Empire

In the crumbling Martial Empire, Crown Prince Quil Aquilla and his Aunt Helene are losing a battle against the vicious Kegari horde. Quil's armies dwindle, his faith falters, and the woman he loves vanished months ago, leaving him broken-hearted. Torn between his duty to his people and his desire to discover Sirsha's fate, Quil embarks on a dangerous quest for aid from the most treacherous of allies.

Sirsha Westering finds herself tethered to Div, an ancient evil unleashed by a terrible tragedy. Div delights in tormenting Sirsha, hungering for her magical heart. Even as Sirsha fights for control of her own fate, she is desperate to shield Quil from Div's destructive power. But Div will not release Sirsha without a fight; to earn her freedom, Sirsha must uncover Div's past and face horrors in her own.

Cero bet-Dafra, former right hand of the Kegari leader Aiz, now finds himself pitted against her. As Aiz slips further into violence and delusion, Cero must discover if his people have any hope of a future or if they are condemned to an unending cycle of violence. His journey will force him to confront hidden truths, ancient secrets, and a lie that could destroy the world.

In *Empire*, Sabaa Tahir returns to the world of *Heir*, weaving a story of legacy and rebellion, of loyalty and freedom, and of what it means to confront the monsters that lurk within us all.