Amy Faulks’ SUMMONERS is a fantasy book that is very character-driven. The story is mostly about how people deal with change, fear, and responsibility, even though there are spirits, magic, and danger in the world. The book shows that the future isn’t just decided by systems and magic. People and the choices they make do.
In the story, death doesn’t always bring peace in the city where it takes place. When someone dies, their spirit may stay behind. Some spirits fade away without making a sound, while others get confused or dangerous. Because of this constant threat, society has to make strict systems to keep the living world safe.
Executors are the most important parts of these systems. After someone dies, executors are trained to help spirits move on. Their job is hard and serious. Every day, they have to deal with sadness, fear, and danger. People often don’t understand or care about the role they play in protecting them, though.
The book is about Terry Mandeville, a seasoned Executor who strongly believes in order and discipline. Terry believes in rules because they help him make sense of a world that is always changing. His work is a big part of who he is. He doesn’t just work as an Executor. That’s just who he is.
Terry thinks that rules are there for a reason. He believes that you should be able to control your emotions and that your feelings should never get in the way of your duties. He can do his job in a dangerous way because of this belief, but it also makes it hard for him to understand other people. Terry sees things as right and wrong.
Terry’s clear view of life starts to change when he meets the spirit of a man named Whip. Whip acts differently than other spirits. He is still aware, alert, and unwilling to fade away. His spirit doesn’t get led away; instead, it becomes tied to Terry.
This unexpected bond puts Terry in a situation he can’t handle. He no longer has to think or do things by himself. Whip shares his body and mind, which makes him question his sense of order. Terry has trouble with fear, anger, and confusion as his daily life falls apart.
The story is very much about Whip’s character. Whip, on the other hand, lived outside the law. His experiences have changed how he thinks about rules and authority. He doesn’t trust systems because they have hurt him in the past. Terry has to think about things he has never thought about before because he is there.
Their relationship is full of problems at first. Terry wants to be in charge and quiet. Whip wants to be free and heard. Neither of them gets what they want. Over time, they have to work together because they need to. To stay alive, you need to learn how to work together.
Both characters start to change as their relationship grows. Terry learns that rules don’t always keep everyone safe. Whip finds out that he needs some structure to stay alive. Even when they don’t agree, their shared experience helps them understand each other.
This character growth is slow and true to life. Amy Faulks doesn’t rush trust or friendship. Instead, she lets their relationship be shaped by stress, anger, and small moments of understanding. This makes their relationship feel real and important.
Terry and Whip are having a hard time living together, but a bigger threat is coming to the city. The Veil that keeps the living world safe is getting weaker. There are small signs of failure, and people start to panic. People start to understand that the systems they rely on might not last forever.
The Veil getting weaker puts more stress on everyone. Leaders, witches, and Executors have to make tough decisions. The book shows how fear can make people do things that seem necessary, even if they are dangerous.
This crisis is getting worse and making people think about the past. A long time ago, strong magic was used to make the systems that control spirits. The Witch Queen, Iris Westheide, is at the heart of this history. Her knowledge helped make the Veil and the rules that control the world.
Calling on the Witch Queen’s spirit might help fix the Veil, which is failing. But what she did in the past both helped and hurt her. The book uses this problem to talk about making moral choices. Is it okay to bring back old power if it might make the same mistakes again?
Amy Faulks answers this question in a fair way. There is no choice that is clearly right or wrong. There is a risk with each choice. Every choice has an impact on many people. This way of doing things makes every action the characters take important.
These moral choices have a lot to do with magic in SUMMONERS. Rituals need your full attention, planning, and care. Mistakes have effects that last. Magic isn’t something you use lightly, and with power comes responsibility.
The way the story is written supports this focus on choice and character. The language is simple and easy to understand, so even complicated ideas are easy to get. Readers are led through the story without getting lost or having to read too much.
The book doesn’t rely on constant action to build tension; instead, it uses emotions and choices. Conversations, inner conflict, and small moments are just as important as big events. This keeps the focus on people instead of the show.
The main idea of the book is shown through Terry’s journey. His fight isn’t to get stronger. It’s about realizing that control has its limits. He has to choose between sticking to strict rules or accepting change when his beliefs are put to the test.
Whip’s role shows how expensive it is to have strict systems. His life and death show how systems that are supposed to protect society can hurt people. The book asks if order can ever be fair without understanding through Whip.
These ideas are reflected in the city itself. The way it works, the rituals it has, and the safety it offers show that it is a society based on fear, compromise, and history. The Veil is a sign of safety that comes from giving up something.
At its core, Amy Faulks’s SUMMONERS is a story about people who have to make tough decisions. It shows how fear can affect choices and how heavy responsibility can be for those who have it.
Readers who like fantasy stories with strong characters, clear themes, and deep emotions will enjoy SUMMONERS. It mixes magic with important questions about choice, control, and change.
Amy Faulks’ SUMMONERS reminds readers that systems don’t work by themselves. People do. And it’s those choices, not just magic, that shape the future.