Towers Fall
{4.5/5} “Towers sometimes lost great chunks of themselves to offensive spells, or in failed hostile takeovers. Such wounds caused the Towers pain, hindered their movements and damaged their systems; bad wounds could take years to heal. She though, too, of what Xhea had said when she first discovered the living Lower City’s presence: that it felt the loss of Farrow, ripped from the ground.”
Towers Fall by Karina Sumner-Smith, published in 2015
Xhea has discovered that there is an entity in the Lower City that is alive with magic. Then the Central Spire sends a Messenger — everyone in the Lower City must evacuate within 3 days, as they are taking control of the area. Xhea knows why — it’s because of the entity. Xhea returns to Edren to explain the situation. Meanwhile, a ghost Enforcer has bound Xhea’s magic so she can’t use it.
This is the sequel to Defiant and completes the Towers trilogy.
It’s about people who think that others are lesser beings for having not having a certain something, in this case magic.
Why read this trilogy? For Sumner-Smith’s dazzling prose, her understanding of what lurks in the hearts of people, and her important commentary on our world in the form of a light allegory.
I’ve read 3 books by Sumner-Smith. She hasn’t published any novels since this one, but she’s a terrific author and I hope she returns with another.