Warlords of the Hollow Sun Book IV

Book Description*

Black Star Requiem: The Ash That Remains is the final, resounding chapter in an epic saga that spans not just the stars, but the very essence of survival, power, identity, and the frailty of civilization. This conclusion brings together all the complex threads woven across the previous books, plunging readers into a galaxy at the cusp of its last breath, as ancient forces rise from the ashes of betrayal, violence, and corruption.

The universe, once teeming with the glories of the Choir—an ancient, powerful collective that transcended the limitations of flesh—now lies in ruins. This final book examines the culmination of thousands of years of conflict, the tragic consequences of the Choir's ambitions, and the collapse of their carefully maintained empire. It is a tale of redemption, the agony of loss, and the hard choices that have shaped the fractured galaxy.

For Seren Vael, the protagonist and the last vestige of the Choir’s once-glorious legacy, this story is one of deep introspection, exploration of purpose, and painful reckoning. As the last living member of the Choir’s inner circle, Seren has seen the universe transformed from a beacon of hope and order into a fractured mosaic of rebellion, death, and forgotten history. Her connection to the Choir, a vast and powerful group of beings who once controlled the very stars, is now something she cannot escape—whether she desires to or not. Her path is one that leads her to uncover the last secrets of her people, which were buried deep within the foundations of the most ancient of civilizations, hidden even from her own mind.

The journey to unravel the mysteries of the Choir's fall takes Seren to the very heart of the galaxy. There, amid the ruin of star systems that were once glorious hubs of exploration and peace, she is forced to confront not only the ghosts of the past but also the terrifying future that she may have unleashed. The Riftborn, twisted remnants of creation, beings both born and engineered from the very fabric of reality itself, are once again stirring. But unlike before, when they were merely a threat to the Choir, they now threaten everything that remains of the universe.

As the final conflict escalates, Seren's understanding of what it means to fight for survival begins to morph. The lines between enemies and allies blur, as former friends become traitors, and foes reveal their hidden motives. Betrayal becomes a currency, traded like precious metals by those who seek to control the last vestiges of galactic power. In the midst of this storm of scheming and backstabbing, Seren and her band of survivors, the last hope for those who wish to see a future beyond the war, must come to terms with their own fractured identities.

The Ash That Remains brings back familiar characters from throughout the saga: Rhoquar Senn, the broken hero whose path has been irrevocably tied to the Choir's dark dealings; Jalek Vorr, whose once-ambitious transformation into something far worse than human now seems like a terrible mistake; and other key figures whose journeys have intertwined with Seren’s and who carry with them both the burdens of the past and the hope for the future. Each of these figures has their own role to play in the final battle to prevent the total collapse of the galaxy. Yet even as they struggle against the forces that wish to tear everything apart, they are forced to reckon with their own internal battles—guilt, shame, and the ever-present question of whether redemption is even possible in such a broken world.

Audience

Language*

English

Audience*

General Adult

Categories & Keywords

Primary Category*

Science Fiction & Fantasy > High Tech and Hard Science Fiction > Science Fiction - Cyberpunk - Other

Other Categories

Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy Fiction > Dark Fantasy

Thrillers > Action & Adventure Fiction

Horror > Horror - Lost, Abandoned, and Alone