Asrian Skies (Shadows of War #1)
Avery Rendon is weeks away from realizing her dream as a Commonwealth fighter pilot when planetary politics destroy her fledgling career before it begins. Grudgingly, she returns to her home planet of Asria, still hoping to break free of her royal family and the life of tedious policymaking they’ve planned for her. But Asria is still Asria, and after her almost-fiancé walks out on her, she’s not sure things can get much worse.
She’s wrong. When the Haederan Empire invades Asria, intent on rebuilding their interstellar domain, Avery becomes a target. She also becomes something else—a reluctant and naïve Commonwealth intelligence operative. It’s not long before she stumbles upon information that could change the course of the war, and suddenly she’s on the run, pursued by the Haederan secret police and desperate to deliver critical information to the Commonwealth before it’s too late.
Swept up in something more dangerous than politics or flying, Avery begins to wonder if her destiny lies somewhere closer to home. If the shocking information she’s discovered will have galaxy-wide consequences. And if she’ll live to see the end of it all.
Praise for Asrian Skies
Sam Hendricks
“It was true on the first read and truer on the second: Wheeler surprised and delighted me…”
Shannon A. Hiner
“…rife with political intrigue, spies and the potential to become one of my favorite new series.”
themself.org
“…an awesome novel, reading a lot like Elizabeth Bear and Ann Leckie…a fantastic book.”
Cheyanne Lepka
“…fast-paced, with the stakes being constantly raised…masterfully done…the protagonist is so real and complicated.”
The Bibliophagist
“…hated to put this book down…an engaging, edge of your seat science fiction novel…”
Unbroken Fire (Shadows of War #2)
After dealing a major blow to the enemy, Avery Rendon has found her way home to Asria. Safe for now, she spends her time adjusting to her new role in her planet’s future and reveling in personal victories. But Asria is still under the control of the Haederan Empire, and their grip has only tightened since the invasion. When the Asrian prime minister begs her to ask the Commonwealth for help in person, she agrees.
It’s a harrowing trip to the Commonwealth’s headquarters, one which comes to an abrupt end when her ship is intercepted by the Haederans in deep space. Her traitorous uncle, the former king of Asria, is there waiting for her. Worse, so is the Haederan interrogator who has haunted her nightmares for the past year. His plans for her now? Avery isn’t sure she wants to find out.
Alliances will shift. Trust will be broken. And through it all, time is running out for the people Avery cares about the most.
Praise for Unbroken Fire
James Kemp (minor spoilers for Asrian Skies here)
“…talented author…crafts amazing multi-dimensional stories with multiple twists.”
Shannon A. Hiner
“Nobody, and I truly, honestly mean, nobody, does character-driven sci-fi like Anne Wheeler.”
Cheyanne Lepka
“… character-driven space opera at its finest…”
The Bibliophagist
“…will grab you from the start and never let go.”
Shivelighting
“… a beyond-worthy sequel to Asrian Skies…a standing ovation…”
Shattered Honor (Shadows of War #3)
Gareth Chase might be a model Haederan officer, but even his unshakable loyalty to his emperor can’t assuage his constant misgivings. Certain his past deeds have destined him to a hellish afterlife, he’s not happy to be ordered to his empire’s newly conquered planet of Asria to keep watch on their princess. He’s even less thrilled to find that his new charge is insolent, reckless, and defiant—and almost certainly an enemy spy.
Katryn Holt is also headed for Asria—as a hostage. But hostages aren’t usually treated like this, are they? She’s got her own cabin on the long-range starship, pleasant company—even if he is Haederan—and black-market Commonwealth coffee. But as she wrestles with her strange attraction to Rhys Linden, one thought remains—how will things change once they reach their destination?
Torn between his obligations and conscience, Chase will fight his imperial duty, no matter the cost. Trapped between her brother’s mistakes and her own emotions, Katryn will fight for what seems to be a hopeless escape. But by the time the two finally meet on this foreign, war-torn planet, setting things right again may be impossible.
Shattered Honor shows the events of Asrian Skies from the view of the conquerors . . . who aren’t always the winners.
Praise for Shattered Honor
James Kemp (spoilers for Asrian Skies & Unbroken Fire)
“…way more than space opera…bespoke characters lovingly put together in a richly constructed and internally consistent universe.”
Shannon A. Hiner
“…takes you deep into the mind of the conquerors… a snake charmer’s tune as these two characters’ stories slowly but inexorably become entwined.”
Cheyanne Lepka
“…evocative, thoughtful, and most of all, raises questions about the reality of war and how every person is the hero of their own story…”
Shivelighting
“Anne Wheeler has a knack for dancing around humanity’s lines of black and white…”
Faded Embers (Shadows of War #4)
With the Haederan Empire mostly ousted from Asria, Avery should feel freer than she has in years—certainly since the Haederan invasion. Yet when she’s nearly assassinated on the day of her long-overdue coronation, intelligence suggests the perpetrator is her estranged brother, Quen. He may have denied wanting the throne years ago, but now it seems he wants another shot, and he won’t stop until she no longer stands in his way. Convinced her life is in imminent danger, she flees to Haedera, the last place Quen will ever think to look.
But the reclusive planet isn’t the sanctuary she was promised, and in the volatile aftermath of the Commonwealth-Haederan War, political intrigue is treacherous and allies are few. When Quen tracks her to Haedera and her enemies close in around her, Avery is forced to trust the one man she swore she’d never forgive.
And that trust will come at a cost.
Praise for Faded Embers
James Kemp (spoilers here)
“A story of betrayal, conspiracy and redemption…”
Fallen Legacy (A Shadows of War novel)
War might have flared in the galaxy, but Lieutenant Commander Cara Rescorla is ecstatic to be serving aboard the Commonwealth surveillance starship Legacy, far from the problems of ordinary life. The views from orbit around Ekril, full of windswept grasslands and scientific research, can’t be beat—and even better, her husband can’t present her with an unwanted divorce contract while she’s halfway across the quadrant on a classified reconnaissance mission. It’s a successful one too, for Legacy quickly discovers that Haederan troops have landed on the surface.
Before they can report their critical finding, Legacy receives a distress call from a group of scientists who haven’t escaped the Haederans’ arrival. But their rescue attempt fails, and soon Cara is stranded on Ekril, injured, alone, a prisoner of war. Worse, Major Talan Vaughan, the Haederan soldier tasked with escorting her across the planet, isn’t the infantry officer he claims to be—he’s something much worse.
As Cara’s hope of escape fades, Vaughan’s secrets will collapse around her. Trapped, she must decide who she can trust—and who really stands in the way of her making it home.