Storm of Prophecy: Book 1: Dark Awakening

Dark Awakening begins an epic fantasy series wrought with fire and steel that follows the life of Vincent Faren, a young sword-wielding wizard born with a rare and under-appreciated gift. His home of Gadrale Keep, once merely a border fortress that has long since come to serve as a mage academy must now face its greatest trial. Strange deaths and disappearances plague the people of the nearby city and the authorities have been unable to learn anything about who or what may be behind it. When tragedy befalls someone close to him, Vincent finds himself at the center of a terrible secret that will shake the very foundations of his world...