Emergence

I await thee, Iara—the Book of Elem

A planet said to be heaven itself is about to appear in the firmament. The space fleets of the Empire and rebel factions prepare to stake their claims but an ancient evil has emerged and its eyes have been fixed upon Iara for millennia.
Tesek Nyme has always been different—unaccepted by the other humans and rejected by his own father. He flees his home world to join the Imperial Navy. He's just trying to find a new life and a place where he can belong. But war is coming and what makes him different might just keep him and his new friends alive, if he can face the true horror of evil.
Zymar Thrassus is a beast trainer for the atheist cult of the Thrik. Enraptured by the Nihil Operas, he dreams of Geszmitt—the last day—but he will come to question his beliefs as events unfold and the Thrik align themselves with a forgotten deity and an exotic alien culture fighting for freedom from the Empire's state religion.
Osrua Va'akoth, the Imperial Astrologer, has given the Regent Princess the location of Iara's emergence, in hope of preserving it from evil. He must hide his own past and the true heresy of his quest—the entire universe depends on it.
Their destinies are woven together. Heresy, fellowship, valor, and darkness will all emerge—and be tested to the breaking point.