Books like A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham

Saraykeht, the wealthy heart of the Summer Cities, thrives on its cosmopolitan port and merchant guilds. Its ruler, Khai Saraykeht, commands forces that rival gods, yet the city’s prosperity hides thin sands of stability. At its core is Heshai, a poet‑sorcerer who keeps the captured spirit Seedless under his control. Powerful yet haunted by shame, Heshai is the fragile anchor of Saraykeht’s power. The western kingdom of Galt, led by warlike armies, threatens Saraykeht by targeting its trade lanes. Marchat Wilsin, head of Galt’s trading house in the city, schemes a sinister attack on Heshai and Seedless that could bring the city to ruin. Amat, a business manager who rose from the slums, and her apprentice Liat, along with two young men from far‑off regions, find themselves the last line of defense against the impending danger to their beloved city.

First publish date: 2006