Empire of the Stars Series by Melissa Cave

Do the promises of war ever survive the peace?At the end of a brutal war, Remin of Andelin promised his knights that he would build them a good place, far from the carnage of war and the poisonous intrigues of the Empire. But the only thing more difficult than winning a war is securing the peace.Welcome to the Andelin Valley, where the days are filled with the backbreaking labor of building a city and the nights bring monsters summoned in the waning days of the war... moreDo the promises of war ever survive the peace?At the end of a brutal war, Remin of Andelin promised his knights that he would build them a good place, far from the carnage of war and the poisonous intrigues of the Empire. But the only thing more difficult than winning a war is securing the peace.Welcome to the Andelin Valley, where the days are filled with the backbreaking labor of building a city and the nights bring monsters summoned in the waning days of the war. The Andelin devils dare even the sacred soil of the Empire, and it takes all of Remin’s military genius to keep his people alive. Yet even in the face of bandits, traitors, and the implacable hatred of the Emperor, the greatest danger to Remin might be his new wife.Princess Ophele Agnephus. Daughter of the Stars, the Exile Princess, she is the daughter of the Divine Emperor who executed Remin’s family. Raised in secret and given in the place of her sister as a reward for Remin’s war victory, Ophele carries a secret that could topple the his family was innocent. But will she risk her life to reveal her family’s crimes to the most dangerous man in the Empire?A tale of love and redemption. As the summer bleeds on and the walls of their city rise, Remin finds himself drawn to Ophele, who shares so many of his dreams and sorrows. She could be his love and his wife, the mother of his children, the foundation of a dynasty that will last forever. Or she could be the Emperor’s weapon, placed at his side to destroy everything he has left.A marriage built in the ashes of betrayal. A land built on the ruins of a century of war. And a people determined to rise, with shattered trust and an unquenchable hope…if Ophele can only make them believe it is possible. Traitor Son is the story of a people broken by tragedy, a hero torn between his duty and his dreams, and a young woman who must find the courage to take her place at his side, before their own devils tear them apart.Begin an unforgettable journey with Traitor Son, the first book of the Empire of the Stars. Perfect for fans of epic fantasy, knights and nobility, and tales of resilience and redemption. less

A bloody summer ends in a dangerous harvest in Stardust Child, Book 2 of the Empire of the Stars. Having finally come to terms with their marriage, Remin and Ophele face new challenges as Lord and Lady of the Andelin Valley, where the monstrous devils have wreaked havoc on their land.A perilous journey. Haunted by the terrible losses of his people, Remin is determined to unravel the mystery of the devils, even if it means gambling himself, his friends, and his future to destroy them forever... moreA bloody summer ends in a dangerous harvest in Stardust Child, Book 2 of the Empire of the Stars. Having finally come to terms with their marriage, Remin and Ophele face new challenges as Lord and Lady of the Andelin Valley, where the monstrous devils have wreaked havoc on their land.A perilous journey. Haunted by the terrible losses of his people, Remin is determined to unravel the mystery of the devils, even if it means gambling himself, his friends, and his future to destroy them forever.An untried ruler. No one realizes how unprepared Ophele is to take his place, as she takes her first steps into court politics and the complex duties of a duchess, struggling beneath the weight of her secrets and her divine inheritance as a Daughter of the Stars.A treacherous world. From the distant capital, the Emperor wages an undeclared war on House Andelin, and every new arrival in Tresingale might conceal a foe. As Remin’s knights move to counter him, they discover old enemies with new ambitions that may threaten their hard-won home.An epic story of courage, sacrifice, and the legacies of love. To protect their home and people, Remin and Ophele must embrace the burdens of their birthright in battles of the heart that will echo through the history of the Empire. Stardust Child is perfect for anyone who loves the monsters of The Witcher, the high-stakes politics and strategy of Game of Thrones, and the rich and intimate characterization of Outlander.Discover the magic of Stardust Child, Book 2 of the Empire of the Stars. less

They have survived the war, the devils, and each other. Now they face the long cold of winter…and the clamoring ghosts of a bloody legacy. It began with a summer of devils. No. It began with seven years of war, and a valley left in ruins after a century of violence. Or perhaps even earlier, with the first life Remin took at thirteen years old, because he was determined to live when the Divine Emperor commanded he should die... moreThey have survived the war, the devils, and each other. Now they face the long cold of winter…and the clamoring ghosts of a bloody legacy. It began with a summer of devils. No. It began with seven years of war, and a valley left in ruins after a century of violence. Or perhaps even earlier, with the first life Remin took at thirteen years old, because he was determined to live when the Divine Emperor commanded he should die. But as the ragged survivors of his outlying villages begin to arrive, Remin is forced to reckon with the cost of his own life, even as threats grow against the people he loves. And as the coils of Imperial intrigue tighten, a virulent fever sweeps through Tresingale. Among the first to fall: Remin himself. It leaves his young wife Ophele to take command of a town under siege, testing her fragile strength against fever, fear, and worse foes that lurk unseen. Family secrets stretch beyond the grave, threatening to detonate everything they have, and a knife from the capital seeks the very heart of Tresingale. Even for those who survive the winter, their lives will never be the same. Last of His Blood is the third book in Empire of the Stars, a romantic epic fantasy of enduring love, dangerous secrets, and deathless loyalty. Begin the series with Traitor Son, and discover a love that could redeem an Empire. less