Phoenix Emperor by K. E. Ireland
Without a doubt, Ha’Likka is dead, but the destruction she wrought during the last hours of her life will ensure her memory lives on. Natan takes charge of cleaning up the Haikon while everyone else is busy mourning the loss of the Imperial Palace. Knowing his death in inevitable due to the loss of Hasabi, Natan still battles his biology to stall for time until Vathion awakens from a medical coma. Questioned constantly by Tendel and even his own crew, Natan has little choice but to hope that Vathion is sane. He certainly doesn’t know what to do about the Varas lurking in Gilonnia’s backyard. With his efforts to hide the truth growing more obvious by the day, the real culprits behind the war are moving to regain control of their empire.
