“Sometimes, to preserve what is good… Tarnish must be burned away”
– Sun Order proverb
The Edict of Alchemy
Tragedy feeds the flames of chaos in this multi-POV political fantasy
The blood spilled during imperial conquest still stains both hearts and memories in the kingdom of Vleilaas, even after a century of peace. Yet despite his own imperial origins, King Turīsh Shahīn has built trust and respect among his Vleilaan subjects during his honorable reign. His earnest adherence to the Sun Order—the Empire’s sole-sanctioned religion—commands him to propagate order and unity, after all.
But when alchemy is unexpectedly criminalized by the Emperor and head of the Sun Order, the very livelihood of these helpless vassals is under threat yet again. And many fear this decree is only the beginning.
Turīsh’s true allegiances are cast into doubt, and though he desires to protect his people from imperial interference and aggression, he struggles to accept that this sacred bastion he devotes himself to could abet in the Empire’s unprovoked atrocities… even as Vleilaan blood is spilled once again.
JJ Anderson 