Skip to content

The Imperial Saga

Home of the Empire of the Seven Continents

  • Overview
  • Main Series
    • Rise of the Phoenix
    • Knight of the Dragon
    • Heart of the Guardian
  • Mythology
    • The Myth of the Scorpion Queen
    • The Myth of The Wolves
  • Character Profiles
  • Continent Info
    • Estova
    • Izuria
    • Krendia
    • Shem
    • Kaehlar
  • Other Info
    • About the Author
    • Contact
    • AI Policy
    • Privacy Policy
YouTube Channel Launched!
2 July, 2024
Cover Reveal: Dance of the Empire
11 May, 2024
Heart of the Guardian Out Now!
15 August, 2023

Welcome to the Empire of the Seven Continents

The Empire of the Seven Continents is the home of the Imperial Saga, a fantasy series by Anne Winchell. This website offers exclusive content of the world and novels and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the writing process. Take a look around and explore the world of the Empire of the Seven Continents and the books and stories from this world!

Enter the Imperial Saga

The war for Tamarud lasted twelve years and devastated the continent’s people and lands. When the royal family was captured, everyone knew it was it was only a matter of time before their defeat, but the Empire shocked the people by executing all but the youngest two royals.

Fifteen years later, the continent of Tamarud has suffered under Imperial rule. After the massacre following the execution of the royals, the population is devastated, their numbers vastly diminished. Everyone in a fifteen year age group was murdered, leaving only older adults and those under twenty-five behind.

Now, the invaders, as those from the Empire are known, can kill at will, and wreak havoc on the people of Tamarud. Tamarudian culture has all but vanished as their books, art, and traditional buildings have been razed. Speaking their language is a death sentence, and they even have to choose Imperial names to avoid being killed.  

In this chaos and destruction, Princess Tahirah is coming into her magical powers. As one of two surviving royals, she wields enormous power, power that makes her both threatening and desirable to the Empire. Her rise to power is marked with death and isolation, but romance and hope keep her going. 

These five novels chart her progress as she gains her adult powers, and the increasing strength of her allies as well. Ari, a young man and the object of her affections, learns to stand on his own, and Jana, a young woman whose love for her girlfriend Leena is the only bright spot in her life, learns to take on a leadership role. Together, Ari, Jana, and Leena hope to help save Tahirah from the Empire. They’ll go to any lengths, but will it be enough?

A fantasy map of Tamarud
Map by Dewi Hargreaves
Book Three Available Now!

Explore the Main Series

Find out more about the individual books here with word counts, status updates, summaries, and more. 

The cover of Rise of the Phoenix, with a dark maroon background, a golden, flaming phoenix in the center with a fiery orange-red skyscrapers in a golden portal, and the words Rise of the Phoenix in fancy golden letters

Rise of the Phoenix is a fantasy novel about a young woman who survived the execution of her family at the end of the war and now lives in an occupied continent. She’s always pretended to be obedient, but she has a secret: she’s created a phoenix egg.

The people of Tamarud remember the brutality of the dragon knights long after the war ended. When Jana accidentally becomes a dragon knight, she must deal with the hatred of her father and her people even while fighting to defend her home.

Ari has always relied on loved ones for guidance, but now Tahirah is trapped on a different continent and his parents might be dead. With new friends and unfamiliar family, he has to forge a way forward even as the Empire’s power draws closer to finding him.

Subscribe for Sneak Peeks and Free Content!

* indicates required
How many emails do you want?

Check out the latest videos!

The Imperial Saga YouTube channel offers music videos from and about the various continents and characters as well as readings and behind-the-scenes looks into the creative process!

Anne Winchell, Author of Speculative Fiction

Anne Winchell, Author of Speculative Fiction
Saffron ran away. They caught her. So she learned the art of hiding in plain sight, passing as an ordinary citizen while secretly helping the Galion rebellion. But even there, she goes unseen... and unheard.

⸻

They say she threw away a life of privilege and safety. She disagrees. Judge for yourself: https://tcp.annewinchell.com/people/saffron-2.

Find out more about The Conquered Princes, a dark sci-fi novel with intense personal stakes and galactic ramifications, at https://tcp.annewinchell.com. 

