City of Lies and Legends by Kayla Edwards

Here is a summary with spoilers of City of Lies and Legends

Days have passed, and Loren remains in a coma, leaving Darien an empty shell of himself. All seems bleak until Loren’s adoptive father visits and gives Darien a glimmer of hope. In the neighboring city of Yveswich, there is a chamber that replenishes magic within a person. The group decides this might save Loren. Darien assembles a team for the journey: his sister Ivy, her husband Jack, Tanner, and Tanner’s mother, a nurse. Before leaving, Darien entrusts Max with running Angelthene, delegating a bit of authority to Malakai. Max’s task is to uncover the truth about his sister, whom Blue revealed to be alive and possessing fire magic.

Max and Dallas begin their search with Max’s estranged, drug-addicted mother. She admits she sold Max’s sister years ago to feed her addiction, knowing her daughter had fire powers. Meanwhile, new characters are introduced: Roman Devlin, a Darkslayer in Yveswich and brother to Travis (a member of Darien’s crew). Roman has made a name for himself despite his abusive father, Don, leader of the House of Black. Roman crosses paths with Shay Cousen, a rival Darkslayer pickpocketing to fund her search for her missing sister. Despite their animosity, Roman agrees to help Shay, and their journey takes them into the desert.

Loren’s perspective offers glimpses of her afterlife, where she experiences memories of her parents and nearly drowns, only to be saved by Darien performing CPR in the real world. Guided by a figure called the Widow, Loren is told she must keep fighting for those who need her.

Darien and his group arrive in Yveswich and attempt to connect with Roman, but he has left. They work instead with Roman’s half-brother, Pax, and his friend Kyler to sneak Loren into the chamber. The first session fails, but after a second attempt filled with desperate pleas, Loren wakes up—though she has no memory of Darien or the events of the past year.

Roman and Shay grow closer during their search for Shay’s sister, who was last seen at a medical facility recently broken into by individuals with color-based aliases, including "Scarlett," revealed to be Max’s sister. Roman discovers Shay has powerful weather magic, which she has hidden from her household, and offers to help her master it. Their bond deepens, culminating in a confrontation with Shay’s controlling mother, leading Shay to sever ties with her family.

Back in Yveswich, Darien learns Loren’s magic corresponds to specific elements, meaning her symptoms—cold, thirst, or difficulty breathing—can be treated by proximity to fire, water, or earth magic. It’s a temporary solution but not sustainable. Meanwhile, Shay’s search for her sister ends in heartbreak as Blue confirms her sister is dead. Shay flees, and Roman eventually finds her, leading to a heartfelt reunion and their mutual confession of feelings. However, their happiness is short-lived as Don threatens Shay’s life, forcing Roman to end their relationship to protect her.

Darien reveals a secret to Loren: in book one, he tied his life to hers by trading years to the Widow, who predicted Loren wouldn’t live past 22. She is now 20. Angered by his omission, Loren’s trust in Darien falters. Meanwhile, Darien confronts a creature called the Basilisk, who warns him of a prophecy suggesting either he or Loren might harm the other. Darien kills the Basilisk, unknowingly breaking a spell, as revealed by Loren’s parents, Cyra and Erasmus, in a cryptic chapter.

The group discovers a replica of the Veil Well has been activated and will soon explode. They realize Loren, as a "Skeleton Key," has unknowingly fed her magic into the well through the chambers. As the explosion looms, Shay prays for Roman’s survival, Max and Dallas reunite with Max’s sister, and Loren races to stop the catastrophe.

The well explodes, bringing down the Veil and plunging everything into an impenetrable darkness. Darien is the first to wake up, but the fates of most remain unknown. The book ends with Loren, Darien, Roman, and Malakai confirmed alive but separated in the chaos.

In the epilogue, Loren’s parents prepare to intervene, warning that "he" is coming.