His Conquering Sword
When Conquerors clash
On the planet Rhui, the Jaran tribes, under the leadership of Ilya
Bakhtiian have ranged far in their campaign to subjugate all who will
not willingly yield to their rule. Yet even as they prepare to besiege
the royal city of Karkand, many another battle is being waged on a far
more personal – and perhaps a more important – scale. For Ilya is
married to Tess Soerensen, a woman born not on Rhui but on Earth, and a
woman, too, who is the only heir to Charles Soerensen, leader of the
failed rebellion against the alien Chapalii Empire and now a duke of
that same Empire.
And Charles has come to Rhui for two
reasons: to reclaim his sister, and to decipher long hidden and
invaluable data about the Mushai, the legendary Chapalii who once led
his own rebellion against the Empire.
But Tess has no desire
to become anyone's puppet, and unless the three can make their own
private peace and agree upon a common strategy for conquest, what hope
do they have of overthrowing an Empire that was thriving before humans
learned to walk erect?
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Kate Elliott
Few fantasy authors conjure worlds as vast, as lived-in, or as emotionally resonant as Kate Elliott. Her stories don't just transport readers—they immerse them, body and soul, into realms shaped by history, culture, and the complexities of power. With a career spanning decades and genres, Elliott has carved a unique space in speculative fiction by weaving epic narratives that are as intellectually rich as they are emotionally gripping.
What sets her apart is not only her sweeping world-building, but the way she grounds it in human experience. Whether she’s charting dynastic struggles in the Crown of Stars series, redefining epic fantasy with the Spiritwalker Trilogy, or exploring the intersections of gender, colonialism, and resistance in Unconquerable Sun, Elliott brings a rare depth to every page. Her characters—especially her fiercely determined women—push against the boundaries of their worlds with strength, vulnerability, and defiance.
Jaran
Jaran consists of four books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
