Burnt Empire Saga

Returning to Ashok K. Banker's Burnt Empire Saga for the climactic end of a series. Since the events of Upon a Burning Throne, this story has been climbing towards a climax, leading to Krushni's plan for vengeance against her father, Jarsun, and culminating in a wedding contest in Gwannland. Guru Dronas, bent on erasing Gwannland from existence, is in attendance. Accompanying him are the Seth and the Krushan Hundred-sons of Adri, emperor of the Burnt Empire-and Jarsun. The five children of Shvate, who was murdered by Jarsun, are also present and eager to avenge their father's death. The stakes are high as the participants put their talents on display. But when the situation escalates into an all-out battle, Jarsun springs a surprise: The greatest army ever assembled is at their doorstep. Valiant Krushni and her allies are vastly outnumbered and outmatched. However, Krushni and Guru Vessa, her mentor, have a few surprises of their own. All of the significant players in the empire are ready to compete. The bloody cycle of vengeance that began in Upon a Burning Throne and continued in A Dark Queen Rises climaxes in a thrilling, epic battle in this trilogy's conclusion.

Returning to Ashok K. Banker's brilliant epic fantasy world of the Burnt Empire, A Dark Queen Rises features Aqreen and Krushita, a mother and daughter on a quest to protect the innocent and bring down tyrants Queen Aqreen of Aquila leaves her husband Jarsun and flees across the Red Desert. She is determined to keep her daughter from being used by Jarsun to stake his claim to the Burning Throne of Hastinaga, seat of the all-powerful Burnt Empire. But Jarsun is vengeful and can summon legions of demoniac forces at will. The Red Desert is vast, and the journey dangerous. Aqreen and Krushita's caravan of ten thousand wagons will take several years to reach the only safe harbor, the queendom of Reygar. Jarsun's pursuit is relentless and his vengeance terrible, but hope shines from the growing powers of little Krushita herself, along with the four-armed, twin-bodied Vanjhani wagon train leader and their band of valiant desert militia. Fierce battles are in store. There are other players in this great game of demigods and mortals, each pursuing their own agendas. The powerful seer-mage Vessa seeks to join Krushita's talents with that of Drishya, an avatar destined to confront and kill Tyrak, Jarsun's diabolical son-in-law. Ladislew the assassin aligns with Tyrak for her own reasons. All paths culminate in a feverish finale on the hot sands of Reygar, as father, mother, and daughter confront each other in one ultimate showdown.

From international sensation Ashok K. Banker, pioneer of the fantasy genre in India, comes the first book in a groundbreaking, epic fantasy series inspired by the ancient Indian classic, The Mahabharata In a world where demigods and demons walk among mortals, the Emperor of the vast Burnt Empire has died, leaving a turbulent realm without an emperor. Two young princes, Adri and Shvate, are in line to rule, but birthright does not guarantee inheritance, for any successor must sit upon the legendary Burning Throne and pass The Test of Fire. Imbued with dark sorceries, the throne is a crucible-one that incinerates the unworthy. Adri and Shvate pass The Test and are declared heirs to the empire . . . but there is another with a claim to power, another who also survives: a girl from an outlying kingdom. When this girl, whose father is the powerful demonlord Jarsun, is denied her claim by the interim leaders, Jarsun declares war, vowing to tear the Burnt Empire apart-leaving the young princes Adri and Shvate to rule a shattered realm embroiled in rebellion and chaos . . . Welcome to the Burnt Empire Saga