His Dark empire refers to the fact that the Ruler of the land is an unnamed immortal tyrant that has had all remnants of history erased. Magic is banned, and all magic users, called the Cursed, are hunted down by soldiers and Mediators.The Mediators then collect the ones they don’t kill, and they are never seen again. Eryn, a village blacksmith’s daughter, is one such Cursed.When she is betrayed by her brothers friend, she and her brother go on the run while her parents are killed trying to stop the soldiers. Her brother is killed on the journey, and she is almost captured, until she uncontrollably uses her powers to escape.
Meanwhile, Silas, the town drunk in another town, is turning in a Cursed for the bounty. He has a crisis of conscience as it happens, and tries to help the Cursed escape. He all of a sudden knows how to use weapons with amazing dexterity, and fights like a man possessed.He escapes torn, and Meets Eryn down the road as they both try and help some other Cursed to escape the Mediators. Silas discovers he’s not who he thought he was, and Eryn finds she might have a connection to Silas. The past is dug up, and they both have to discover the part they will play in the drama unfolding, with consequences that can span the entire empire.
The story is action packed, as all M.R. Forbes books are, with complex, believable characters, and villains you can really loathe. With a fast moving plot, a really interesting and original magic system, this book is a must listen for any fans of epic fantasy.
As always, Jeff Hays does his usual superb job narrating This authors books, giving each character a life of their own.
I was given a copy of this book free of charge by the narrator in exchange for an honest review. throught Audiobookblast