Sin, And Therefore Virtue

"When you look at them [virtue and sin] upside down, you'll realize they mean the same thing."

It's the year 1254, and Iremu, the war for an absent throne, has raged on for 539 years. Its origin, greed, has led to Ernalda, the Fertile Isle, being drowned in blood, and there seems to be no end in sight to the carnage. There are heroes on all eight sides, though they may be considered villains by their foes. Teenaged Æretu Maren, prince of Nurea, is one of those.

In the two years since he replaced his father as high general of the Nuræan army, the realm of Nurea has swollen to twice its size. He attacks with mercy, seeking solace from a troubled marriage in conquest. His aggressive stance divides his family, however, and incenses his brother-in-law, Juret Hernal, ruler of Arene. After Æretu takes his beloved city of Revisa, Juret joins an alliance with two other kings against the Maren family.

When Æretu's father dies as a result of the alliance, he leaves his son in charge of most of Ernalda. The war is finally over...or at least, it should be. But not only are his enemies still fighting, the new laws he makes cause a new foe to come out of the woodwork: a rebel organization called Virtuous Sin that is led by two people that are seemingly cursed: one by her blood tie to Æretu, one by a photographic memory and trust issues. To Æretu, Virtuous Sin embodies half of humanity, the half that
terrifies him the most. And for all his prowess on the battlefield and argute personality, he may not be able to snuff out the fires of rebellion....