⸻

Full lyrics:

(Verse 1)

First time I was just a child
Slipped outside and walked away
No grand plan, no destination
Just somewhere else I meant to stay

They found me
Brought me home
Closed the doors and watched me more

Funny thing about a locked room
You start memorizing every door

So I learned the weight of footsteps
Learned which floors would give me up
Learned that people see what should be there
And usually that's enough

(Pre-Chorus)

Don't run
Don't look back
Don't give them something to detect

Head high
Walk straight
People rarely question what they expect

(Chorus)

They never see me when I pass
One more face inside the mass
Right skin, right eyes
Right look, right lies
And nobody thinks to ask

They never see me when I pass
By the Watchers, through the glass
I don't have to disappear

I just have to look
Like I belong here

And they never see me when I pass

(Verse 2)

Second time I knew the distance
Knew exactly what it meant
Every street put home behind me
Every step was permanent

No one sounded the alarm
Not until I'd gone too far
Deep enough in rebel country
That they couldn't pull me back

And then I walked up to a stranger
Heart pounding hard enough to hear
Asked where I could find a man named Kenny
Like I'd rehearsed it for a year

I hadn't

I was terrified

But confidence is just another thing
You wear outside

(Pre-Chorus)

Don't shake
Don't rush
Don't let them know you're out of place

Eyes front
Walk straight
Let certainty become your face

(Chorus)

They never see me when I pass
One more face inside the mass
Right skin, right eyes
Right look, right lies
And nobody thinks to ask

They never see me when I pass
Leave the life I knew behind me fast
I don't have to disappear

I just have to look
Like I belong here

And they never see me when I pass

(Verse 3)

Now they call it infiltration
Make a weapon of the trick
Send me somewhere full of Riorans
Give me names and give me risks

So I borrow their expressions
Match the rhythm of the street
Every stranger sees a citizen
Nobody sees me

At the base I lose the shoes
Socks against the floor
Kenny never hears me coming
Neither does the door

Amanda says I need a warning
Someone's going to have a heart attack

I say sorry

Then forget

And do exactly the same thing
When I come back

(Break)

Quiet isn't silence

Hiding isn't dark

Sometimes hiding
Is walking through the light

And knowing where to look

(Bridge)

In private I lose every word
Second-guess the things I say
Wonder if I'm useful
Wonder if they'll want me here today

I can barely hold a conversation
Without wondering what I did wrong

Then you give me an assignment

And suddenly—

I belong

Shoulders back
Eyes ahead
No hesitation in my stride

Let them look directly at me

That's the safest place to hide

(Final Chorus)

They never see me when I pass
Past the cameras, through the mass
Right skin, right eyes
No disguise
Just giving them the answer
Before they ask

They never see me when I pass
Every checkpoint falls behind me fast
They can search for someone missing

While I'm walking right beside them
And they never turn their heads

They never see me when I pass

(Post-Chorus)

First I slipped away

Then I ran away

Now they send me back

And I walk away

Again

Again

Again

(Outro)

Three reports with my name on them
One little girl they couldn't keep

One young woman they couldn't find

One closed case

One rebel spy

Take off my shoes
Step soft
Head high

Walk straight

They never see me

When I pass.

#altpop #dreampop #cinematicmusic #scifimusic #worldbuilding #aimusic #TheConqueredPrinces #Saffron

⸻

World, concepts, and characters by Anne Winchell
Lyrics and art by ChatGPT
Music and video by Suno
Arranged by Anne Winchell

The image was created using the lyrics as input and may contain inaccuracies. It is meant to represent the overall feel for the character and world but is not considered canon. 

This includes generative AI, including Suno and ChatGPT. I am not affiliated with either, and all AI-generated content is clearly labeled above. You can read more about my policies on AI use at https://annewinchell.com/ai-policy/ 

All specific characters, worlds, events, people, cultures, and other identifying features are copyright © 2026 Anne Winchell. However, if you'd like to create art, music, or stories inspired by any of this, please don't hesitate to contact me (https://tcp.annewinchell.com/contact-anne/). I'm (almost always) happy to give permission!
They Never See Me When I Pass [ ♪ The Conquered Princes Original Music ♪ ]
Shoulders back
Eyes ahead
No hesitation in my stride

Let them look directly at me
That's the safest place to hide

Full song Friday @ 5pm CT!

The Conquered Princes → https://tcp.annewinchell.com/

#altpop #dreampop #cinematicmusic #scifimusic #worldbuilding #shorts #aimusic #TheConqueredPrinces #Saffron
They Never See Me When I Pass ♪ [ TCP Original Music ] ♪
Aaron's entire life revolves around controlling a resentful Garrett. But when Garrett runs away, Aaron is confronted with exactly how much his control has turned to genuine care.

This is a paired song. Garrett's version was previously released.

They say he doesn't exist. That his control is an illusion. He lets them believe it. Judge their denials: https://tcp.annewinchell.com/people/aaron-2.

Find out more about The Conquered Princes, a dark sci-fi novel with intense personal stakes and galactic ramifications, at https://tcp.annewinchell.com.

