Fen, the daughter of executed rebel leaders, has spent her life as a mercenary bodyguard, navigating the treacherous politics of an empire that destroyed her family. When the ruthless Sovereign orders her execution, Fen escapes with only a map and her quarterstaff, determined to find the last remnants of her parents’ rebellion. Her path crosses with Alekhai, the Sovereign’s heir—a figure as dangerous as he is ambitious. Though Fen despises everything he represents, his controversial plans might be the empire’s only hope—or the catalyst for its total collapse.

As Fen delves deeper into the underground insurgency, she discovers that the rebels may be just as deadly as the regime they fight against. With the fate of Newearth hanging in the balance, Fen must decide: will she save her world, or become the agent of its destruction? The novel is a pulse-pounding exploration of loyalty, revenge, and the impossible choices that define heroes and villains.

Bethany Jacobs’ The Kindom Trilogy is a bold, Philip K. Dick Award–winning space opera that explores revenge, power, and the weight of legacy in a fractured galaxy. The series follows a cast of complex characters—including Jun Ironway, Masar Hawks, and Cleric Chono—as they navigate political intrigue, brutal conflicts, and moral dilemmas in their fight against tyranny. The trilogy begins with These Burning Stars, where the seeds of rebellion are sown, and escalates through This Broken Sky, as alliances shift and the cost of resistance becomes clear. The story is set against the backdrop of the Treble, a colony struggling for independence, and features high-stakes battles, personal sacrifices, and the enduring question of what it means to build a future free from oppression.

In the explosive finale, This Brutal Moon, violence erupts across the Treble, and the colony Jun Ironway and Masar Hawks fought to protect is pushed to the brink. A familiar, power-hungry enemy re-emerges, more dangerous than ever, while the mysterious disappearance of Six leaves a critical void. As the quiet ones launch their attack and hope seems lost, Cleric Chono seeks unlikely allies for a final, desperate battle for peace. The book forces its characters to confront the brutal choices required to secure freedom—and whether the price of victory is worth paying on your description.

Salman Rushdie’s The Eleventh Hour is a collection of five evocative stories that explore the poignant, often surreal moments when life’s final act comes into sharp focus. Set across India, England, and America, each tale delves into themes of mortality, legacy, and the choices that define us as we confront the end.

The stories feature a vivid cast: two quarrelsome old men in “In the South,” whose personal tragedy unfolds during a national crisis; a musical prodigy in “The Musician of Kahani,” who uses her magical talents to exact revenge on her wealthy in-laws; a Cambridge don’s ghost in “Late,” who seeks vengeance with the help of a lonely student; a young writer in “Oklahoma,” entangled in a mystery surrounding his mentor’s suspicious death; and an old man in “The Old Man in the Piazza,” whose story becomes a parable about freedom of speech.

Rushdie’s quintet asks profound questions: Do we accept death with serenity or defy it with rage? How do we find meaning in life when the ending is unknown? With his signature imagination and insight, Rushdie examines the boundaries between life and death, identity and legacy, leaving readers to reflect on what truly matters in our final hours on your description.

The Phoenix King, introduces Elena as she navigates a world of political intrigue, divine fire, and prophecy. The kingdom of Ravence is ruled by the Phoenix King, and Elena’s journey begins as she uncovers deadly secrets and forges uneasy alliances. The story culminates in the fall of Ravence, setting the stage for Elena’s quest for vengeance in The Burning Queen

After the fall of Ravence, Princess Elena Aadya Ravence is consumed by vengeance. Once a figure of privilege, she is now driven by a relentless hunger for revenge after her kingdom’s fall and the devastation of her people. As she fights to reclaim her kingdom, she faces a brutal war, a rising tyrant, and the question of what kind of leader she will become—villain, hero, or conqueror. The story explores her struggle for power, the cost of revenge, and the ancient forces shaping her world.

Happy reading!

/rae/