On an isolated planet where unity is as engineered as its people, Jesse seeks the truth behind the slaughter of his family-starting with the immortal who spared him.
A century ago, two human lines nearly wiped each other out rather than acknowledge their shared humanity. But when Jesse's mining town is slaughtered under mysterious circumstances, it's clear ancient bigotries linger, and rebels have access to some magic or tech capable of wide-scale genocide.
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The Red Demon bloodied her swords in that massacre-a bioengineered immortal left over from that century old war. Jesse expected her to be upholding his empire's fragile peace, not killing her own. Jesse is too optimistic and stubborn to break. Better days are coming-and he's willing to take on an immortal to ensure they do.
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Faruhar, the so-called Red Demon, is not the mastermind Jesse expects. Her fragmented mind is ravaged by guilt over crimes she cannot remember committing, and a code impressed on her by a few kind people she cannot forget.
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A fast-paced science fantasy with tense fight scenes, a spicy romantic subplot, and a twisty plot that punches you in the feels. Fans of Pierce Brown's Red Rising and R.F. Kuang's Poppy War Trilogy will appreciate this book.
Industry Reviews
"An unflinching and epic work of sci-fi/fantasy, Red Demon by Sill Bihagia is the genre-blending debut of what portends to be a masterful series.
From its dramatic opening lines and spectacular world-building depth to the visceral emotionality of the prose and Jesse's remarkable story arc, this novel exceeds every expectation for the genre. The concept of modifying genetics as a common cultural practice draws readers in early with a unique and fascinating hook, but this book defies traditional sci-fi boundaries, with elements of inborn magic and ghostly immortality rubbing shoulders with genetic engineering and interplanetary colonization.
Combined with existential quandaries that we're facing in the real world, Bihagia has crafted a stunningly multifaceted first installment, emphatically demonstrating a mastery of both sci-fi and fantasy storytelling." -Self Publishing Review
"I had the chance to work on this fast-paced science fantasy as a proofreader and I was mesmerised by its richly realized setting and characters. I also may or may not have threatened Sill that I need more books set in this world." - Danai Christopoulou, Pushcart-nominated author and editor at Hugo-nominated khÅr©Å