The Empire Wars

“An exciting new voice in YA, Akana Phenix has written a gripping tale of resilience and courage that powerfully echoes the realities of conflict and injustice. The Empire Wars will resonate with young readers long after they turn the final page.”—Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author

The Empire Wars is a powerful new YA fantasy in which magic may be a young woman’s only hope for survival.

Coa, who was born feral in the North Transatlantic wilds, has been captured. Now, Coa is subject to public humiliation and execution in a gruesome spectacle known as the Great Hunt.

If participators die in the Great Hunt, their entire families will be executed—in front of everyone. The nationalist regime known as the Allied Force will not rest until all foreigners are exterminated. Coa’s best hope of survival might be Princess Ife—born of privilege but newly married into the authoritarian lineage.

Her riskier choice is an alliance with a gorgeous, cunning fellow participator, marked as a traitor to his militarized nation. Coa entangles herself with the captivating young man but soon finds he could be her ultimate downfall …

Akana Phenix is a Harvard alum and screenwriter. The Empire Wars is her debut fantasy novel. As a nostalgic 2000s kid, she’s always eating Oreos and streaming Avatar: The Last Airbender. She’s based in the United States.



January LaVoy, winner of numerous awards for narration, was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine in 2019. She is an American actress best known for her character Noelle Ortiz on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live. In addition to working extensively in narration and television, including roles on Law & Order and All My Children, she has worked on and off Broadway as well as in regional theater.
Jesse Vilinsky is a classically trained actress and voice actor, having graduated from the USC School of Dramatic Arts and BADA in London. She has lent her voice to numerous film and television projects and has worked on various video games, animation, and commercial projects as well. As a narrator, Jesse has garnered recognition in AudioFile magazine for her expertly voiced characters and ability to bring forth the strength and truth of their stories.