The Empress: (The Emperor, The Son and The Thief, #4)

In the trilogy The Emperor, The Son and The Thief, a young man called Audun discovers that he is the illegitimate son of Alberon, King of Kermin and Doran, the Emperor of the North. With the help of an ancient alchemist’s malign spirit, Audun reclaims his rightful inheritance and banishes his stepmother, the Empress Sylva, and his stepbrothers, Aaron and Elrik, to the Empress’s brother’s court in Tamin. Kingship turns out to be a poisoned chalice for Audun, and he abdicates. Aaron is the rightful successor to his father’s thrones, but ancient marriage promises create threats and opportunities. Sylva decides on a daring move, but it proves to be a misstep. When her brother, Bertalan, discovers her scheme he sends Sylva into exile on a remote island, where she seems destined to spend the rest of her life. However, the rights of thrones are complicated and Sylva has unexpected allies who will support her, if she can escape exile and find her sons. The Empress is Sylva’s story.