Empire Ascendant

Every two millennia, the dark star Oma brings a wave of destruction, leaving survivors to face new, violent powers. As a foreign Empire decimates kingdoms and spreads across the world, an illegitimate ruler and a scullery maid with unpredictable magic become their last hope. Meanwhile, a former ally seeks to unseat the Empire, and two enslaved scholars embark on a perilous journey with a long-lost secret. But with an enemy that shares your own face, trust is a dangerous gamble.