Shadows can be frightening. They can hold a multitude of the unknown, including things we can’t control and culminations of fear and doubt—all sorts of things that can cause us to question ourselves, our choices, and our place in the grand scheme of all things.

  But shadows are also where we learn, grow, and discover the strength within ourselves—and in the people who stand beside us when everything feels the darkest.

  Many of us are taught to make the “right” choice early on. We take tests, answer carefully (or not-so-carefully) worded questions, and are often forced to choose between multiple "right" answers, trying to determine which is most right. These lessons teach decision-making, but they don’t prepare us for the reality that, in life, the right answer isn’t always clear.

  In Into Shadows, Rae and her party move through uncertainty and darkness, facing choices where there is no easy or correct answer. Many decisions are not equal—doing the right thing may be harder or may not lead to the desired outcome. Refusing to choose or act is still a choice and can lead to consequences no one expects. The truth about decision-making is that you may never know if you made the “right” choice, but if something feels wrong, examining the circumstances and learning from them is the best way to correct the course of the future.

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  This journey isn’t just Rae’s journey. Everyone around her is growing, too. Her party members each face their own struggles, including criticism and betrayal from the very institution that was supposed to keep the peace. Relias, in particular, begins to see that the old ways may no longer be enough. And while Rae still wrestles with self-doubt and the overwhelming responsibility of leading more than just her party, she handles it with a broader perspective and even a little wit.

  One of the most critical lessons Rae is learning is that strength isn’t about doing everything yourself. It’s about knowing when to lean on others, when to listen, and when to trust the people fighting beside you.

  The world today is full of shadows—and it always will be. These shadows test and shape us, but we can find strength in them. In the end, whether in friendships, workplaces, or communities, one truth should be clear:

  We are stronger together than we could ever be alone.