E D Herman

Twin Paths E D Herman

Where does the duty of a princess lie? Clan? Honor? Subjects? Justice? When you discover your clan is dishonorable, the refugees you have supported are unwelcome, and your subjects have rebellious intents, it can be difficult to tell. Shindo was the envy of The Eastern Lands, filled with grand feats of architecture, flourishing arts, and a peace that enabled it. Princess Asoka was proud to be an heir of the Kachi shogunate that had ruled for centuries, and in her father's name she did her part to maintain stability in the realm with an iron fist. Anything less than absolute demonstrations of strength was an invitation for the daimyo to subvert their rule. Alas, her image of Shindo was a mirage. All it took was a handful of refugees beaching on Shindo's coast for the illusion to crash. Accusations from the daimyo of putting the foreigners above the good of the shogunate's loyal subjects twisted the realm into knots of alliances of convenience. Old enemies cut through past hatred to reach common goals, but only for so long as there was value in the arrangement. Knots could always be untied. In the midst of the plots, Asoka must rescue her twin sister while learning about the truth of her clan's legacy. As opposed to the fantasy of peace and prosperity, it is one of pain and poverty. There may be a path to bring honor back to the shogunate, but maybe it is best that the ancestral line ends with them.