Book I of the Empress Odyssey. Lien, Jinyang, and Apollo are three best friends with fire at their beck and call - most of the time. After a devastating war, they find their quiet lives teaching young schoolchildren turned upside down when Jinyang is crowned Emperor of Hoa, the empire of firetamers. Though young, they are ready to bring light to their land during its darkest hour, but the old regime threatens to snuff them out. Then in walks a mysterious and dashing young warrior nicknamed "the White Flash" with lightning in his stead... Will Lien and her friends be able to be the spark their country needs? Or will they be extinguished for good? And just who exactly is "the White Flash?" **This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.**