Emperor of Gladness

In The Emperor of Gladness, a city on the brink of ruin stands tall against endless storms, black-sun raiders, and its own weariness - thanks to a single, stubborn man. Known only as the Emperor, he has no crown and wears no armor, yet he carries a spark that keeps the city alive: a defiant gladness, kindled again and again no matter how often it's snuffed out. With his unyielding protector Serah at his side, he rallies masons, bakers, fishermen, and children to resist each wave of darkness. But the more he gives of himself to keep the city's light burning, the more he begins to wonder: how much can one heart bear before it finally breaks?

When a devastating storm and another brutal siege leave the city wounded and weary, the Emperor faces a deeper threat than swords and fire. At the edge of his own endurance, he's summoned beyond the hills to a valley where a strange, black flame burns - a flame that holds the truth of every choice, every scar, every sacrifice he has made. Guided by the enigmatic Keeper, he must confront what the spark of gladness truly costs, and whether he can continue to carry it without losing himself entirely.

Serah, ever loyal and ever watchful, begins to see the cracks forming in the man she's sworn to protect. As she follows him into the valley of the black flame, she too begins to understand what he has never said aloud: that gladness is not a gift to be kept, but a burden to be chosen - over and over. Together, they walk into the hollow where all their sacrifices have gathered, and face a truth that could either destroy them or set their city free for good.

With luminous prose and unforgettable imagery, The Emperor of Gladness is a story of quiet resilience, of ordinary people holding back the dark, and of one man who refuses to let the world sink into despair. It weaves together a powerful tale of leadership, loyalty, and love - not the kind that burns hot and fast, but the kind that endures through storm and silence alike.

Perfect for readers of The Night Circus and The Book of Lost Things, this is a timeless fable about the light we strike against the dark, the cost of carrying it, and the joy of seeing it passed into countless other hands. In the Emperor's final walk eastward, we are reminded that gladness - though fragile - is stronger than fear, and that even after we are gone, the spark remains, waiting to be kindled again.