L. E Modesitt

Continued poor harvests and steam-powered industrialization displace and impoverish thousands. Protests grow and gather followers. Against this rising tide of social unrest, Steffan Dekkard, newly appointed to the Council of Sixty-Six, is the first Councilor who is an Isolate, a man invulnerable to the emotional manipulations and emotional surveillance of empaths. This makes him dangerous. As unknown entities seek to assassinate him, Dekkard struggles...

Four centuries after its founding, Solidar's Collegium of Imagers is in decline. The dying Maitre summons Alastar, an obscure but talented senior imager from Westisle far to the south who has little knowledge of politics in the capital, as his successor. When Alastar arrives in L'Excelsis he finds disarray and lack of discipline within the Collegium, and himself in the middle of a power struggle. And all that, Alastar discovers, is only a fraction...

"Alayiakal, who will one day be known by many names--not all of them flattering--has to climb the ranks of Cyador's Mirror Lancers, fighting against unforeseen weapons and ancient technology. Alayiakal, however, has secrets of his own to protect: his ties to the Great Forest and his magus abilities. He must silently pretend to be a conventional soldier favored by fate--until that very same fate forces him to choose"--

Rhennthyl and Seliora are married and have a small daughter, and Rhennthyl has proven to be an effective patrol captain as well as a strong imager. But problems are increasing: a new addictive drug is destroying more people faster, including a member of Rhenn's family, mysterious explosions rock the city of L'Excelsis, and the country's most powerful enemy is expected to go to war any day.

Decades afther the fall of Cyador, its survivors have reestablished themselves in Cigoerne, a fertile country coveted by hostile neighbors in less hospitable lands. Young Lerial, the second son of Duke Kiedron, lives in the shadow of his older brother, Lephi, the heir to their father's realm. Lerial's future seems preordained: he will one day command his brother's forces in defense of Cigoerne, serving at his older sibling's pleasure, and no more....

"In Contrarian, protests against unemployment and poor harvests have become armed riots as the people sink deeper into poverty. They look to a government struggling to emerge from corruption and conspiracy. Recently elected to the Council of Sixty-Six, Steffan Dekkard is the first Councilor who is an Isolate, a man invulnerable to the emotional manipulations and emotional surveillance of empaths--but not the recent bombing of the Council Office Building...

"The saga of the Imager Quaeryt, Commander in the forces of Lord Bhayar, reaches a new climax as the great struggle to unify the continent of Lydar enters its final phase. Only the land of Khel remains uncommitted to Bhayar's rule. Their decision could mean a lasting peace, or more conflict across an already war-ravaged realm. While the conqueror of Bovaria awaits emissaries to arrive with news of Khel's decision, other weighty matters occupy Bhayar,...

Magical hero Quaeryt leads the first Imager fighting force into war and joins a vengeful invading army in the hostile land of Bovaria, where Quaeryt secretly demonstrates the heroics of Imagers to legitimize their status.

Solidar is in chaos. Charyn, its young and untested ruler, has survived an assassination attempt and struggles to gain control of a realm in the grip of social upheaval, war, and rioting. Solidar cannot be allowed to slide into social and political turmoil that will leave the High Holders with their ancient power and privilege and the common people with nothing. But the stakes are even higher than he realizes.