First published 2003
For sixteen centuries, the immortal Emperor has ruled his interstellar empire with an iron fist, granting eternal life to the Risen elite. But now, a fanatical faction called the Rix seeks to end his reign and install a cybernetic dynasty. When they take the Child Empress hostage, Captain Laurent Zai is tasked with her daring rescue. Across light-years, Zai and pacifist Senator Nara Oxham must confront the Rix's relentless advance, their fates bound by a fragile connection. The future of a thousand worlds hangs in the balance.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, space-opera, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Interstellar Empire
Period: 16th Century
304 pages · Hardcover · Tor Books