Prelude to the Shards by Michael Timmins

Quint Linksill is on the run. Framed for murdering his love, he now seeks the help of the Witch of Time, whose power will prove his innocence. With his unique companion, Wren, he must avoid capture from a man who hunts him for his own dark purpose.

It’s Sojin and Lyyra’s time to partake in the Race, the traditional competition to determine who will become a Witchguard. It was supposed to be like all of the Races in the past, but when a mysterious stranger joins them, Sojin and Lyyra find that everything they thought they knew was a lie and now surviving the Race is the least of their worries.

Whisp, a young thief, in a dangerous town of thugs and gangs, where street life is the only life. But Whisp has a secret, she has Essence magic. Now, the Shen, the magic hunters have come for her, but they made a mistake, they came to Ghost and this is her town.