The Awakened City

In the remarkable sequel to The Burning Land, a man of peace is forced to confront his unwanted destiny in a fantasy realm torn apart by magic, religious intolerance, and holy war

For years they were oppressed, outlawed, and hunted. But the Brethren have finally prevailed, and now the kingdom of Arsace is theirs once more. Unbending in their single-minded devotion to the slumbering god Ârata, the Brethren will not allow their religious authority to be questioned. Therefore, all of the remaining heretical renegade mages known as Shapers must be eliminated, their magic rendered impotent, and Refuge, their hidden desert sanctuary, destroyed.

Of all the Shapers who survived an earlier attack on Refuge, the one known as Râvar possesses the greatest power, and he has declared himself the Next Messenger who will usher in a new, illuminated age. But the false prophet’s decision to take Axane the Dreamer as his captive could have unforeseen, world-shattering consequences, for it has drawn the seer’s devoted husband, Gyalo Amdo Samchen, away from his chosen path of peace. To rescue his endangered beloved, the former priest will have to confront his greatest fear, for in the terrible flames of holy war the true Next Messenger will be revealed.

The Awakened City is the powerful sequel to Victoria Strauss’s acclaimed fantasy masterwork The Burning Land. A story of faith, fate, love, and magic that unfolds in a richly imagined world plagued by violence, intolerance, and religious persecution, this is a stunning and intelligent work of literary artistry from a uniquely talented fantasist.

“An incredible read! The Awakened City is not only a fascinating magical adventure, but a thought-provoking look at religious fanaticism. It’s the best book about jihad since Dune.” —A. C. Crispin, bestselling author of the StarBridge series

“Not a fantasy in the well-trodden traditions, The Awakened City has a plot worthy of the Old Testament. . . . A book that dares to examine the larger questions of faith, duty, and love in conflict.” —Robin Hobb, author of the Tawny Man trilogy

“Strauss writes beautifully, giving close attention to the character of the human heart and the struggle for power, revenge, forgiveness, and acceptance. The many vivid, true details will stay with you long after you have finished.” —Kate Elliott, author of the Novels of the Jaran

Victoria Strauss is the author of nine novels for adults and young adults, including Color Song, the Stone fantasy duology, and the Way of Ârata series. She has also written short stories and book reviews, and her work has appeared in Writer’s Digest, among other magazines. In 2006 Strauss served as a judge for the World Fantasy Awards, and in 2009 she received the Service to SFWA Award for cofounding Writer Beware, a publishing-industry watchdog group. Strauss lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.