Soul of the World

War has invaded three lives in Mealing’s imaginative and elaborate epic fantasy debut, the first in the Ascension Cycle. Sarine, a street artist in a troubled imperial city, is a binder who can tap into the power of the ley lines. She knows the importance of laying low and keeping her powers secret. But when commoners revolt over having their supplies shipped off to soldiers, she gets embroiled in plots to overthrow the crown. Erris, cavalry commander in a distant colony, has done what any good solider is expected to do: follow imperial orders, no questions asked. When the empire plans to abandon her colony and leave them to face the local tribes unsupported, Erris begins to wonder whether the empire deserves her fealty. Arak’Jur, a tribesman and guardian who communes with the spirits of beasts, seeks peace but knows only violence awaits him, as the spirits are demanding that the tribes go to war against the colonists. Strong characters and rich worldbuilding are undercut by the depiction of the tribes as primitive and sexualized. Agent: Sam Morgan, Foundry Literary + Media. (July)