A dark, riveting, and vividly illustrated new fantasy series!On an ominous night in Northrack, the Rat Emperor's son is born a runt. Not wishing to condemn the boy to a short life by presenting him as his heir, the Emperor sends him to be raised by a family of mice in the peaceful valley of Windelwood. There, Crycket knows nothing of his blood brother Sylan's imperial ties; their world extends no further than the edges of their grandfather's farm.But the wider world can never be kept at bay. Evil is stirring, and a barbarous nation has begun its march to war. As the Rat Empire falls further into darkness and decay, a vicious serpent is spotted in the lands of the Mice. With turmoil creeping into their own backyard, Crycket and Sylan are sent to thwart an invasion by the evil Rat Empire.This exciting debut in the Realm of the Rodent series illustrates how, sometimes, the most unlikely creatures are given the brightest destinies, and the most childish of acts—like a bond made with a pin-prick and a handshake—can send two brothers on the adventure of a lifetime, and change the course of history.