The Hanging City

Lark has spent seven years fleeing her abusive father with nowhere safe to go. She possesses a cursed ability to inflict fear on others, a power that has kept her alive but isolated. According to childhood myths, her only possible refuge is Cagmar, a city of trolls—a species that has long been humanity's enemy. The troll high council sees potential in Lark. Unlike the enslaved humans in their city, her fear-wielding gift could make her valuable as a monster slayer, protecting Cagmar from creatures that threaten the hanging city suspended above an endless dark canyon. To stay, Lark must accept one condition: using her power against a troll means death. As Lark works to build a life in Cagmar, her resolve is tested when a powerful troll who despises humans becomes her enemy. She discovers unexpected friendship within the city walls and, surprisingly, falls in love. These connections put her in grave danger. Caught between her past, her new bonds, and the consequences of her choices, Lark must confront what trust and hope truly mean, and learn the full extent of the power she carries.