First published 2024
Alyiakal has finished his duty commanding a remote outpost for the Mirror Lancers of Cyador. He looks forward to attending his best friend's consort ceremony and moving to his next assignment. The plan falls apart when he uncovers corruption within Cyador's Merchanter Clans. Fellow officers investigating the same corruption turn up dead. Alyiakal must replace a murdered officer, shut down a frontier post, and survive an attempt on his own life while dodging scrutiny from the Magi-i. His troubles multiply when he reaches Lhaarat. The brass assigns him as deputy commander to a post that has never needed one. His new commander wants nothing to do with him. This man called hero, tyrant, and emperor by different people must navigate deadly politics while serving an empire that may not deserve his loyalty.
Genres: military-fiction, adventure, fantasy, action
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Cyador, Lhaarat, Mirror Lancers
528 pages · Kindle Edition · Tor Books