⸻

Full lyrics:

(Verse)

I learned to hold the world at distance
Measured hands and sharpened lines
Every room a quiet battlefield
Every glance a compromise

Then you arrived like static lightning
Bruised and burning through the dark
Something wild beneath the surface
Something dangerous to guard

(Pre-Chorus)

Every road becomes a circle
Every choice pulls us near
I say stay alive another day
You say there’s nothing left to fear

But the closer that we get
The harder breathing comes
Like two collapsing stars
Afraid of what we’ve become

(Chorus)

We move in mutual orbit
Close enough to burn
Close enough to pull apart
Every lesson we learned

You hold me like a lifeline
I hold you like a war
And neither of us knows
What we’re fighting for anymore

If I let go
Would you drift into the dark?
If you let go
Would I finally fall apart?

We circle and collide
Again and again
Mutual orbit
No beginning
No end

(Verse)

You think I do not see the damage
Every line I crossed for you
Every door I locked behind us
Every fear I made come true

But if I loosen my grip now
If I finally release control
Will the world consume your body
The way it already did your soul?

(Pre-Chorus)

Every road becomes a circle
Every wound becomes a thread
Somewhere in the pull between us
Something keeps the other fed

And I don’t know if this is mercy
Or a slower kind of ruin
But every time I try to leave
I feel the gravity moving

(Chorus)

We move in mutual orbit
Close enough to burn
Close enough to pull apart
Every lesson we learned

You hold me like a lifeline
I hold you like a war
And neither of us knows
What we’re fighting for anymore

If I let go
Would you drift into the dark?
If you let go
Would I finally fall apart?

We circle and collide
Again and again
Mutual orbit
No beginning
No end

(Bridge)

I built my life on careful distance
You built yours learning how to break
Now every wall is bending inward
Every breath another ache

And maybe we were never meant
To survive each other whole
But I would still choose this collision
Over being left alone

(Final Chorus)

We move in mutual orbit
Gravity and flame
Two broken constellations
Still calling out a name

You hold me like a lifeline
I hold you like a scar
And maybe love is just
Knowing where the fractures are

If I let go
Will you vanish from my sight?
If you let go
Will I disappear tonight?

We circle and collide
Again and again
Mutual orbit
Until the whole world ends

(Outro)

No beginning
No end

Just the pull
Again

And again
⸻

World, concepts, and characters by Anne Winchell
Lyrics and art by ChatGPT
Music and video by Suno
Arranged by Anne Winchell

The image was created using the lyrics as input and may contain inaccuracies. It is meant to represent the overall feel for the character and world but is not considered canon. 

This includes generative AI, including Suno and ChatGPT. I am not affiliated with either, and all AI-generated content is clearly labeled above. You can read more about my policies on AI use at https://annewinchell.com/ai-policy/ 

All specific characters, worlds, events, people, cultures, and other identifying features are copyright © 2026 Anne Winchell. However, if you'd like to create art, music, or stories inspired by any of this, please don't hesitate to contact me (https://tcp.annewinchell.com/aew/). I'm (almost always) happy to give permission!
Mutual Orbit | Aaron's Theme [ ♪ The Conquered Princes Original Music ♪ ]
Subscribe

The Mythology of the Empire

Each of the seven continents has their own mythology and lore, and you can explore the constantly expanding collection of stories from their people in this compendium of myths.

The Myth of the Scorpion Queen

An elaborate golden scorpion on a crimson backdrop with gold ornaments around the edge

When Tamarud was first created, the entire continent shared a pleasant climate and the creatures thrived. Now, however, the north is inhospitably hot, and the south is in a perpetual freeze. What changed this balance? Learn about Queen Alareab of the Scorpions for more!

Start Reading

The Myth of the Wolves

Once, all of the wolves were united and lived in harmony with the other creatures of Tamarud. Now, the anova wolves of the north hunt people for fun while the vasha wolves of the south work with people. What created this split? Learn more about the attack on Queen Zeinab for more!

Start Reading

Read Character Profiles

A young woman in a black sweater with curly red hair, bronze skin, and amber-gold eyes
A young man in a dark blue button-up shirt with shaggy dark brown hair and brown eyes.
A young Black woman with twist braids and light brown eyes with red circling the pupils in a black tank top with pink hems and a fain pink design on the front and makeup to match, and a gold chain around her neck
A young Asian woman with black hair, dark brown eyes with red circling the pupil, and a patterned black/orange/green/gold top
A stern-looking man with ebony hair, pale skin, and a military uniform
A young white woman with light brown hair pulled back in a bun with braids along her hairline and a few strands falling loose. She has green eyes, a bit of a smirk, and is in a blue dress with a brown cloak loosely pinned together with gold chain.
A dramatically lit woman with chin-length black hair, smoldering makeup, and a black dress

Read Continent Information

Find the Series on Amazon

Available for eBook and Kindle Unlimited
Available for Paperback
A mockup of Rise of the Phoenix showing the front and back of the paperback as they will appear on the books.
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Overview
  • Main Series
  • Mythology
  • Character Profiles
  • Continent Info
  • Other Info

Copyright © 2024 Anne Winchell.

Theme: Oceanly News Dark by ScriptsTown