Defiant: Towers Trilogy Book Two

Description: Once, Xhea's wants were simple: enough to eat, safety in the underground, and the hit of bright payment to transform her gray-cast world into color. But in the aftermath of her rescue of the Radiant ghost Shai, she realizes the life she had known is gone forever.

Review Quotes: "Impossible to put down! Sumner-Smith has outdone herself in this thrilling sequel with higher stakes, darker magic, and a bond of friendship that proves unbreakable--even in the face of war. Readers will be desperate for the conclusion!"
- Jessica Leake, author of Arcana

"In this inventive second Towers Trilogy fantasy (following Radiant), Sumner-Smith delves deeper into the dark, destructive magic that is making protagonist Xhea's life a living hell ... New readers will struggle to catch up, but returning fans will appreciate that Sumner-Smith has done a fine job of setting up the final good vs. evil, rich vs. poor magical showdown."
- Publishers Weekly

"Defiant is a compelling novel of character. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down again, to such a degree that I walked to the train station still reading. ... Tight, tense, and effortlessly readable, its climax is a thing of nail-biting intensity, and it ends with revelations, and more change to come. I can recommend it wholeheartedly--and I'm really looking forward to reading book three."
- Tor.com