Convergence (The Soulbound Series Book 1)

In the underground city of the Burrows, every eighteen-year-old participates in the Convergence, an ancient ceremony where magical beings called Auryths determine who is worthy of power and a lifebond. Those deemed unworthy face exile to the surface world, which the Regime claims is destroyed by chemical warfare and uninhabitable. Lennon Benfield dreads the Convergence. If chosen, she gains magic and security in the Burrows, but rejection means exile and abandoning her younger brother Shiloh to their distant father. However, Slade Whitlow, exiled years earlier, has discovered the truth about the world above and the Regime's deceptions. He now leads other exiles, protecting them from surface dangers and the lies that condemned them. Lennon believes every life is worth saving, but Slade knows such ideals can be fatal. As secrets emerge and difficult choices mount, Lennon must decide between her principles and the people she loves.