Call of the Crimson Empire

In a distant future, across the starry reaches of space, the far-flung Zor Empire lies in chaos. The Empress is dead, murdered by rival claimants to the throne, and opportunists, traitors, and schemers vie for control of the succession.

All Kasar Kell Calyx wanted was to escape her dull life on a backwater moon, but when she travels to Zor Prime to join the Imperial Guard, she discovers they are outlawed, hunted by the dead empress’s enemies. She quickly finds herself arrested—her mouth once again getting her into trouble—but imprisonment yields vital and potentially deadly information: a true heir to the throne is hidden on a far-off, desolate planet.

Suddenly embroiled in murder and intrigue, Kasar must decide who to trust as multiple factions seek what she knows. She joins forces with three renegade Guardsmen intent on finding the true Empress and restoring her to the throne: Shirda, a former assassin hiding her past behind the Guard’s red cloak; Rel, a disgraced nobleman with Psionic powers; and Tor, a giant from a distant planet who has vowed to serve the crown.

Together, they must race find the hidden heir before a pretender can seize the throne and forever take control of the Crimson Empire!