The Vengeance Trilogy Series by Devin Madson

Winner of the 2017 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novella You will die. Your children will die. The empire will burn. Empress Li is out of favour at court. Foreign-born and past her prime, she is to be set aside. But she won't go quietly. With nothing left to lose, Li will do anything to stop Emperor Lan signing a secret alliance that could tear the empire apart. Yet when her life is threatened, old mistakes come back to haunt her and only a three-year-old boy can change the course of history... moreWinner of the 2017 Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novella You will die. Your children will die. The empire will burn. Empress Li is out of favour at court. Foreign-born and past her prime, she is to be set aside. But she won't go quietly. With nothing left to lose, Li will do anything to stop Emperor Lan signing a secret alliance that could tear the empire apart. Yet when her life is threatened, old mistakes come back to haunt her and only a three-year-old boy can change the course of history.With everything at stake, could an innocent child be the best assassin? less

They call him the Usurper.A man of common blood sits on the throne. At his command the last emperor was executed, but vengeance is coming... Endymion is an Empath. He was born with the ability to feel another's emotions and reach inside their hearts for their deepest secrets. Often despised, he lives a nomadic existence, but when he finds himself imprisoned for sorcery and facing death, his past will condemn him... moreThey call him the Usurper.A man of common blood sits on the throne. At his command the last emperor was executed, but vengeance is coming... Endymion is an Empath. He was born with the ability to feel another's emotions and reach inside their hearts for their deepest secrets. Often despised, he lives a nomadic existence, but when he finds himself imprisoned for sorcery and facing death, his past will condemn him. Born Prince Takehiko Otako, the only surviving son of the True Emperor, Endymion is caught in the brewing storm. But as his skill grows beyond his control, has the truth come too late?The fight for the Crimson Throne has begun. less

Two emperors. One empire.The war for the Crimson Throne has split Kisia. In the north Otako supporters rally around their champion, but Katashi Otako wants only vengeance. Caught in the middle, Hana must decide between her family and her heart. Is the true emperor the man the people want? Or the one they need?As the true heir to the throne, Endymion remains hidden in plain sight, but the Vices know his secret... moreTwo emperors. One empire.The war for the Crimson Throne has split Kisia. In the north Otako supporters rally around their champion, but Katashi Otako wants only vengeance. Caught in the middle, Hana must decide between her family and her heart. Is the true emperor the man the people want? Or the one they need?As the true heir to the throne, Endymion remains hidden in plain sight, but the Vices know his secret. Malice, scheming to restore the empire to the rule of gods, plans a coup that will tear Kisia apart if Endymion does not find a way to escape. But he is running out of time. His Empathy is consuming him. It grows stronger with every use, spreading him so thin there will soon be nothing left – nothing except the monster he fears to become. When gods fight, empires fall.The storm is coming. less

Vengeance has come.Katashi Otako walks with the Vices, burning everything in his path. Now the spirit of Vengeance, he will stop at nothing to destroy Emperor Kin and take the Crimson Throne.The empire is facing its greatest threat, and with Darius controlling Katashi from the shadows, Emperor Kin finds his every move pre-empted. Out of options, Kin and Hana must marry in secret to secure the support they need, but the ceremony takes seven days and seven days can change the world... moreVengeance has come.Katashi Otako walks with the Vices, burning everything in his path. Now the spirit of Vengeance, he will stop at nothing to destroy Emperor Kin and take the Crimson Throne.The empire is facing its greatest threat, and with Darius controlling Katashi from the shadows, Emperor Kin finds his every move pre-empted. Out of options, Kin and Hana must marry in secret to secure the support they need, but the ceremony takes seven days and seven days can change the world.As the flames of vengeance engulf Kisia, Hana will have to fight for the right to defend her empire. A ruler must do what is necessary, but no choice is easy when the enemy is the man she once loved and the guardian she once trusted.When gods fight, empires fall. less