Nightfall (Santerelli)

City of Day - Deadly by Night By day, Astera is a bustling port city with shops, markets, shipyards, and people going about their day to day lives. But every night when the sun sets, the people of Astera board ships and abandon their home to dark, murderous ghosts -- The Vaim. Thislen lost his father to the vengeful spirits years ago and has barely survived on the streets as a common thief since. He dreams of escaping the dark truths of the island for good, but a family secret keeps him tied to the island and the oppressive Ruling Council. When he finds he is not the only one avoiding the entitled and sadistic gaze of Astera's nobility, Thislen plans to help the gentle healer Mila leave everything behind to save them both -- him from secrets and her from an unwanted marriage. However, Lord Soren Bestant, head of the Ruling Council and spurned suitor, won't let them go so easily. Caught and sentenced to a night on the island and the mercy of the Vaim, Thislen's only hope is to reveal his family's secret to save them or die. But Mila's family has a secret of its own, as does the Ruling Council. The Vaim are not what they seem -- and the fate of the kingdom hangs on the truth. City of Day is the first novel of Astera from October K. Santerelli (Storm's Eye).

Thislen is seeing things. A month of torment at the hands of Lord Soren Bestant and his friends has Thislen haunted by the ghosts of his worst failures. Determined to outlast his captors and protect Aften, Tamsa, and the Nattfolk, Thislen must rely on the whispers of the dead. Mila has changed. She's not afraid of the Night Council and she's not afraid to fight. Her goals are simple. One, rescue Thislen from Ship Artaith and get her best friend back. Two, work with him to break the curse once and for all. All they need to do is find the vial. If only everyone would listen! Aften lost everything. His sister betrayed him, the man he loves died, and he's useless. What options are there for the son of a Councilman who can't do anything right? He's always wanted to be free, but after a month of captivity, he's realizing freedom might not look like what he thought. Who they were and who they are clashes with everyone around them, creating new alliances and new enemies. Everything is a mess, and it gets worse once they reunite. The pressures of family and friends threaten their plans, and the clash of wills might tear them all apart. One thing remains clear, however: they must break the curse. They're running out of time - and options. The Vaim are acting strange. The trio has a growing suspicion that someone has figured out the island's secret and is testing the nighttime defenses of Astera...but who?