The Opree Legacy: Book One: The Promise

The Shadows are forgotten. They battle in a hellish wasteland far from the heart of the empire they defend with every inch of their being. These doomed warriors, led by Colonel Cyrus Mason have stood against the empire's enemies for nearly two decades with inhuman abilities bestowed upon them by a dark and angry god.But everything has a price, and Col. Mason must decide to save the Empire who abandoned him, or the one person who could be his salvation. Nathanial struggles to find his place in this new world order that is unfolding in front of him. He shines at military school, but as an outsider, he struggles to prove his loyalty to his empire while still honoring his heritage. Lilly, is torn from her life of privilege in the colony of Lo Irant and tossed into the bleak realities facing her people. Escaping slavery, she joins with a group of radical revolutionaries, but quickly learns that freedom comes at a great cost. The Opree Legacy: The Promise is the first book in a series that follows several characters as they try to remake the world that is crumbling around them. Set against the backdrop of impending war and fading hope, characters learn that there is no turning back, no undoing the past and no matter how far they run from it, there will be a time when they must answer for their transgressions. It's a dark world that peppers elements of fantasy as the lives and universe of its characters are shaped through violence and destiny. This unique world is painted with a dark beauty that is often a little too familiar for comfort. Although reminiscent of Game of Thrones with the assortment of characters, political drama and violence, The Promise is astonishingly unique for a first novel.

L. Anna Lenz is a writer of dark fantasy and transgressive fiction. She lives on Long Island, with her husband, a US Marine Corps veteran, and their two dogs. Lenz's new book, "The Opree Legacy: The Promise," is the first volume in a series that explores a world in crisis, and the heroes who fight to remake it, though the gods themselves oppose. Her experiences working in politics helped shape this story