Twenty-three years ago, Sophie betrayed her family to save her people. She failed.

Once second in line for the imperial throne, Sophie led a rebellion that was crushed by her own grandmother. In the years since her defeat, she has lived in exile at a remote abbey.

But her quiet life is interrupted by startling news: the throne sits empty. This is no cause to celebrate, for enemies gather to seize her family's power.

On one side, an ambitious general seeks the imperial purple for himself. If he takes the throne, citizens will become serfs and slaves in their own land.

On the other side, the empire's northern enemies smell weakness and mass their armies to invade. If left unchecked, they will burn their way south and wipe Sophie's home out of existence.

Against these enemies, Sophie has only the stalwart acolytes of her abbey, a few comrades from her failed uprising, and one dogmatic but loyal senator. From the northern frontier to the imperial capital, Sophie must outwit her political foes and face her enemies in battle.

If she fails a second time, the empire will fall. Written by Mythcreants editor Oren Ashkenazi, this second-world fantasy novel is inspired by Byzantine history and the radical idea that the rich should pay their taxes.

Content notice: This adventure features graphic violence, poverty, and the death of a major character. .