The
Charisian Empire, born in war, has always known it must fight for its
very survival. What most of its subjects don’t know even now, however,
is how much more it’s fighting for. Emperor Cayleb, Empress Sharleyan,
Merlin Athrawes, and their innermost circle of most trusted advisers do
know. And because they do, they know the penalty if they lose will be
far worse than their own deaths and the destruction of all they know
and love.
For five years, Charis has survived all the Church of
God Awaiting and the corrupt men who control it have thrown at the
island empire. The price has been high and paid in blood. Despite its
chain of hard-fought naval victories, Charis is still on the defensive.
It can hold its own at sea, but if it is to survive, it must defeat the
Church upon its own ground. Yet how does it invade the mainland and
take the war to a foe whose population outnumbers its own fifteen to
one? How does it prevent that massive opponent from rebuilding its
fleets and attacking yet again?
Charis has no answer to those
questions, but needs to find one…quickly. The Inquisition’s brutal
torture and hideous executions are claiming more and more innocent
lives. Its agents are fomenting rebellion against the only mainland
realms sympathetic to Charis. Religious terrorists have been dispatched
to wreak havoc against the Empire’s subjects. Assassins stalk the
Emperor and Empress, their allies and advisers, and an innocent young
boy, not yet eleven years old, whose father has already been murdered.
And Merlin Athrawes, the cybernetic avatar of a young woman a thousand
years dead, has finally learned what sleeps beneath the far-off Temple
in the Church of God Awaiting’s city of Zion.
The men and women fighting for human freedom and tolerance have built a foundation for their struggle in the Empire of Charis with their own blood, but will that foundation be firm enough to survive?
The series
In the Safehold series, David Weber crafts a deeply immersive world where the stakes are high, and the weight of history is felt with every decision. Set on a distant planet that has been deliberately cut off from the rest of the universe, the series explores a world where technology has been frozen in time, and humanity is forced to rebuild from the ground up. This high-concept premise sets the stage for a gripping narrative about survival, faith, power, and the struggle to protect a fragile society from forces both internal and external.
Read full series description
At the heart of Safehold is the conflict between the ruling religious order, the Church of God Awaiting, and the rise of scientific and technological innovation. With society bound by an edict that prohibits any technological advancement beyond a certain point, the tension between progress and control drives the series forward. The story follows a variety of characters, from the military leaders and politicians who fight for control, to the religious figures who seek to maintain their hold on power, to the quiet rebels who see a world that must change to survive.
What sets Safehold apart from other science fiction series is its intricate world-building and the complex moral questions it raises. Weber doesn’t just create a backdrop for his characters; he builds a society where every law, tradition, and belief has been carefully designed to create a system of control. But as new technologies emerge and secrets from the past are uncovered, the world of Safehold becomes a battleground for those who want to change the course of history. The series is as much about the clash of ideas as it is about space battles and military strategy.
Weber’s meticulous attention to detail and his gift for developing multifaceted characters make Safehold a standout in the genre. His portrayal of a world on the brink of revolution is rich with political intrigue, philosophical debates, and high-stakes drama. Whether it's the military brilliance of its leaders or the quiet intelligence of those working behind the scenes, every character in Safehold is fighting for their vision of the future.
In a series that spans multiple books, Safehold invites readers to explore the complexities of a society caught between the past and the future, offering a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to break free from the constraints of tradition while questioning the cost of progress. It’s a compelling saga that mixes action, strategy, and philosophical depth in a way that will resonate long after the last page is turned.
#1 · 2007Off Armageddon Reef 
#2 · 2008By Schism Rent Asunder 
#3 · 2009By Heresies Distressed 
#4 · 2010A Mighty Fortress 
#5 · 2011How Firm a Foundation 
#6 · 2012Midst Toil and Tribulation 
#7 · 2014Like a Mighty Army 
#8 · 2015Hell's Foundations Quiver 
#9 · 2016At the Sign of Triumph 
#10 · 2019Through Fiery Trials 
#11 · TBASafehold Book 11 Be the first reviewer
Sign in and write the first reader review.
