The Emperor is dead and the Emerald Empire is in turmoil. From New York Times bestselling author Julie Kagawa and J.T. Nicholas comes the thrilling first installment in the definitive story of the Clan Wars. The Emerald Empire hangs by a thread. The Emperor's murder has brought upheaval across Rokugan, especially now that his sons have vanished. With the political order that has bound the Great Clans together for centuries unravelling, each now dreams of war and power written in ash and blood. Lawlessness has taken hold, and in its midst the ronin Toturi, formerly the champion of the Emperor, searches for purpose in the ruins of betrayal, fighting to save what little he can while trying to escape a past desperate to catch up with him.

But no man can run forever. Not when the failure of his sacred duty caused the chaos he now fights through. And as political infighting divides the Imperial Court, another threat rises from beyond the empire's borders. A great horde of demonic horrors is massing, determined to crush the clans and wipe them from existence. The stage is set for the bloodiest wars the empire has ever seen. And this time, there may be no victors.