The Emperor's Fist - (Far Stars) by Jay Allan (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In this thrilling new installment in the Far Stars saga, a reluctant hero with a bloody past must reunite with an old love to battle an evil emperor willing to destroy all their worlds if he cannot control them.

When the Far Stars came under imperial attack, Astra Lucerne--the daughter and successor of the Far Stars' greatest conqueror--Marshal Augustin Lucerne--rallied her father's confederation forces to defend their worlds. They were joined in the fight by former imperial general Arkarin Blackhawk, a warrior whose skills and brutality made him infamous, and who has, for two decades, sought the redemption he knows is unreachable.

Now, with the imperial foothold in the sector eliminated, the Far Stars is free and almost united. While Astra's forces continue to depose local tyrants and warlords, Ark and his crew have slipped back into the shadows. Though his heart belongs to Astra, Ark cannot get too close. His imperial conditioning remains under control, but it is still volatile, and the temptation of power threatens to unleash the dark compulsions that made him the most merciless of the emperor's servants. He cannot risk allowing Astra to see the darkness inside him.

But while the battle has been won, the war may not be over. A petty smuggler makes a discovery that can enable the emperor to strike back and crush the resistance--unless Ark and Astra join forces again to stop him.

From the Back Cover

forces to defend their worlds. They were joined in the fight by former imperial general Arkarin Blackhawk, a warrior whose skills and brutality made him infamous.

Now with the imperial foothold in the sector eliminated, the Far Stars is free and almost united. While Astra's forces continue to depose local tyrants and warlords, Ark and his crew have slipped back into the shadows. Though his heart belongs to Astra, Ark cannot get too close. His imperial conditioning remains under control, but the temptation of power threatens to unleash his dark compulsions. He cannot risk allowing Astra to see the darkness that still lurks in the depths of his mind.

But while the battle has been won, the war may not be over. A petty smuggler makes a discovery that can enable the emperor to strike back and crush the resistance--unless Ark and Astra join forces again to stop him.

Review Quotes

Praise for Jay Allan:

"Readers who seek the visceral, swashbuckling adventures of muscular, troubled heroes and gorgeous, headstrong heroines will enjoy this series launch about the wild backwater planets of the Far Stars. . . . This old-fashioned tale is a paean to the simple pleasures of exceedingly masculine adventures." - Publishers Weekly on Shadow of Empire

"Make no mistake, though--this book is basically a fun roller-coaster ride, with just enough emotional intensity and psychological depth to keep your arms and legs inside the carriage at all times. Shadow of Empire is a crazy, over-the-top, zany adventure in which rogues outwit space pirates, get caught up in a civil war, and have space fights in and around an asteroid field. It's the perfect thing to tide you over until summer movie season gets going, in other words." - Charlie Jane Anders, iO9 on SHADOW OF EMPIRE

"It's twisty and turny, with a lot of effective world-building, but Jay Allan pulls off another neat trick: as much time as is spent on galactic power politics, we experience wall-to-wall swashbuckling adventure alongside Blackhawk and company, who start the book with their leader in the middle of Roman-style gladiatorial combat, and, never get a moment's rest. There's hand-to-hand combat, space battles, and military-style maneuvers. The back-and-forth makes for a compelling read: the intrigue never bogs down the pace, and the over-the-top action never gets tiresome. In many ways, it's the perfect fall book: not quite as light as something you might take to the beach, with just enough complexity to keep the space-pirate angle grounded. " - B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog on SHADOW OF EMPIRE