Iron Council - China Mieville (Book 3 in the Bas-Lag Trilogy)

New Crobuzon is being ripped apart from without and within. War with the shadowy city-state of Tesh and rioting on the streets at home are pushing this teeming metropolis to the brink.

In the midst of the city's turmoil, a mysterious masked figure spurs an unconventional rebellion, while a small band of daring rebels escapes in the search for a lost legend. As New Crobuzon faces its darkest hour, there are whispers. It is the time of the Iron Council.