Despite some missteps and failures, MA Liguori has always followed his passion for writing fantasy novels. He spent many years developing his craft, and his short fiction has appeared in Heroic Fantasy Quarterly and New Realm Magazine. He lives in North Carolina with his longtime partner. Aside from working as a writer, he’s also a musician, a gamer, a cat lover, a college grad, and an Autism advocate.
The capital city of the Anirian Empire simmers with unrest. The emperor stands as the last scion of the imperial dynasty, but at sixteen, the boy is powerless against an oppressive regent who seeks to tighten his hold on the throne. As sides are drawn and conspiracies are set into motion, six individuals emerge to carve a foothold for their own ambitions . . .
A self-exiled warrior fueled by vengeance. A lowborn courtesan driven to rule. A once powerful general turned reclusive cripple. A gifted strategist intent on treachery. An idle hero and his honor-bound brother…
Dive into the epic Empire of Cinders today!
The Anirian Empire has fallen, and contenders from all points of the realm have risen to claim the remnants of power. In the west, a former empress flees her home in fear of execution, while a declared traitor to the east boldly styles himself as king. In the south, a cruel warlord seeks to repel a vengeful foe, while in the heartlands, brother stands against brother in the name of high treason. With a once mute boy holding the seal of imperial power, distrust and deceit foreshadow the inevitability of war. But most concerning of all is the sudden outbreak of wildfires across the countryside. These dangers hint at a new threat: a powerful sorcery no man or woman has seen before.
The darkfire is coming.
Adrian Renn was once a successful artisan, but these days he’s a penniless wretch with a terribly burned hand. To recoup his wealth he steals a prized possession from a beloved official—only to find himself a fugitive on the run. Across an untamed land Adrian travels, meeting friends and foes who range from odd to deceptive to downright unsavory. But most peculiar of all is the little hermit with the face of an old child. Drawn to his unconventional wisdom, Adrian realizes that not all things are what they seem, and not all accidents are accidental at all. In the end, he abandons old pursuits for a much greater truth, but this truth is shrouded by murder and lost love and spiritual torment—with all answers inevitably leading to the Great Rivers of Transmigration.