Surviving Sky

High above a jungle-planet float the last abodes of humanity—plant-made cities held together by magic and tradition. In these living cities, magical architects are revered above anyone else—if it weren't for them psychically manipulating the architecture, the city would fall into the devastating earthrage storms below. Charismatic, powerful, mystical, Iravan is one such architect. In his city, his word is nearly law. Ahilya, his wife, however, is born without magic. She is a second-class citizen like most others, and despite Iravan's position she is campaigning for change, exploring why survival is reliant on the rare few. Their marriage is already rocky—but then the earthrage storms become longer and deadlier. And as Iravan falls under investigation for being too powerful, deadly truths emerge that challenge everything Ahilya believes about their privileged society and the origin of the storms. Now Ahilya faces a choice: expose her society's secrets and destroy her marriage and culture? Or keep silent and perpetuate the inequality that has held her back her entire life? As the floating city's architecture fails and they begin to plummet into the storm, the consequences of Ahilya's choice will ripple not only across her heart, but her entire civilization.

In this dazzling sequel to the The Surviving Sky, Ahilya and Iravan risk everything—their lives, their culture, and their fragile marriage—in pursuit of the earth-shattering truth about their existence. ""Breathtakingly inventive"" epic science-fantasy inspired by Hindu philosophy, for fans of N.K. Jemisin and Tasha Suri. Two months have passed since Ahilya and Iravan learned the devastating truths behind the earthrages. As the cosmic creatures struggle to break into the world, and Nakshar's architecture disintegrates, the desperate council summons their sister ashrams to a Conclave, to discuss the future of life in the skies. Ahilya, now a councillor, is determined to share the truth about the cosmic beings and the nature of Ecstatic trajection so she can liberate ordinary citizens and save the condemned architects. Her conviction has alienated her allies and created dangerous enemies. Only Iravan has a chance of persuading the Conclave that Ecstatics are not unstable, but he returns from the jungle struggling with his own Ecstasy. He has little control over his second-self, the primal falcon yaksha, and finds the Conclave hostile to his cause. As strange, deadly storms break out, threatening refuge even in the skies, Iravan and the other Ecstatic architects face brutal reprisals. And with the barrier restraining the cosmic beings thinning, Ahilya and Iravan know they are running out of time to save everyone. Thrust into the center of the storm, both will have to confront what matters most to them, who they really are, and what it means for the future of humanity.