In a not so distant future, our world has returned to the ugliness of feudalism. Only this time, those in power control the servant class with the very thing that once inspired men to rise up and take back their livesβmusic. But it is not the music of old. That music is forgotten. No, this new music is engineered entirely by machines. This music suppresses that part of humanity which might be inspired. This music suppresses hope.But what is old will be made new again.In the village of Ravenskill lives a young man, Gabriel, who comes with a gift of power. A gift of music. As a human expression.Gabrielβs brother, Arhys, leads a rebel militia that is trying to liberate the people. And he believes Gabrielβs gift is the key; a key he hopes will help him keep a promise he made to his wife on her deathbed.But the emperor and his son have different plansβto maintain control. Those plans may find an unlikely challenger in their own family. And the resulting conflict may yield lasting consequences. For them all.With music as a moving force, the choices each player must make will bring them to a shared moment of pain. And perhaps redemption.
Based on the hit album by progressive metal band Dream Theater
Peter Orullian is the author of multiple novels and short stories. His current series -The Vault of Heaven from Tor Books-features music prominently in the storytelling. Peter also trained vocally with David Kyle, who taught Geoff Tate, Layne Staley, Ann Wilson, and others. He's had the good fortune to tour internationally with metal bands and received the Private Eye Best Male Vocalist Award. His recent music effort is Symphony North, a symphonic metal band focusing on concept albums.
John Petrucci is the guitarist and a founding member of Dream Theater. John has seen the two-time Grammy-nominated band through many notable accomplishments, including multiple domestic as well as international top-ten releases, and numerous gold and platinum-certified DVDs. John's awards include the 2007 Guitarist of the Year as named by the readers of Total Guitar magazine, and Best Metal Guitarist in the 2010 and 2011 Reader's/Player's Choice Awards polls in Guitar Player magazine. In 2011, John was named one of the 20 greatest-ever metal guitarists in Total Guitar's poll as well as Best Guitarist in Classic Rock Presents Prog Magazine's 2011 reader's poll.