Norman Maydoo was born under a shadow. A coin marked with the Evil One lay in his ear at birth, proof of a curse cast generations ago on his wealthy ancestor by the Rosewood Witch. Burdened further by a rare disease that leaves scars on his skin and strange powers in his blood, Norman has grown up an outcast — mocked at school, mistrusted in town, and feared even within his own family.

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On his tenth birthday, Norman is lured into the forbidden Wickerbog Forest, where whispers of ancient magic and old debts echo through the trees. There, he stumbles into the Rosewood — a realm of orphaned children, brutal overseers, and a cruel Superior who promises freedom but delivers only chains. Alone, Norman must decide whether to surrender his cursed coin or uncover the truth about the legacy that binds him.