One man woke up without a past. Now, his only hope for a future is a power he doesn't understand.

Amnesiac Motley awakens on a brutal, steam-scarred battlefield, his body broken and his mind a blank slate. His only clue to identity is a unique silver badge and a frightening new reality: he possesses the Chronos Eye, a power that allows him to glimpse the fragmented memories of others.

In the walled desert city of Dustfall, where magic is deemed a "taint" and execution is the punishment, Motley is sheltered by Tash Everground, a pragmatic healer whose kindness is matched only by her secrecy. But his presence—and the coiled danger he represents—immediately draws the attention of Guard Captain Zeb Gipgrave, a zealous man of duty who sees the outlaw as a direct threat to the city he protects.

With the clock ticking and the city's ruthless President increasing surveillance, Motley is forced to choose: surrender to his fate, or trust a charismatic but calculating information broker, Hugo Swin-Bumble, who promises safe passage. Now branded a criminal and seeking refuge, Motley, Tash, and Hugo must embark on a perilous journey across the vast Faph Desert, driven by the desperate hope that his forgotten past holds the key to his survival.

Discover a world of intricate steampunk technology, ancient lore, and high-stakes betrayal, where the greatest danger lies not in the desert, but in the truth time thought hidden.