The Kingdom of Charis and the Kingdom of Chisholm have joined together, pledged to stand against the tyranny of a corrupt Church. The youthful Queen Sharleyan of Chisholm has wed King Cayleb of Charis, forging a single dynasty, a single empire, dedicated to the defense of human freedom. Yet there are things Sharleyan still does not know. Secrets Cayleb has not been permitted to share, even with her--and these secrets may threaten all they have achieved...

Hiding secret agendas from their subjects throughout a terrible war in the Charisian Empire, the Emperor and his inner circle of advisors launch a desperate counter-attack against a corrupt Church of God Awaiting that is complicated by a discovery in the Church's Zion Temple.

Centuries ago, the human race fought its first great war against an alien race, and lost. A tiny population of human beings fled to distant Safehold. Centuries later, their descendants have forgotten their history; for them, life has been an eternal Middle Ages, ruled by the Church of God Awaiting, whose secret purpose is to prevent the re-emergence of industrial civilization. But not all of Safehold's founders were on board with this plan. Those...

Those on the side of progressing humanity through advanced technology have finally triumphed over their oppressors.The unholy war between the small but mighty island realm of Charis and the radical, luddite Church of God's Awaiting has finally come to an end. However, even though a provisional veil of peace has fallen over human colonies, many secrets of Safehold's past still remain unearthed. With new alliances forged and old regimes fractured, Merlin--the...