The Hod King

Thomas Senlin and his crew have been split up inside the Tower of Babel, a vast labyrinth of stacked realms, and each of them now faces its dangers alone. The Sphinx, fearing an uprising, sends Senlin to the ringdom of Pelphia to look into a plot taking root there.

In the city, Senlin works his way into a bloody arena where hods fight for public entertainment. His inquiry is soon thrown off course by a gruesome crime and a reunion he did not expect.

Elsewhere in Pelphia, Voleta and Iren pass themselves off as a noble lady and her handmaid so they can get close to Marya, whose fame has cut her off from everyone. At court, a powerful prince fixes his attention on Voleta, and his pursuit puts their plan at risk.

Edith now captains the Sphinx's formidable flagship. With another wakeman, she searches for a beloved friend who has vanished, and she has to judge whom to trust. Her search leads toward the Black Trail, where hods climb in darkness and murmur about the Hod King.

This is the third book in a fantasy series. It follows several storylines at once, each tightening around the conspiracies of the Tower and the question of who the Hod King is.