For fans of Pierce Brown and Firefly comes an epic sci-fi fantasy, hailed as "an important and relevant novel" by The New York Times.  Empress Rhee, also known as Crown Princess Rhiannon Ta’an, is the sole surviving heir to a powerful dynasty. She’ll stop at nothing to avenge her family and claim her throne.   Fugitive Aly has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. But when he’s falsely accused of killing Rhee, he's forced to prove his innocence to save his reputation – and his life.   Madman With planets on the brink of war, Rhee and Aly must confront a ruthless evil that threatens the fate of the entire galaxy. Rhoda Belleza crafts a powerful saga of vengeance, warfare, and the true meaning of legacy in this exhilarating debut, perfect for readers of Marissa Meyer's Lunar Chronicles  and Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman's Illuminae Files. “Intergalactic political intrigue, family betrayal and coveted thrones feature in this space opera story…real-world analogues and social commentary make Empress of a Thousand Skies an important and relevant novel.” — The New York Times Book Review  “This is a multiplanet, multiculture, multitech world and a timely tale. An exceptionally satisfying series opener.”  — Kirkus Reviews , Starred Review "Fans of calculating political maneuvering and expansive, interplanetary plots will find much to enjoy in Belleza’s  Firefly -esque debut." — Publishers Weekly    “Belleza creates a thrilling world filled with deception, war, friendship, and love… a good next read for YA fans of Marissa Meyer’s “The Lunar Chronicles” series.”  — School Library Journal  “Fans of Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles and especially readers of Lewis’ Stitching Snow will find much to like in this thrilling yet thoughtful intergalactic ride.” —BCCB  “Belleza’s ambitious debut lays the groundwork for what is sure to be a rich sci-fi series full of political plots and worlds on the brink of war, futuristic biotechnologies reminiscent of M. T. Anderson’s Feed (2002), and startling plot twists.” — Booklist     “Empress of a Thousand Skies will compel fans of series such as Marissa Meyer’s The Lunar Chronicle ; Victoria Aveyard’s The Red Queen ; Beth Revis’s Across the Universe ; and George Lucas’s Star Wars . Belleza’s exciting novel debut will make readers desperate for the next book to complete this duology.” — VOYA “Belleza's debut is dazzling--an adventure as sweeping in scope as the galaxies it spans!” — Kiersten White, #1  New York Times bestselling author of And I Darken “An epic space opera with all the elements of an addictive read--danger, deception, unlikely allies, and the fate of worlds hanging in the balance. A stunning debut.” — Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Beautiful Creatures & author of The Lovely Reckless “This book glitters like stars. With a heart-pounding plot, twisty secrets, and characters you can't help but root for, Empress of a Thousand Skies had me turning pages well into the night!” — Beth Revis, New York Times bestselling author of the Across the Universe series Rhoda Belleza was raised in Los Angeles, where she grew up writing X-Files fanfiction and stuffing her face with avocados. She's a children's editor at a publishing house and writes from a sunny Brooklyn apartment stuffed with far too many bikes and far too many shoes. When she's not writing, Rhoda obsesses over nail art tutorials, watches kung fu movies, and sews together crooked things that pass for clothes. Empress of a Thousand Skies is her debut novel. Follow her on Twitter @rhodabee. RHEE tore a path through the bustling marketplace, kicking up dust that fell slowly in Nau Fruma’s low gravity. The foreign tourists coughed and complained as she passed, but Rhee ignored them, scanning the fairgrounds for Julian as she clutched his miniature telescope to her chest. She wasn’t accustomed to being in a crowd; so much of her life had been spent looking down at one from a balcony, urged to wave and smile and look as ladylike as possible. But now, among the people, there was a jostle and roughness to it that Rhee found thrilling. It was the golden hour, and the sun dipped just below the hori- zon. Risking a quick glance behind her, Rhee spotted one of the Tasinn plowing through the ebb and flow of bodies, headed in her direction. His khaki fitted uniform and polished badges stood out amid the sea of vibrant linen robes. His skin was ashen and pale, unlike the men who’d grown up on this desert moon and knew the heat of the sun by its true distance—not through the refracted beams and domed cities on Kalu. From here she could see that his hand hovered above the stunner strapped to his belt. The Tasinn were the royal guard— her royal guards, technically, but they felt like a relic of her father’s era, wholly separate from the life she’d led here on Nau Fruma. They were a