidemic that decimated his hometown and left him an orphan. And he certainly didn’t consider himself special when he survived a brutal war he’d been drafted into when he was only sixteen. If anything, Beck felt cursed to continue living.

That was before he truly knew what it meant to be cursed.

Now the Captain of The Royal Guard, Beck is tasked with the safety of Elandria’s princess and heir to the throne, Sola. But after a mysterious encounter with a woman in black, Beck finds himself plagued by visions of a terrible future—of death and ash laying claim to the city. And all the while, an insidious presence burns deep inside of him, one that threatens to claim his life.

If he has any hope of saving his people and himself, Beck must find answers in a world where curses and magic are supposed to no longer exist. The Lightborn—gifted magic-wielders of old—have long been killed off. But is any of their power still lingering in the world beyond the castle walls?

Beck will need to risk everything to follow the thread of fate tugging on him. But where will it lead? And will Beck be the same when he finds what he’s looking for?

Meet The Author

Abbey Peterson

Abbey has dreamed of being an author since her earliest memories. Growing up with an active imagination, creating stories and writing them down was the perfect creative outlet when her mind couldn’t seem to shut off.

While starting a family, Abbey took an extended hiatus from writing. But after giving birth to her second daughter in the midst of a pandemic, her passion for the craft was reignited. Writing was always a hobby that she kept quiet—until the spring of 2024 when she decided to share the first page of her debut novel, Lightborn, on social media. The response was enough to convince Abbey to pursue publishing.

Lightborn draws inspiration from many of Abbey’s favourite things including The Legend of Zelda, Studio Ghibli films, and the Pacific Northwest. Abbey lives with her husband and two daughters in the cold Canadian north and continues to work on her upcoming projects.

MORE ABOUT Lighborn

What to expect

Closed-door Romance

Lightborn has romantic subplots with mature themes. However, there is NO explicit content.

High fantasy adventure

Follow Beck as he explores the secrets of Elandria, delving deep into the mountains that are home to forest spirits, scavengers, and magic-wielders alike.

Supernatural encounters

After a mysterious encounter with a woman in black, visions of the world ending push Beck on a quest to break the curse on him.

What readers
are saying

★★★★★ 5/5

“Lightborn is a masterful work of world building and slow burn romance. I’m utterly obsessed with every aspect of the story, magic, mystery, and characters. A must read for every fantasy fan!”

“This is just one of those stories that really gets everything right. The plot is super engaging, I would die for any of the characters, and the writing feels like breathing. Beck is a refreshingly humble protagonist. He is neither perfect nor infallible, which makes him all the more relatable. His kindness isn't just for show. You follow Beck on a journey and fall in love with the world and the characters in it. The pacing in this book is perfect in my opinion because it gives you time to connect to the characters and the setting, but then allows the story to unfold in a very natural way that brings everything together. This is one of those books that stays with you after you are done reading it and makes you want to pick it up again shortly after finishing it. It’s one of those books that you compare all others to!”

“Lightborn by Abbey Peterson is a beautiful story of friendship, love, healing and realizing that you’re worth the trouble. Beck is one of my favorite “male written by a female” characters I’ve come across in a long time. He’s vulnerable and emotional and kind and flawed and my goodness, does he tear at my heart strings. If you don’t read this heart-stopping, stunning story, you’re truly missing out.”

Want to become a beta reader?

Beta reader applications are currently closed. However, if you’re interested in becoming a beta reader in the future, please visit the contact form to inquire. Be sure to follow along on Instagram for updates on when more beta reader applications will open up. Thank you for your interest in Lightborn!