Dawn of Shadows was previously published as Dawn Before The Dark. If you have Dawn Before The Dark, you already have this book.
In Slan, only men use magic, and only women ride dragons. It's been that way for centuries, since the curse of Ailin. No one realizes the curse is weakening, but the signs are there.
An ancient dragon chooses Briant, a fearless young man, as his rider.
Homesteads are mysteriously attacked but the bodies show no sign of blood despite their fatal injuries. Each site has a building with the image of a fir tree branded on it and no one understands why.
Then a hunting party goes missing.
All eyes turn to Briant. As a male dragon rider he is chosen to find out what is happening... before the darkness catches up with Slan.