Lapidius

<p>Thirteen-year-old Joey has always known hunger-<strong><em>but nothing could prepare him for what awaits beyond it.</em></strong></p><p>With war creeping ever closer to their struggling town and no work left to be found Joey's mother makes a desperate choice: <strong><em>she sends him to Lapidius</em></strong> a distant schoolhouse rumored to offer food shelter and safety. But when Joey arrives he discovers the truth-Lapidius isn't a sanctuary.<em> It's a secretive military institute training children for combat.</em></p><p>Alongside hundreds of other recruits (like battle buddy Maisie) Joey is thrust into a world where survival means mastering more than weapons. At Lapidius war isn't fought with weapons alone-it's waged with <strong>ancient magic deadly creatures </strong>and<strong> shadowy forces </strong>that defy logic.</p><p>As Joey uncovers the dark secrets behind the school's purpose he realizes that the greatest danger might not be the battlefield ahead but what's lurking within the walls of Lapidius itself.</p><p><strong>Perfect for fans of <em>Ender's Game</em> and <em>Shadow and Bone</em> <em>Lapidius</em> is a gripping tale of sacrifice survival and the hidden power of the underestimated.</strong></p>