#hardcover#fiction#ya#youngadult#scifi#teen#fantasyfiction#fantasy War tears the galaxy apart, power tests the limits of family, and violence gives way to freedom in this exhilarating sequel to Empress of a Thousand Skies. Empress  With a revolution brewing, Rhee is faced with a choice: make a deal with her enemy, Nero, or denounce him and risk losing her crown. Fugitive  Framed assassin Alyosha has one goal in mind: kill Nero. But to get his revenge, Aly may have to travel back to the very place he thought he’d left forever—home. Princess  Kara knows that a single piece of technology located on the uninhabitable planet Wraeta may be the key to remembering—and erasing—the princess she once was. Madman  Villainous media star Nero is out for blood, and he’ll go to any means necessary to control the galaxy. Vicious politics and high-stakes action culminate in an epic showdown that will determine the fate of the universe. Gr 9 Up—Two sisters, separated for years, cannot be sure of the others' goals for the empire. Kara has been in hiding her whole life, unsure if she wants to take her rightful spot on the throne or remember who she was. But as she fights her way to save her people from Nero, the man ready to corrupt the world, she must learn who to trust and what is her true destiny. Rhiannon is now the face of her people; although she does not want to seem to be in league with Nero, she must make him believe she is impressionable. Nero's control over the people's cubes, which control their memories, has increased. The update now makes it possible for him to alter and even destroy their minds. The two sisters must find a way to stop him and save the people—but can they trust one another? Belleza's world creation is dynamic with great character development and a wonderfully realized setting. With the story switching points of view regularly, the narrative will engage teens and fantasy lovers. VERDICT Fans of Empress of a Thousand Skies will not be disappointed by the epic conclusion.—Jessica Strefling, US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit Library