Shadows of an Empire Series

All Mel’s life, her country has been a subject of the repressive empire. She wants to fight for freedom but fears endangering people. It doesn’t help that her supposed comrades are stupid. And that some of the imperial troops are annoyingly friendly.

Riol and his companions live in the shadows. They can sneak into anywhere, retrieve any information, kill anyone. They have never suffered a setback before. In her lust for the karyon, the empress twists their minds before sending them south. Riol loses everything he loves. Only the mission remains: bring the karyon back to Daranvirmor and kill Banof.

In a world of magical technology, the occupying forces chase down one young woman, determined to kill her no matter what it takes. Five hundred years ago, the diemthe defeated their sister race, the lianthe, in a war that devastated the entire world. Since then, the diemthe empire has conquered the northern continent and much of the southern, forcing humans to serve in their military. The country of Giram has recently been annexed by the empire. Illera is a lianthe who has been raised by humans in a small village in Giram, all but forgotten by the rest of the world. She is five hundred years old, but young by lianthe standards. She longs to find her own people but has been hesitant to leave the only life she's ever known. Soldiers from the empire come to her village to capture her and eventually kill her. Illera barely fights off the soldiers but she is no longer safe in her little village. She must flee to the Twin Sun Kingdoms, the only place left in the world not under control of the diemthe. Even if she reaches the Twin Sun Kingdoms, there is a great wall at the border and no one from outside is allowed past. Only a handful of people are willing to help her, but each has their own agenda too. On their journey, they must face spies, traitors, political machinations, duels to the death, outright war, and Illera's barely understood magic. Tracking her movements are soldiers from the empire and their diemthe commander, against whom she has no defense. Shadows of an Empire: Book 1

Banof burns with ambition. To save his people, he must kill his empress. He lacks the power to do so on his own. Illera holds the karyon. With that, Banof could be all but unstoppable. He doesn't want to kill Illera, but neither can he afford to lose the karyon. If he has to chase her across the entire south, he will. 

lllera already has to worry about fighting a war and protecting the karyon. Now she has to keep two crazy diemthe hidden from her allies. With their help, she finally has an advantage in the war, but they could turn against her at any moment.

The south is free from imperial control. Until now, the diemthe have not truly begun to fight. The full force of the rabets shifts into gear, and Illera remains their primary target. Shadows of an Empire: Book 6

Illera and her friends have surpassed many obstacles and come out stronger for it. But most of the south still suffers from imperial subjugation. On their own, Illera and her allies cannot win. With help from some Banof's allies, they can, but the south will never ally with diemthe, even traitorous ones.

Illera might hold the key to peace, but only if she can save herself. The full might of the empire turns against Illera as friends becomes enemies and enemies become friends. If she doesn't win, she will die. Book 1: Tomb of the Moon Book 2: Bloody Fire Book 3: Into the Light Book 4: Twisted Minds

The emperor is here and less useful than anticipated. Banof and Azeha are free, and the south cannot afford another assault. The south cannot defeat the north in open war, so Nikilaus conceives of a raid into Daranvirmor itself, to defeat the diemthe empress and her allies. Illera needs to find a new weapon, and fast.

Tashrin has lost much: her mother, her home, and her eyesight. She will pull together the diemthe and the remains of the empire, no matter what it takes. And Illera will steal back the karyon from Tashrin even if it means killing her.

There is a child whom no one can find. This child holds the final key that will release the Sun spirit and burn the world. Tashrin can no longer be a child. She will do whatever she must to find this special child. And when she does, she is willing to kill that child. Her mother haunts her, and she will not fail.

Tashrin will free the Sun, which will burn everything. Illera, Banof, and their friends race to stop Tashrin. Can anything stop her?   The final book in the series!

The war rages on, and Illera sits at the heart of it. She and her allies have made great strides, but the empire has a response to everything they try. Secrets come out. Book 5: Caged Earth Book 6: Whisper in the Wood Book 7: Iron Will

Daranvirmor has fallen and the empress is dead, but that has not fixed everything. Tashrin holds the karyon, and the old alliances are falling apart.   Book 8: Water for Children Book 9: Gray Haunts Book 10: Freed Sun