Empire of Dragons

Cursed Empire, Book 1

De: Rachel L. Schade

Narrado por: Emry Mika

Fans of lush world-building, morally gray characters, enemies to lovers, and forbidden romance will devour this YA series.

Save the empire...or let it burn.

Revenge failed her...

Three years ago, Lo’laeni Nolanhou did the unthinkable, slaying the empress of the cruel Alrenian Empire and freeing her people, the Forwyn slaves. But the price of revenge wasn’t freedom, only guilt. Vowing to never kill again, Lo dedicated her life to the god Elhani, serving as a nun within the Circle of Serenity to fight against the injustices still wrought against her people in the torn capital of Alrenor.

Then Caesiem, a handsome and mysterious Teramese boy aligned with an underground Forwyn vigilante group, flips her world upside down. The unrest growing within Alrenor is worse than Lo realized. Corruption is everywhere...and the Forwyn vigilantes want an empress slayer.

Revenge fuels her...

For years, Empress Jaliana, Daughter of Karye, has been a captive in her own palace. A prisoner to her mother’s killers. A powerless pawn, alone and unable to take back her throne, her dragons, or her kingdom.Until one night a never-before-seen gift manifests itself within Jalie. It’s terrifying. Brutal. Everything she has ever needed. But the Forwyn won’t give in easily. They task Kovi, a young soldier, to watch over her, and he challenges everything she’s ever believed about her enemies....

One empire. An age-old hatred. Two girls who will risk anything—even their souls—for their people.

Not sure which order to listen to Rachel L. Schade's books in? The Cursed Empire series is set in the same world as the Silent Kingdom series, three years later, and follows new characters. If you're interested in both series, it's best to listen to SK first to avoid all possible spoilers. However, both series stand on their own and can be heard in any order.

©2021 Rachel L. Schade (P)2022 Rachel L. Schade

Loved it!

I finished the audiobook Empire of Dragons last night and oh my gosh, it was so good. It’s told from the POV of two different young women who are on opposing sides of a decades long conflict, which I thoroughly enjoyed and which I think added such a layer of complexity and richness to the YA fantasy. EOD also features an enemies to lovers storyline that’s thick with tension AND dragon warriors! Def recommend this book for fantasy lovers and def recommend if you’re looking for a new audiobook!

loved it

very much looking forward to the next one. great world building, wonderful story, enjoying the characters immensely. well done!

Lots of world building

I really enjoyed this book and the different POVs. I really feel like that helped to portray the division between the cultures in this series. That was also nice because it really showed the reader both sides and wasn’t focused on a “good side” or a “bad side”.

This book made me so nervous the whole time. I didn’t know who to like or trust and I am really hoping that all of the main characters team up together in the end. I can’t wait to continue!

By the way, Kovi is everything in this book! I loved him!

Read this if you like:
🐉 A takeover of power
🐉 Learning how to make your own way
🐉 Budding forbidden romance x2

Intense Dragon Fantasy

I LOVED this book!! It had everything! Romance (forbidden and enemies to lovers), heartbreak, dragons, magic, political plot, character growth, and a really bad baddie! I really liked this narrator too! Really well done!

Excellent YA epic fantasy

I think I loved Jalie more because of the audiobook. I suspect I would have read her words in a more callous tone than the narrator portrayed her.

Schade has an engaging world of political intrigue perfect for a YA audience. Themes of forgiveness (for oneself), grief and compassion are strewn seamlessly through an engaging plot of duty.

My favorite character is Kovi and my favorite scene was dragon riding.

Suitable (but not exclusively) for teen readers.

Great Read!

If you love dragons and fantasy with lots of romance then this book is for you! Rachel did a great job with enemies to lovers and her characters!