Portrait of Fire

<p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>A century ago the Ash Fall reshaped the world in fire and ruin. Empires fell revolutions stirred and from the smoke and brimstone new forces emerged to build upon the ruin.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Rising from the ash like a phoenix House Hieronymus forged a fractured realm into the Empire of the Nine. Nine vassals nine lords each with a vote to decide the next emperor. To claim the crown alliances must be forged throats cut and the right marriages arranged.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Warwick Hieronymus the emperor's chosen heir has been trained for this his entire life. But as the emperor's health fails distant relatives flood the capital to press their claims and whispers spread that Warwick's twin brother may be the better choice. Now Warwick's crown his inheritance and his life hang in the balance.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Yet the empire's greatest threats do not come from the throne room alone. In the south a young slave named Jae sparks a rebellion that unites beastfolk and humans against their oppressors. On the Isle of Flaímir an aging warrior named Laewyn raises an army to challenge House Hieronymus on her people's ancestral land. And in the east Josephina the daughter of a witch gains control of a powerful draconic artifact that could change the fate of the world.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>As cousins conspire brothers betray and ancient powers stir the House of the Phoenix threatens to go up in flames. And if it burns the Ash Fall will rise again - this time to consume the world for good.</span></p><p></p>