Rise of the New Empire

The Order #4

by Katerina St. Clair

In the highly anticipated fourth book of “The Order Series," Forest stands at the edge of her greatest challenge yet. A dangerous secret weighs heavy on her shoulders as she navigates dangerous waters, bracing herself for a battle that could reshape her world.

With tensions soaring and alliances shifting, Forest confronts her deepest fears head-on. Despite their differences, Xavier and his sworn enemy are compelled to join forces, knowing the looming threat could shatter everything they hold dear.

As they prepare for the imminent war, new adversaries emerge from the shadows, wielding formidable power, leading Forest and her comrades to realize they're not just fighting for survival but for the very future of their world.

In this climactic conclusion to the prequels of the "Order" series, hearts will be shattered, and sacrifices made. Yet, amidst the turmoil, a glimmer of hope persists, guiding Forest and her allies toward an unforeseen destiny. As the battle intensifies, they must summon every ounce of courage and strength, for this marks only the beginning of their legacy.

Genres: Fantasy, Dystopia, Romantasy, Romance, Audiobook

357 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 30, 2024

About the author

Katerina St Clair is an international best-selling author of fantasy, dark romance, and dystopian stories. She loves creating rich, immersive worlds where her readers can get lost in adventure, drama, and intrigue. Her books are filled with unforgettable characters, gripping twists, and the kind of storytelling that keeps fans coming back for more. Writing is her way of bringing new worlds to life and sharing them with readers who love finding an escape.

Reviews

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been staring at the wall for what feels like forever since finishing this book..

Katerina St Clair, ma'am… You said at the start to send the therapy bills your way? Well, expect them in the mail because I am absolutely shattered.

There are books that leave a mark, and then there are books that completely wreck you. This one did both and I still don’t have the words to fully describe how I felt reading it..

This series was everything and more.

[Sherrey Mantecon · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was infuriating. The selection of the final villain is blatantly hypocritical, and I’ve never felt more let down by an author’s character decisions. It seems like she deliberately provokes readers. While I won’t advise against reading it, I do hope others become as enraged as I was by this series.

[Ellie Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I need therapy. That ending was NOT what I was expecting at all!!!!???? How can you do that to me?!

Gosh. I don’t think any more tears can be shed.

This series has me in a series chokehold & has made the top of the leaderboard. I can’t get enough.

BEST DYSTOPIAN WORLD OUT THERE. I really didn’t want this to end. These characters will forever hold a special place in my heart. I need the next series like NOW please. I HAVE MANY QUESTIONS.

One thing I will say is be prepared for many more multiple POV’s in this book. It frequently changes so quickly chapter after chapter but being so invested into the story for me it didn’t affect my reading.

I don’t really know what else to say. This series has consumed me & i’m not sure if I’ll ever read something like this again.

‘Live for me.’

🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

[mads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ive been staring into space for over half an hour now because WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK. This series is a prequel and there is nothing else yet and I’m literally going to spiral to an entire new dimension over how good this was and what went down and the writing. Omg. OMGGGGG.

Genuinely never been so unsure of how things will go and felt so absolutely shocked (never ever ever expected majority of things that happen to happen) reading a series I think in my entire life.

Dystopian perfection, like actually what you dream a book could be

(sure the entire series could use a good edit but I don’t even care, not even a little bc it’s that good)

[*•*Gray*•* · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this book was so bad I didn't even want to a write a review for it since I would relive this but here I am to warn you!

