War built the Kisian Empire and war will tear it down.
Seventeen years after rebels stormed the streets, Kisia is still divided. Only the firm hand of the god-emperor holds the kingdom together. But when a shocking betrayal destroys a tense alliance with neighbouring Chiltae, all that has been won comes crashing down.
In Kisia, Princess Miko T’sai is a prisoner in her own castle. She dreams of claiming her empire, but the path to power could rip it, and her family, asunder.
In Chiltae, assassin Cassandra Marius is plagued by the voices of the dead. Desperate, she accepts a contract that promises to reward her with a cure if she helps an empire fall.
And on the border between nations, Captain Rah e’Torin and his warriors are exiles forced to fight in a foreign war or die.
“With prose that rises above most novels, Devin Madson paints evocative scenes to build an engaging story. Highly entertaining, We Ride the Storm is certainly worth your attention and Madson is an exciting new author in fantasy.”
Mark Lawrence, author of Red Sister
“A fast-paced, brutal, intense epic of three people struggling to survive–through politics, battle, and intrigue–when their lives get overturned by violent change. Not for the faint of heart.”
Kate Elliott, author of Black Wolves
“Intricate, compelling and vividly imagined, this is the first in a new series that I am hugely excited about. Visceral battles, complex politics and fascinating worldbuilding bring Devin’s words to life.”
Anna Stephens, author of Godblind
“Madson has built a living, breathing world of Empire and fury. We Ride The Storm grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. “
Peter McLean, author of Priest of Bones
“An utterly arresting debut, Storm‘s heart is in its complex, fascinating characters, each trapped in ever tightening snarls of war, politics and magic. One of the best new voices in fantasy.”
Sam Hawke, author of City of Lies
“A brutal, nonstop ride through an empire built upon violence and lies, a story as gripping as it is unpredictable. Never shying away from the consequences of the past nor its terrible realities, Madson balances characters you want to love with actions you want to hate while mixing in a delightful amount of magic, political intrigue, and lore.”
K. A. Doore, author of The Perfect Assassin
“Darkly devious and gripping epic fantasy boasting complex characters, brutal battle and deadly intrigue. We Ride the Storm is breathtaking, brilliant and bloody -it grips you hard and does not let go.”
Cameron Johnston, author of The Traitor God.
You will die. Your children will die. The empire will burn.
Empress Li is out of favour at court. Foreign-born and past her prime, she is to be set aside. But she won’t go quietly. With nothing left to lose, Li will do anything to stop Emperor Lan signing a secret alliance that could tear the empire apart. Yet when her life is threatened, old mistakes come back to haunt her and only a three-year-old boy can change the course of history.
With everything at stake, could an innocent child be the best assassin?
Progress Report!
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Line Edits
The Reborn Empire #2
We Lie With Death
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First Draft
The Reborn Empire #3
We Cry For Blood
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First Draft
Shin Standalone
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First Draft
Saki Standalone
(Working Title)
Most Recent Blog
The Vengeance Trilogy Cover Reveal!
So, while WE RIDE THE STORM is getting all the attention in the lead up to its release in June, it’s time to make everyone aware that in addition to the four books of THE REBORN EMPIRE series, Orbit also bought the rights to my earlier books, THE VENGEANCE TRILOGY. These books are set in the same world about seventeen years earlier, with some characters appearing in both. If you read WE RIDE THE STORM and think you’d like to know more about Emperor Kin, Empress Hana and Katashi Otako then I HAVE THE BOOKS FOR YOU!
I originally self-published the first book, THE BLOOD OF WHISPERERS, in 2013, finishing the series in 2016, so it was both a great challenge and a great joy to be able to go back and edit, re-write and polish them with a number of extra years experience under my belt. I’m very proud of the outcome and look forward to lovers of Storm getting to read the updated editions of the storm that came before the Storm. (Or you can read them the other way around, they can be done both ways.)
Look at me yabbering away when you came for a cover reveal! Well here we go, the description of the first book, THE BLOOD OF WHISPERERS, and all three covers of the trilogy that will release together on August 4th!
They call him the Usurper.
Once the Kisian empire was ruled by gods. Now Kin Ts’ai, a man of common blood, sits on the Crimson Throne. At his command, the last Otako emperor was executed and a new era began. But claiming an empire is easier than holding it.
In the north where loyalty to the Otako name runs deep, a rebellion grows. And Emperor Kin will learn that killing one Otako, doesn’t mean you’ve killed them all.
Vengeance is coming.
Phew! There we go! Three books all at once. Four books this year! It has been a wild time, that’s for sure (especially having to edit them all at the same time…) But look at these beauties! Super huge thanks to Gregory Titus for the art and Lisa Marie Pompilio for the stand out design as always.
As we get closer to the release date, I’ll be talking about these books a lot more, but for now that’s it. Go forth! Note the date, pre-order (HERE), ogle the covers, squee with me about how exciting this is!
EXCIIIIIIITE!!!
Devin Madson is an Aurealis Award-winning fantasy author from Australia. After some sucky teenage years, she gave up reality and is now a dual-wielding rogue who works through every tiny side-quest and always ends up too over-powered for the final boss. Anything but zen, Devin subsists on tea and chocolate and so much fried zucchini she ought to have turned into one by now. Her fantasy novels come in all shades of grey and are populated with characters of questionable morals and a liking for witty banter.
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