Crystal War — Joshua Palmatier

Rebellion Brings With It...Daunting Responsibility Devon Alamort, Lane Illea, and Dalton Trent have escaped the city of Iandolo, hoping to find refuge in Brovetto...with the Iandolan army on their heels. When they arrive, they find the city controlled by Prefect Raias Burdock, who attempts to arrest the entire group of refugees at the gate. But after being captured and imprisoned in Iandolo-with Lane sent to be executed and Devon tortured for the knowledge he possesses about how the magic within the Crystal Cities works-the two are willing to die rather than be retaken. Realizing that Lane could destroy him, even with his own Iandolan mages on hand, Burdock agrees to a stalemate, allowing Lane and the refugees into the city unmolested...but taking her parents, Dalton, and others as hostage. Devon knows what the Iandolans are capable of when it comes to the treatment of their prisoners, and Lane has no intention of leaving her mother in Burdock's hands for long. Both of them know it's only a matter of time before Councilor Havvelan, Proctor Favian, and Prefect Arctus lead the Iandolan army down the wayfare to attack Brovetto. After the riots incited in Iandolo, those from Iridesque plan to wipe the rebellious city and all of its people out, no matter the cost. Lane, Devon, and the citizens of Luminesque have only a short time to prepare. But Brovetto is a shell, a mining city depleted of its resources by the voracious Council. Only three of its levels have running water, one entire section is a burned-out husk, and almost none of its lucent works. Lane and Devon face an impossible task: Defend a city already half deserted with a handful of untrained mages and ordinary citizens as an army.