This book (and the whole series) always worded things oddly and like AI wrote the whole thing, especially since all four books were written in under ONE year. Also how everyone magically knows everything about every situation and person. like no learning with the characters or blossoming plots here. Things were too inconsistant, like Xavier's current hair color being a good example. Certain plot twists, like Fallan's ashes, would have been cool if there wasn't a plot twist on every single page. Why was Fallan not imprisoned or killed by the others? Like they were acting like someone was stopping them but no one was so his character just didn't make any sense in the plot. The "new city" and the other plot points feel like the author stole the ideas from movies and books. I have when pregnancy is used to keep things interesting and especially when the women is playing dumb and a man has to tell her she is. Also that baby could handle a toxic smoothie but not the outside world? I think Xavier killed her though because he felt a crunch while holding her over his dying wife's body. Back to the AI thing, tell me this doesn't sound AI, "Highest production qualities of produce". This sentence should tell you how this book will be. Elyon is the weirdest dad I have ever met and asking your ex "do you hate me?" while giving birth to your husband's child is wild Jerry Springer stuff. Xavier looks like a knock-off phantom of the opera and I will never read from this author ever again.

[Kayla Celis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly what the f*** is all I can really say. I feel as though I have whiplash from this story and the way it went. People showing up out of nowhere, conversations, I mean the first three books were great and I had high expectations for the fourth, but the way the fourth book has ended has left me disgusted and honestly wtf. I’m not even mad that certain people aren’t alive anymore but it was in no way a good scene. Honestly I read this in 8 hours and I really wish I could take them back. It’s missing so much, it needs a rewrite.

[Dalesha Ferguson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely terrible. What a waste of 4 books worth of character building. What a waste of 4 books worth of my time. Absolutely the worst series prequel I've ever read. I could care less about who dies. It's the on and on and on of the same events happening to just get nowhere in the end. Jfc.

[Faythe Russo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am so disappointed in how this last book went. I loved the first 3 books so much. The world building and character development was absolutely fantastic in the first 3 to all the sudden get an extremely rushed story, 7 different POV’s, and just a whole lot of random add ins. The ending was a shock and I believe it was a fantastic idea of an ending, the book just felt poorly executed.

[Andrea Baldwin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would say the plot holes are insane but that would require there to actually be a plot. You’d have better luck trying to read a piece of Swiss cheese. Doesn’t make sense? Neither did this series. I’m convinced this Frankenseries was the hate-child of divergent, shatter me, the hunger games, uglies, and a dash of the 100, (also somewhat vampires?), all wrapped up in a pretty cover to hide the fact that it’s just bad wattpad fanfic (emphasis on bad). I read the entirety hoping it would get better and I would get some answers to what (and why) tf was happening. I didn’t. I’ll never get the hours back but at least it counts toward my reading goal. 🫡
Booktok, you’re on my shitlist for this one…

P.S. A few well written lines of romance, do not, a good story make.

[Nancy Weiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m crying so much to the point I think I actually need a few days to even write a review. But I do know this is a 6⭐️ read and a perfect ending to the series… even though it was mind blowing and completely shattered my heart

[Kelly Cantwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ripped my heart out, but I would read it all over again. Ready for the main series!!

[MaKenzie Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m completely at ahh right now. This book has put me through the wringer and the END omfg. I’m crying in the club right now😭

[Killion Jay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t think I have ever been so disappointed! I loved this series so what is this? If this series originally gave me similar feelings to divergent then the series ended similarly. This is all just wrong… characters acting completely out of character, the plot holes I was fine with became craters, and so much felt like the author was looking for shock and awe vs writing a good story. I’m all for a sad ending but this wasn’t good at allllllll. Damn. I’m so disappointed. I waited to write a review for a day to see if I’d be less upset but I’m not. I can’t even recommend this series at all because of this last book.

[Hannah Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️/5… my chest hurts. Like seriously the ending ruined me and my hearts in pieces. I took so long to finish this because I think deep down I knew it was going to emotionally wreck me. This was the ending to the prequel series, therefore, the reason the villain came to be. I can’t say anything else without spoilers but like the author said… I’m sending her my therapy bill.

[kayla t. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Idk how, but they better be alive

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

No happy ending here.

[Cj Villanueva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Already know this will be a 5 star read! Very original! Great for the millennials that grew up with other dystopian fantasies like Hunger Games, Maze Runner, and Divergent! I love this world she’s building.

