The Ember Blade (The Darkwater Legacy)

Raised under the culture occupying his homeland, a young man is forced to reconsider that loyalty after his parents are accused of treason and he is sent with a friend to a prison mine. Escape does not produce freedom. Their rescuers are rebels pursuing a dangerous campaign, and joining them seems nearly as reckless as returning to the authorities. At the center of the resistance is a legendary sword believed capable of turning scattered anger into revolution, but reaching it requires entering the strongest fortress in the land. The novel combines coming-of-age fantasy with occupation, political awakening, and a large-scale theft. Its protagonist begins from comfort with the existing order, which makes every new fact personally disruptive. The adventure grows as he learns that neutrality can still serve power, though the outcome of the rebellion remains unresolved.