“If Heaven will not crown me, I will rise anyway—fire and all.”
Born a concubine’s daughter in the grand halls of Great Qi, Li Ziyan was expected to be silent, obedient, and invisible. Instead, she dared to dream — of justice, of change, of power denied to women like her. Cast out by her powerful family for a single act of defiance, she is left disgraced, alone… and furious.
But exile is only the beginning.
Joined by a fierce sword-wielding ally and a quiet apprentice with secrets of his own, Ziyan begins her journey as an outcast — building strength in the shadows, gathering allies among the forgotten, and uncovering ancient truths buried by a corrupt empire.
Yet danger follows close behind. Someone from within her own bloodline wants her erased. A shadowy conspiracy tied to relics, legends, and forbidden orders hunts her every step. And deep within an abandoned monastery, Ziyan awakens something older than prophecy — a flame tied to the lost Phoenix Archive, and a power long denied to any woman.
As secrets unravel and enemies close in, Ziyan must choose:
Will she remain a fugitive hunted by the past?
Or will she rise from the ashes — and reclaim a destiny that even Heaven tried to steal?
Definitely a book worth waiting for the later stories!!! Good writing and charming characters!!! Especially the two female characters!!!
Interesting story with interesting characters! Really like the main characters, smart girls on their adventures!!!