Book Title: THE WORLD THAT FORGOT ITS WAY

Author: V. A. Sterling

Headline: In a world obsessed with direction, only the lost can find the truth.

Body: Lorin is the worst apprentice in the history of cartography. In a town where every street is measured and every path is charted, he possesses a unique, frustrating talent: he can get lost anywhere. He carries a compass that spins wildly, refusing to point North-a symbol of his failure in a society that demands order.

But when his master vanishes, Lorin discovers a forbidden map hidden in a locked drawer. It bears a single, terrifying inscription: "The real world begins where the lines end."

Thrust into a journey with Elara-a brilliant, order-obsessed rival who despises uncertainty-Lorin stumbles into the "Wandering World." Here, forests shift based on memories, cities rebuild themselves according to the emotions of their inhabitants, and dragons are only as dangerous as the stories told about them.

But a cold silence is spreading. The Map Guardians, led by the sorrowful Lord Vesper, are waging a war against chaos. Armed with Silence Ink, they are freezing the world one coordinate at a time. Where the ink flows, rivers turn to glass, winds die down, and life becomes a perfect, static painting. Safe, but dead.

To save reality, Lorin must do the one thing the Guardians fear most: he must embrace the chaos. He must learn that his spinning compass isn't broken-it's pointing to something far more dangerous than North.

Perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman's Stardust, Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea, and the philosophical whimsy of The Little Prince.