BOOKS

Frozen meets Star Wars in this Young Adult Science Fantasy Thriller about a troubled young empress who must rise above her demons to stop a warlord’s hostile takeover of her empire.

DAUGHTER OF THE DARKEST STAR will appeal to fans of Dune, Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles series, Brandon Sanderson’s Skyward, the Star Wars universe, as well as Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman. It also has crossover appeal for YA romantasy fans looking for a fresh setting.

“To be an effective empress, you must hold your tongue as much as possible, remove yourself from all conflict, and never, ever unleash your Rage . . .”

Seventeen-year-old Princess Lusi was born without the Calm—a psychic ability humanity relies on to help prevent war in the Empire. Instead, Lusi was born with a power more suited for battle.

A power her parents have worked hard to keep hidden until her official debut.

On the night of Lusi’s coronation, a vengeful warlord and his army of cyborg mercenaries invade Lusi’s palace, seeking to kill the monarchy as they enact a violent coup and declare a takeover. 

Lusi manages to escape with the help of Anson—a charming and capable fighter from the same exiled planet as the invaders. Though it’s clear Anson has his own hidden agenda, Lusi enters a temporary alliance with him. Anson’s familiar with her enemy’s tactics, after all, so he’s her best shot at figuring out how to stop this brutal war. 

But as Lusi and Anson plot their counterattack, they begin to unravel a conspiracy far more sinister than this hostile takeover. Reclaiming her throne won’t be as straightforward as Lusi thought. Her secrets are catching up to her. And Lusi might have no choice but to embrace her darker side if she hopes to save her empire from a fate worse than a bitter warlord’s revenge.