Aether Bound, Book One: The Flame of Mangol

Two brothers have lived quiet lives in the Outskirts, each dreaming of the day they might claim their first Power Stone. When that dream finally comes true, it tears them onto opposite sides of a deadly conflict. The Grand City stands as the last refuge in a savage world. Towering outer walls keep the monsters at bay, while inner walls divide its people, keeping them segregated and in the dark. At its heart rises the Citadel, a white spire that looms over all, a beacon that signals the next monster attack. The Outskirts is all Aiden has ever known. But when his older brother, Rook, wins his Ascendancy Trial, everything changes. Faced with an impossible choice, Aiden must either accept an illicit Power Stone and follow Rook into the depths of the Grand City, or risk losing him forever. Even as monsters claw at the outer walls, it soon becomes clear the true danger lies within. Follow Aiden, Rook, and Eefa in this dystopian LitRPG adventure, where power always demands a price, and the truth hides behind walls within walls.