the Marek
2 primary works
Book 2
Although the city-state of Marek is part of Teren, the Thirteen Houses and Guilds have long been protective of their de facto independence. So Marcia, Heir to House Fereno, expects the annual visit for the Council opening by the Teren Throne's representative, the Lord Lieutenant, to be nothing more than the usual symbolic gesture. But this year the Lieutenant has been unexpectedly replaced by Selene. As Marcia is showing her the view from the top of Marekhill, she suspects that Selene has her own agenda. After all, Teren has politics too, just like Marek.
In Marek, magic is mediated by the cityangel. But elsewhere in Teren magic is enabled by bloodletting. A Teren magician will invoke a demon to do their bidding and bind them with blood. But demons are devious and will take advantage of any flaw or loophole to avoid being bound. An unleashed demon is dangerous and sure to create havoc, and the Teren way to stop them involves the letting of more of the magician's blood - often terminally. But if a young magician is being sought by an unleashed demon, their only hope may be to escape to Marek where the cityangel can keep the demon at bay. Probably.
Once again Reb, Cato and Jonas must work with Beckett to deal with a magical problem, while Marcia must tackle a serious political challenge to Marek's future. But of course magic and politics never seem to remain separate for long, especially when Teren politics are involved.
In Marek, magic is mediated by the cityangel. But elsewhere in Teren magic is enabled by bloodletting. A Teren magician will invoke a demon to do their bidding and bind them with blood. But demons are devious and will take advantage of any flaw or loophole to avoid being bound. An unleashed demon is dangerous and sure to create havoc, and the Teren way to stop them involves the letting of more of the magician's blood - often terminally. But if a young magician is being sought by an unleashed demon, their only hope may be to escape to Marek where the cityangel can keep the demon at bay. Probably.
Once again Reb, Cato and Jonas must work with Beckett to deal with a magical problem, while Marcia must tackle a serious political challenge to Marek's future. But of course magic and politics never seem to remain separate for long, especially when Teren politics are involved.
Book 3
Hope alone cannot withstand a rising flood
A darkness writhes in the heart of Teren.
The Academy is unleashing demons on dissenters, and refugees rush to leave the capital with nothing but their lives and a hope.
That hope brings them to the city of Marek, Teren's only major port, which harbours dreams of independence. But Marek is not as stable as it seems.
Marcia, Heir to House Fereno, has spent the last two years fighting to keep Marek safe and prosperous - but with child, her relationship in ruins and the increasing threat of Teren to worry about, can she find her way through? The printing houses of the city run rabble-rousing polemic, penned by an increasingly frustrated majority who feel left out of the rule and riches of Marek. They demand change, and Marcia can't help but agree with much of what they're saying.
On the other side of the bridge, the tiny group of Marek's remaining sorcerers must negotiate their way through troubles of their own. Cato, Marcia's exiled brother, and Reb, her ex-lover, are trying to train a new generation of sorcerers and both are having problems. Jonas simply won't take 'no' for an answer from Cato; and Reb's two students feel held back, both know that change, and strife, may be coming - and neither are ready to deal with it. But Reb cannot bring herself to move faster.
Between them, the five sorcerers alongside Marek's cityangel can expel a single demon. But Teren has many, and other fears loom on the horizon. Out-of-season storms rampage across the Oval Sea, threatening trade - and Jonas' family, out plying the trade winds - and the unseasonable weather threatens Marek itself.
Menaced by the distant capital, by dissension from within, and even by nature itself - will the rising flood lift all boats?
Or will they be capsized?
A darkness writhes in the heart of Teren.
The Academy is unleashing demons on dissenters, and refugees rush to leave the capital with nothing but their lives and a hope.
That hope brings them to the city of Marek, Teren's only major port, which harbours dreams of independence. But Marek is not as stable as it seems.
Marcia, Heir to House Fereno, has spent the last two years fighting to keep Marek safe and prosperous - but with child, her relationship in ruins and the increasing threat of Teren to worry about, can she find her way through? The printing houses of the city run rabble-rousing polemic, penned by an increasingly frustrated majority who feel left out of the rule and riches of Marek. They demand change, and Marcia can't help but agree with much of what they're saying.
On the other side of the bridge, the tiny group of Marek's remaining sorcerers must negotiate their way through troubles of their own. Cato, Marcia's exiled brother, and Reb, her ex-lover, are trying to train a new generation of sorcerers and both are having problems. Jonas simply won't take 'no' for an answer from Cato; and Reb's two students feel held back, both know that change, and strife, may be coming - and neither are ready to deal with it. But Reb cannot bring herself to move faster.
Between them, the five sorcerers alongside Marek's cityangel can expel a single demon. But Teren has many, and other fears loom on the horizon. Out-of-season storms rampage across the Oval Sea, threatening trade - and Jonas' family, out plying the trade winds - and the unseasonable weather threatens Marek itself.
Menaced by the distant capital, by dissension from within, and even by nature itself - will the rising flood lift all boats?
Or will they be capsized?