Over three millenniums ago, the ancients were at the height of their power. They flew in mental vehicles and transported themselves from one place to another using the power of the mind. Each citizen at the age of twenty was given a rose gold ring to wear that gave its user unbelievable powers but the scientists soon realized what they unleashed and destroyed all but eight of the rings. Unfortunately the damage was done and civilization collapsed. Even today there are places on the globe that are totally inhabitable.

King Karas Duren, the ruler of Alor-Satar is a powerful hungry megalomaniac. While excavating the palace grounds at Rocoi he stumbles across the rings and ancient manuscripts. He learns how to use the power of the ring and shares the secret of the ancients with his family because he will need their help if he is going to start a war that will make him ruler of the world.

One of the soldiers working on the dig steals one of the rings which ends up as a prize in a fencing match in the town of Devondale in the land of Elgaria. Mathew Lewin wins the ring but it comes into his possession after his friend dies. A rival who he bested in the match kills his father and in his anger, Mathew retaliates and kills his foe. The constable wants to take him into custody to answer to the king’s justice.

Rather than submit, Mathew, with the help of Father Thomas, his girlfriend Lara, and some other friends escape. He hopes to make it to Bacora, where the church rule while containing powers to track down the rose ring. Mathew realizes that the ring grants him powers and he slowly learns to use it even though he fears what it can do.

Karas woos elves to his cause. Using the powerful Orlocks and that of the rings, he has an advantage that his enemies don’t have and unless a miracle occurs, Karas will soon rule the world.

Although it is never stated, the assumption is that the world Mathew lives in is Earth three thousand years in the future, on a technological stage similar to medieval England and France. The world is made up of several kingdoms that distrust one another but make alliances for the sake of power. Readers will believe this because it is very similar to the geo-political happenings of pre World War I Europe and to a degree present time.

Karas comes across as an Idi Amin, not caring who or what he destroys as long as he gets what he wants. While not fully explained, the rings seem to be tuned to the brain emanations of a single person who is the only one who can use it. The cataclysm that destroyed the world is totally believable because in our society we are on the brink of destruction if the leaders of the world use the instruments of mass destruction.

On the other side of the spectrum, Mathew is a golden light in a dark world. He wants to unlock the power of the ring, not to rule with it but to learn from the mistakes of the ancients. He’s an honorable eighteen-year-old man who has the maturity and the foresight of a person three times his age.