The Disability Book Archive

[ID: A book cover. The title “City of Strife” is written across the upper centre, starting from the left corner, in large brown capitals. Directly underneath it, in smaller, thin brown capitals, text reading “An Isandor Novel”. The author’s name “Claudie Arseneault” is written upper centre right of the cover in small brown capitals. The background shows art of ornate spire shaped buildings and bridges under a pale sky and bright sun. /end]

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Content Warning:

From author’s website:

• Physical Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Mind Control
• Torture
• Homelessness
• Child Abandonment
• Police Brutality
• Racism
• Family Death
• Memory Loss
• References to Death by Fire
• Hanging

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Summary:

Isandor, City of Spires.

A hundred and thirty years have passed since Arathiel last set foot in his home city. Isandor hasn’t changed—bickering merchant families still vie for power through eccentric shows of wealth—but he has. His family is long dead, a magical trap has dulled his senses, and he returns seeking a sense of belonging now long lost.

Arathiel hides in the Lower City, piecing together a new life among in a shelter dedicated to the homeless and the poor, befriending an uncommon trio: the Shelter’s rageful owner, Larryn, his dark elven friend Hasryan, and Cal the cheese-loving halfling. When Hasryan is accused of Isandor’s most infamous assassination of the last decade, what little peace Arathiel has managed to find for himself is shattered. Hasryan is innocent… he thinks. In order to save him, Arathiel may have to shatter the shreds of home he’d managed to build for himself.

Arathiel could appeal to the Dathirii—a noble elven family who knew him before he disappeared—but he would have to stop hiding, and they have battles of their own to fight. The idealistic Lord Dathirii is waging a battle of honour and justice against the cruel Myrian Empire, objecting to their slavery, their magics, and inhumane treatment of their apprentices. One he could win, if only he could convince Isandor’s rulers to stop courting Myrian’s favours for profit.

In the ripples that follow Diel’s opposition, friendships shatter and alliances crumble. Arathiel, the Dathirii, and everyone in Isandor fights to preserve their homes, even if the struggle changes them irrevocably.

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City of Strife is the first installment of the City of Spires trilogy, a multi-layered political fantasy led by an all LGBTQIAP+ cast. Fans of complex storylines criss-crossing one another, elves and magic, and strong friendships and found families will find everything they need within these pages.

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Notes:

This is the first book in the City of Spires series. There are four books in total. Other books in this series that can be found on the archive:

• City of Betrayal (#2)
• City of Deceit (#3)

Here is a link to the author’s website.

This book series contains a large cast of POC and queer characters.

An MC in this book lives with a fictional disability that dulls his senses.

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Archivist Comments:

I put off adding this series for so long because I’d convinced myself it was going to take a while to do.

It’s taken me maybe two hours at best to write everything down.

Anyway, once again thank you to Claudie Arseneault for her help in clarifying the disability representation in this book. You can find the link to her website in the notes section.

I keep writing this book as “City of Spires” instead of “City of Strife” and I’ve had to go back and correct all of my notes

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