The thrilling prequel to the New York Times-bestselling young adult Summoner series!

When stable boy Arcturus accidentally summons a demon and becomes Hominum's first common summoner, he becomes the key to a secret that the powerful overlords would do anything to keep hidden.
Whisked away to Vocans Academy so he can be kept watch over, Arcturus finds himself surrounded by enemies. But he has little time to settle in before his life is turned upside down once again, for Hominum Empire is in turmoil.
Rebellious intent simmers among the masses, and it will not be long before it boils over. Arcturus must choose a side . . . or watch an Empire crumble.
The Summoner Trilogy
The Novice
The Inquisition
The Battlemage
Also in the Summoner series
The Outcast (Summoner: The Prequel)
The Summoner's Handbook
A Fine Welcome: Othello's Journey (A Summoner Short Story)
Praise for The Outcast:
"Shines as a fantasy adventure. The book's quick pacing and intriguing summoning system encourages readers to keep turning pages." -School Library Journal

Taran Matharu is the author of the Contender trilogy and the New York Times-bestselling Summoner series: The Novice (Book One), The Inquisition (Book Two), The Battlemage (Book Three), The Outcast (the prequel), and The Summoner's Handbook; the series has been compared to the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings series. Taran Matharu lives in London.