Threading the Needle

Second book in Joshua Palmatier's epic fantasy trilogy, set in a sprawling city of light and magic fueled by a ley line network.The Nexus—the hub created by the Prime Wielders to harness the magical power of the ley lines for the city of Erenthrall, the Baronial Plains, and the world beyond—has Shattered, the resultant pulse cascading through the system and leaving Erenthrall decimated, partially encased in a massive distortion.   The world has fared no better: auroral storms plague the land, transforming people into creatures beyond nightmare; silver-white lights hover over all of the major cities, the harbinger of distortions that could quicken at any moment; and quakes brought on by the unstable ley network threaten to tear the earth apart. The survivors of this apocalypse have banded together in desperate groups, both in the remains of Erenthrall and in small enclaves beyond the city, scrounging for food and resources in an ever more dangerous world.   Having survived the initial Shattering, Wielder Kara Tremain and ex-Dog Allan Garrett have led their small group of refugees to the Hollow, a safe haven in the hills on the edge of the plains. But the ley system is not healing itself. Their only option is to repair the distortion that engulfs Erenthrall and to fix the damaged ley lines themselves. To do that, they’ll have to enter a city controlled by vicious bands of humans and non-humans alike, intent on keeping what little they’ve managed to scavenge together.   But as soon as they enter the streets of Erenthrall, they find themselves caught up in the maelstrom of violence, deception, and betrayal that the city has descended into—including the emergence of a mysterious and powerful cult calling themselves the White Cloaks, whose leader is known as Father....   He is the same man who once led the terrorist group called the Kormanley and brought about the Shattering that destroyed the world!

Praise for the Ley series:“Palmatier kicks off an epic fantasy series with this complex tale set in a world where wonders are accomplished by manipulating the magical energy of ley lines.... Palmatier lets the story build slowly, introducing a sprawling cast and fascinating setting, before explosively upsetting the status quo.” —Publishers Weekly “Palmatier takes familiar ideas of ley lines and magic wielders but gives them fresh life in this rich fantasy world.” —Library Journal “Palmatier exploits an active imagination to good effect, with characters who develop along with the story...with plenty of tension and excitement. Fantasy regulars looking for a fresh series with real bite should find it worth a try.” —Kirkus “Intricate worldbuilding, engaging and complex characters, and a fresh sharp take on magic and politics. Shattering The Ley proves that Joshua Palmatier is definitely a key new voice in original fantasy.” —Kari Sperring, author of Living with Ghosts “Shattering the Ley, the terrific new fantasy from Joshua Palmatier, is built of equal parts innocence, politics, and treachery. It features a highly original magic system, and may well be the only fantasy ever written where some of the most exciting scenes take place in a power plant. I couldn’t put it down.” —S. C. Butler, author of Reiffen’s Choice  “Shattering the Ley stands apart from the majority of second-world fantasy by having a distinctly modern cast to its worldbuilding.” —Tor.com “There’s a lot happening, constantly driving the plot forward, and the political intrigue and ideological conflicts between the clashing factions keep things fresh and engaging.” —Bibliosanctum “Palmatier brilliantly shatters genre conventions.... An innovative fantasy novel with a very modern feel.... For readers who are willing to tackle a more challenging fantasy, without clear heroes and obvious conflicts, Shattering the Ley is an excellent read.” —SFRevu

Joshua Palmatier was born in PA, but now resides in NY. Palmatier started writing SF and Fantasy novels and short stories in eighth grade, and hasn't stopped writing since, mainly focusing on novels. He can be found at jpsorrow.livejournal.com.