“To pass the Test of Heirs, you must prove your worthiness and understanding of what it means to rule.”For nearly one thousand years, the Core Empire has held together thousands of star systems and billions of citizens. But a coup attempt has broken the empire into pieces. Some planets and systems have survived and still have law and order. Others have fallen to barbarism and piracy. For young Hugh Cascade, this is but a history lesson, even if the nightmares of kinetic weapons exp...

Maeve uch Robert, daughter of Robert ap Morgan, had always heard the stories of her family's connection to the emperors of old. Not that she really believed them. But her sister, Morgain, clearly did. She's been trying to claim the crown for herself ever since a coup attempt killed the current emperor and wiped out most of the court.To protect Maeve, Robert plans to enroll her safely in the Imperial Fleet Academy. Then Morgain strikes again . . . Now an orphan, years later, Maeve f...

"To pass the Test of Heirs, you must prove your worthiness and understanding of what it means to rule."For nearly one thousand years, the Core Empire has held together thousands of star systems and billions of citizens. But a coup attempt has broken the empire into pieces. Some planets and systems have survived and still have law and order. Others have fallen to barbarism and piracy. For young Hugh Cascade, this is but a history lesson, even if the nightmares of ki...

Maeve uch Robert, daughter of Robert ap Morgan, had always heard the stories of her family's connection to the emperors of old. Not that she really believed them. But her sister, Morgain, clearly did. She's been trying to claim the crown for herself ever since a coup attempt killed the current emperor and wiped out most of the court.To protect Maeve, Robert plans to enroll her safely in the Imperial Fleet Academy. Then Morgain strikes again . . .Now an orphan, years later, ...