The Empire of Dreams

Red Sparkle Stone is a foundling with an unusual name, a hidden past, and a magical mark in her hair. When her hoped-for adoption does not happen, Red seeks a place in the Royal Guard, an institution open only to men. As she petitions to join, a planned coup puts her determination and abilities under pressure. Her story brings together questions of belonging, a concealed history, magic, and the challenge of entering a guarded world that excludes her.