Siege of Shadows

by Sarah Raughley

  “I . . . just . . .” I sucked in a shaky breath. And then I did the only thing I could. I smiled at her. “I just . . . didn’t want to lose anyone . . . ever again.”

  The sword ripped out of me just as a gasp tore out of my throat and into the chilly air. I stumbled back, the stars, the moon, the night spinning and tilting above me until my eyes rolled to the back of my head and darkness washed over me.

  The smile never quite left my face as I fell off the cliff and into the waters below.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  First, I want to thank my endlessly supportive mother and my older brothers, who never stop reminding me how amazing it is to have a published book. I also want to thank my cousins, aunts, uncles, and extended family, who told their friends. I need to mention Chandrima, Don, and Daniel, my thesis committee, who oversaw the completion of my dissertation while I was writing the Effigies series—and no, that was not easy. Thank you to the Simon Pulse team, including my wonderful editor, Sarah McCabe, who continues to help steer the series in the right direction. Thanks also to Simon & Schuster Canada for helping to organize events and promotions. And finally, to all the fans and supporters of the Effigies, who continue to inspire me to keep writing—I’m where I am today only because of all of you. Thank you.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Sarah Raughley grew up in Southern Ontario writing stories about freakish little girls with powers because she secretly wanted to be one. She is a huge fangirl of anything from manga to sci-fi/fantasy TV to Japanese role-playing games, but she will swear up and down at book signings that she was inspired by Jane Austen. On top of being a young adult writer, Sarah has a PhD in English, which makes her a doctor, so it turns out she didn’t have to go to medical school after all.

  SIMON PULSE

  Simon & Schuster, NewYork

  sarahraughley.com

  Visit us at simonandschuster.com/teen

  Authors.SimonandSchuster.com/Sarah-Raughley

  Also by Sarah Raughley

  Fate of Flames

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  SIMON PULSE

  An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

  1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  First Simon Pulse hardcover edition November 2017

  Text copyright © 2017 by Sarah Raughley

  Jacket photo-illustration by David Field and Steve Scott

  Jacket photograph of manor house copyright © 2017 by Neil Holden/Arcangel

  Jacket photograph of clouds copyright © 2017 by Toa55/Thinkstock

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  SIMON PULSE and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-866-506-1949 or business@simonandschuster.com.

  The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event.

  For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers

  Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com.

  Series design by Karina Granda

  Jacket and interior designed by Steve Scott

  The text of this book was set in Adobe Caslon Pro.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Raughley, Sarah, author.

  Title: Siege of shadows / by Sarah Raughley.

  Description: First Simon Pulse hardcover edition. |

  New York : Simon Pulse, 2017. | Series: The Effigies ; book two |

  Summary: After Saul reappears with an army of soldiers with Effigy-like abilities,

  threatening to unleash the monstrous Phantoms and bring death and

  destruction to the world, eighteen-year-old Maia and the other Effigies

  hope to defeat him by discovering the source of their power over the

  four classical elements, but they are betrayed by the Sect and bogged down

  by questions about the previous Fire Effigy’s murder.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2017012151 (print) | LCCN 2017038207 (eBook) |

  ISBN 9781481466820 (eBook) | ISBN 9781481466806 (hardcover)

  Subjects: | CYAC: Four elements (Philosophy)—Fiction. |

  Superheroes—Fiction. | Psychic ability—Fiction. | Soldiers—Fiction. |

  Monsters—Fiction. | Secrets—Fiction. | Fantasy. | Science fiction.

  Classification: LCC PZ7.1.R38 (eBook) | LCC PZ7.1.R38 Si 2017 (print) |

  DDC [Fic]—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017012151