[Kristen Weber-Moll · Rating 5 out of 5]

The warning at the start of this book…. I thought it prepared me…. It absolutely did not.

I am so heart broken. I have no words…..
if you are looking for a book with a happy ending… look somewhere else 😭

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely CRUSHED. The author makes you hate a character in book 1, love and gain sympathy for them in book 2-4 all for them to turn out to be the villain at the end!!!!!!!!! She has SET THE STAGE for the main series. If you are looking for a happy ending, you will not find it here.

[Jesslyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok girl, just rip me to pieces why don’t you

[Genevieve Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am completely and utterly broken…

[Devonn · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK ENDING DESTROYED ME……. I need the main series now !!

[Katie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg

[Everlie Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart and soul are shattered and I cannot stop crying. It was an ending I knew was coming, but hit me far harder than I could have expected. What a tragic ending, but an incredibly build up for a backstory of a villain. I am so ready for the main series—but I will be sending my therapy bills for the heartache the last book put me through

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im genuinely so impressed by that ending, wow

[Reece · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy fuck. That ending, speechless.

I am DESTROYED! 😭 This series is absolute god tier. So well written and so many plot twists that hit me like a freight train. The amount of times my jaw was on the floor, many nights spent up until 3am biting my nails. I am desperate for more 🥲

I will forever recommend this series to absolutely everyone. Soooo good!!!

[crala · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ 💔💔💔💔 i don’t even want to read the actual series bc im too hung up on xavier and forest’s story 💔💔💔

their backstory, the foreshadowing, all the things that could’ve gone wrong went horribly wrong.. makes me want to combine certain aspects of book 1,3&4 together to make the perfect book 🥲

but aside from that, seriously one of the best series’ i’ve read!!!

[Michaela Copenhaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m wtf was that ending!! Both of them die after all that work to save the baby Xavier accidentally ends up crushing his daughter’s lungs out of fear an anger. Bro that’s so fucked 😭😭😭😭 I seen it coming with Xavier being the villain at the end but damn I figured his daughter would live😭😭😭 poor Fallen I feel for that poor man losing his eyes for something he had no control over bc he was literally binded to do it by forest I just want him to have a happy end an can we please get his baby blues back or can he get my visions now that he don’t have eyes give him something man😭😭😭😭 I blame mason for the baby dying bc Rowan was supposed to keep her safe an he made Rowan give her to Xavier knowing his state of mind wasn’t in the right place. An no one could save the baby with some blood? Like the baby is a powerful marked an couldn’t heal its self of a broken rib puncturing the lung???? Made no sense an for the love of god please give Kai a happy ending with Aaron I don’t want to see my baby Kai die a villain when he deserves to be happy 😭😭😭😭 Rowan accidentally misinterpreting the vision she’s seeing an ultimately helping bring it to fruition is crazy an then that last chapter 10 years she’s been on the run from Xavier the next book better be fucking good or I’m gonna be pissed off

[Sophia Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Order:Rise of the new empire 👏Incredible book!❤🔥😍

Oh!my!God! What an incredible book👏📖!!!! I love all the characters! Well except Xavier😏and the creepy old guy that claims to be Forest father. Did I mention my dislike for Xavier! Ah! My Fallan now he is my favorite character❤🔥♥! I found myself so drawn into the book that I read through the night just to see how it would end but oh my! I was so excited 🎉knowing that there will be a book 5! I hope my dearest Fallan gets rescued! The best book series!❤❤❤❤❤🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥👏📖💓💓💓💓💓

[Kenzie Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything about this book was perfect. I don't have a single critique for Katerina with this one. She knows exactly how to immerse you in the story and feel the pain of each character. She takes you on an emotional rollercoaster of the course of the entire series, but this book destroyed me. I've never loved a series this much. If you love dystopian, but want some extra spice, the order is perfect for you. I will preach this book for the rest of my life