Undertow

In Elizabeth Bear's "Undertow," André Deschênes seeks to leave behind his life as a hired assassin and learn the craft of conjuring, which involves manipulating the odds in people's lives. Set against the backdrop of Novo Haven, a city on the brink of revolution, an alien race is advocating for their rights and recognition. As tensions rise, André faces a final contract that intertwines his personal ambitions with the city's turbulent upheaval.