Kindle
$3.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$29.99
Paperback
$17.99
Kindle Price: $3.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $21.83

Save: $18.62 (85%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

Katherine Franklin
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Empyrean (Galaxy of Exiles Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Katherine Franklin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 7 ratings
See all formats and editions
Emotion is a weapon. Harnessing its power could destroy worlds.


Palia’s emotions are in turmoil. After watching her son succumb to Empyrean fire, she barely escapes the same fate. Guilt ridden and alone, she will not stop until his killer is brought to justice.

The Protectorate forbids Ferrash to have emotions. That suits him, since he cannot avoid the people who control the Empyrean. Making this sacrifice prevents them from hijacking his feelings and using them as a weapon against him.

When Ferrash spots Palia’s ship venting atmosphere, he is forced to save her. Having an enemy from the Hegemony on board could see him accused of treason. But when the Empyrean reveals its potential as a destroyer of worlds and Palia’s link to it, Ferrash knows he can’t let her leave.

With billions at risk of succumbing to the Empyrean weapon, can the enemies join forces and prevent the same fate that killed Palia’s son?

The Empyrean is the first book in the Galaxy of Exiles series, a science-fiction space opera about a galaxy under the pall of weaponised emotions. Immerse yourself in a detailed universe of heroes, villains and more. If you like page-turning futuristic action, you'll love this.
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 2
    Galaxy of Exiles
  2. Print length
    480 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    April 1, 2022
  6. File size
    7342 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next page
Hard Rock apparel
Outerwear, tees, and accessories. Discover the rock shop.
All 2 for you in this series See full series
See included books
Total Price: $11.98
By clicking on above button, you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A complex story that is well-written with strong characters.' ― The AudiobookReviewer

'I enjoyed the journey with these characters and found the world-building admirable.' ― Readers' Favorite

About the Author

Katherine Franklin spends far more of her days than is healthy glued to a screen, writing stories when she's not writing code, but she manages to venture outside once in a while as well. She loves science, but didn't love her physics degree enough to do anything about it. Fiction was always her first love.You can find her on Twitter and Instagram (@FranklyWrites), Facebook (@KatherineFranklinAuthor) or through her personal website (www.FranklyWrites.com).

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09ML5V2XS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (April 1, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 7342 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 7 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Katherine Franklin

Katherine Franklin

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Katherine Franklin spends far more of her days than is healthy glued to a screen, writing stories when she’s not writing code, but she manages to venture outside once in a while as well. She loves science, but didn’t love her physics degree enough to do anything about it. Fiction was always her first love.

Katherine lives in Yorkshire with her husband and a horse-sized dog, where she practices martial arts, painting and far too many little hobbies to count in her spare time.

You can find her on your preferred social media platform via her website: franklywrites.com/social-landing

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
7 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

ltg584
4.0 out of 5 stars Solid sci-fi
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2022
Verified Purchase
Meticulous world-building and complex characters.
Helpful
 Report
Maarten J Broekman
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging story, but slow set-up. Couldn't put it down once the action started.
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2022
Verified Purchase
This was recommended to me on a Discord server and the premise intrigued me enough to pick it up.

The chapters are SHORT, so take that into account when I say that it took about a dozen chapters before it suddenly clicked and the story started unfolding in a way that just grabbed your attention. I had read six chapters after I bought it and then put it down. Last night, I picked it up to relax before going to bed. Two hours later, I had finished the book and it was almost 1am.

I can't wait to read the next books in the series.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Athena (OneReadingNurse)
3.0 out of 5 stars A space opera where emotions can be weaponized
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2023
Verified Purchase
I liked the overall idea quite a bit. The story opens with a planetary explosion and utter devastation, vivid imagery, and it was enough to snag my attention from the get go.

Broadly, I can appreciate the plot regarding interstellar weapons potential and the fact that emotion could be harvested as a source of power, magic, fire. The Empyrean is full of interesting concepts.

It’s also got a few likeable characters and, my favorite part, a hilarious but all too brief episode with a rather large animal companion.

Where this story ended up falling flat for me was in execution. There were some big, overarching mysteries hinted at throughout, and the thing is that for an author to hold onto those mysteries and just keep dropping hints, the reward has to be worth it. I really truly hate to say that the “answers” fell flat for me and that the entire final resolution was a bit of a weak setup for the next book in the series. Many characters and events appeared and vanished throughout without the page time they needed to land an impact.

While individually I liked Palia and Bek, Farrash felt pretty out there. The romance felt more like a proximity attraction without much to ground it on, so the … Uh … Pinnacle of Action scene didn’t land either. The concept did, I get what the author was going for, I just couldn’t see it.

I’m smacking myself because this sounds harsher than I mean it to. For editing and presentation this is one of our stronger books, and if I had spent a tiny bit less time feeling lost I would have enjoyed it much more overall. It’s a great plot that just got lost in the execution
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
MaMcBeth
4.0 out of 5 stars I'm so in love with Bek.
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2023
The concept of this universe-the ability to weaponize emotions-leads to some interesting characterization. One society takes advantage of this power, another sedates their citizenry to eliminate all emotion. For its not just an Empyrean's emotions that can be used, but those around them. At the surface, this is a really cool mechanism, and lends itself to some interesting introspection on the value of emotion itself. There are some lovely explorations of the value or harm in releasing or suppressing emotions. How those choices or lack of choices reflect on the characters and their development over the course of the book got me rooting for the team before long.

I absolutely love the character of Bek. He exhibits this internal contradiction of being the least human of the three main characters, but the one with the most humanity. And the accent the narrator gives him is brilliant. The relationship between him and Palia felt more believable than the relationship between Ferrash and Palia, but without giving too much away, what happens to them all in the end really mustered my...emotions.

The book ends on a major cliffhanger, which makes it basically unreadable as a standalone. You've been warned. Though there were some slow parts, I'm into it enough to check out the 2nd installment, which hasn't been written yet. Mostly, I just want to listen to the narrator's voicing of Bek and his exploits some more. He can fly my spaceship anytime.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
C J White
5.0 out of 5 stars Intensive action and space opera combination
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2022
Watching her son fall victim to Empyrean fire and barely escaping the same fate, Palia seeks justice. Ferrash is an emotionless man and soldier of sorts to The Protectorate. Ferrash rescues Palia but not without doubt as Palia is seen more as an enemy. Ferrash discovers the Empyrean potential to destroy more worlds and knows they must act now or suffer the same death via Empyrean fire.

The author, Katherine Franklin carefully builds a world of unique aliens and beings with a penchant for war and deadly encounters. A world where emotions are used as weapons of destruction. A complex story that is well-written with strong characters. The plot twists are unexpected as are the relationships built. Franklin keeps the story well-balanced and straight-forward moving.

The narrator, James Alper, provides listeners with unique voices for each character, a rich tone, and hours of entertainment. His delivery is smooth and steady. I enjoy hearing James Alper perform, he draws the listener in and keeps them in the moment.

I found this book to be enjoyable, intense at times, but definitely riveting. I further enjoyed Franklin’s writing style and Alper’s performance. A definite must-hear for anyone who enjoys sci-fi, space opera, and adventure.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook, it was well done.
Helpful
 Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report