Amy Faulks’s SUMMONERS is a fantasy novel that carefully and thoughtfully looks at power. The story doesn’t show power as something exciting or limitless; instead, it focuses on its limits and the responsibility that comes with using it. You need power to stay alive in this world, but it also comes with risks and costs.
In the world of SUMMONERS, death doesn’t always mean the end of a person’s power. When people die, their spirits may stay behind. Some spirits fade away without a sound, while others stay around feeling confused or angry. If these spirits aren’t kept in check, they can become dangerous and scare the living.
Society has set up strict systems to deal with this threat. The Veil is the most important part of these systems. The Veil is a strong wall that keeps the living world and the spirit world apart. It keeps spirits from crossing freely and keeps the city from going crazy. The Veil stands for safety and stability for most people.
But the Veil is not a natural thing. It exists because someone used strong magic to make it. This means that safety depends on keeping an eye on things and taking care of them. When the Veil gets weak, it needs to be supported, protected, and fixed. This dependence shows how weak safety can be when it relies on power.
Executors are trained professionals who help the Veil. After death, executors help spirits move on and keep things in balance. Their jobs are dangerous and hard on their emotions. Fear, grief, and uncertainty are a part of their daily lives.
Executors are given power because their job is very important. But there are limits to this power. There are strict rules that executors must follow. They can’t use power however they want. They are responsible for keeping others safe, not for their own gain.
The story is about Terry Mandeville, an experienced Executor who knows these limits very well. Terry has a strong belief in rules and order. He trusts systems because he knows that having power without control can be dangerous. Terry believes that rules are there to protect both the people who live by them and the people who work to keep things in order.
Terry’s job is a big part of who he is. He thinks that using power the right way means following the rules. He finds meaning in his life by holding back instead of being in charge. He can stay alive in a dangerous job because of this method.
When Terry meets the spirit of a man named Whip, this idea of power is put to the test. 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 goes against the rules that Terry needs to follow. His skills don’t work the way they used to. He can’t control some parts of his power anymore. For the first time, Terry has to deal with a situation where structure doesn’t help him.
The presence of Whip changes how we think about power. Whip lived outside of formal systems in life. He doesn’t trust rules or people in charge because they didn’t keep him safe. His point of view goes against Terry’s idea that having control always makes things safer.
SUMMONERS looks at the limits of power by forcing people to connect. Terry can’t just make Whip do what he wants. Terry is necessary for Whip to be. Both of them need to learn that power isn’t about being in charge; it’s about finding a balance and working together.
While Terry is having a hard time dealing with this loss of control, a bigger problem comes up. The Veil that keeps the city safe is getting weaker. There are small signs of failure, and fear spreads through society. People start to understand that the power they depend on might not last forever.
The Veil’s weakening brings out an important theme. It is important to keep power. It takes a lot of work and sacrifice all the time. People who depend too much on systems without thinking about them are at risk of them breaking down.
This growing crisis makes people think about the past. A long time ago, very powerful magic was used to make the Veil and the systems that control spirits. Iris Westheide, the Witch Queen, is at the heart of this story. Her knowledge helped build the world we live in today.
It might be possible to fix the Veil by calling on the Witch Queen’s spirit. But what she did in the past helped and hurt her. The book asks if it’s smart to use old power to fix new problems.
This problem shows how power comes with responsibilities. Just because someone can do something doesn’t mean they should. Every time you use your power, it has effects on many people’s lives.
Amy Faulks shows that magic is hard and exacting. You need to get ready, pay attention, and be careful when you do rituals. Mistakes can have big, long-lasting effects. Magic is not an easy fix. It needs judgment and self-control.
This method makes the fantasy seem real. Readers know that power has limits and dangers. When characters use magic, the results feel like they worked for them instead of just being easy.
The way SUMMONERS is written backs up this focus on responsibility. The language is easy to understand. Instead of using complicated explanations, characters’ experiences are used to explain ideas. This makes the themes easy to understand while still keeping their depth.
The book doesn’t use big displays of power to build tension; instead, it uses restraint. Characters have to choose when to act and when to stay still. These decisions change the story and show who the characters are.
This struggle is shown in Terry’s journey. He doesn’t need to get more power; he needs to learn how to use what he has wisely. He has to choose between adapting to new rules or sticking to old ones that don’t work anymore as systems break down.
Whip’s role shows how power can affect people and how it can be limited. His life and death demonstrate the harm that occurs when systems prioritize control over comprehension. The book asks if power can ever be fair when it is used without compassion.
These ideas are also shown in the city itself. Its systems, rituals, and protections show that it is a society based on controlled power and careful balance. The Veil is a symbol of protection that needs to be worked on all the time to stay strong.
The main idea of Amy Faulks’s book SUMMONERS is about taking responsibility. It shows that having power isn’t just about what you can do; it’s also about what you should do. Real strength comes from being able to hold back, understand, and work together.
Readers who like fantasy that deals with important issues and is easy to read will find SUMMONERS to be a thoughtful and interesting book. It mixes magic with deep questions about power, limits, and duty.
Amy Faulks’s book SUMMONERS reminds readers that having power doesn’t make them safe.
Responsibility does.