Empire: Southern Heat

by Tim Goff

Lots of naked people engaged in naked people activities!

Many mariners call at the port city of Ismara - not all of them human.

LEAVE - The fleet vanquished the pirates! Now, the sailors want to party - but not all of the girls are human.

INHERITANCE - Katy inherited what she thought was a dockside tavern - but there is more on the Mermaid's menu than booze. Worse, the Mermaid comes with plenty of problems... 

MOVING PICTURES - The Mermaid's staff are fascinated by a marvelous machine that brings pictures to life. Katy, though, is more concerned about the surrounding intrigue...

THE SASSY QUEEN - The old saying is 'Sailors have a girl in every port.' The Sassy Queen has an all-female crew.

THE APHRODITE GAMES - Each year, Aphrodite House hosts a sexy competition. This year, several contestants share the same secret and the same hope. But the Aphrodite Games are not what they seem...and neither is Aphrodite... 

430 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2025

About the author

I was raised on an Alaskan homestead at the edge of civilization, an upbringing that brought with it passing knowledge of everything from mechanics to gardening to carpentry.

I was an avid reader from an early age - and started my first writing efforts as a teenager. It took me a while to actually get published.

Reviews

[Book Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Empire: Southern Heat” is sure to captivate longtime fans of Tim Goff’s vibrant, provocative fiction. Set in the richly imagined aftermath of a demonic war, the sprawling Empire series charts the Solarian Empire's effort to reclaim stability—and this latest installment adds a sultry new corner to that world.

At the heart of the story is Katy, a young woman who unexpectedly inherits a brothel in the bustling, otherworldly port city of Ismara—a haven for seafarers both human and not. While the plot nominally centers on her journey, Southern Heat reads more like a playful anthology of G-rated seductions. Goff proves masterful at weaving bawdy, often whimsical scenes that manage to be cheeky without veering into crassness.

Yet, this strength edges into excess. The sheer volume of these interludes begins to crowd out narrative cohesion, leaving the novel feeling more like a string of loosely linked vignettes than a tightly plotted tale.

For first-time readers of Goff, Southern Heat might not offer the most balanced introduction. A better entry point into his dark, imaginative universe could be Labyrinth War, where his talents for world-building and storytelling strike a more compelling balance.

[Shuo · Rating 4 out of 5]

EMPIRE is a bold, genre-blending fantasy that takes readers on a raucous romp through the hedonistic port city of Ismara. Tim Goff serves up a vivid world steeped in post-war chaos, mythical beings, and steamy escapades—this time through the eyes of Katy, an unlikely brothel owner navigating a bizarre and bawdy inheritance. The book leans heavily into atmosphere and character-driven vignettes, often feeling like a loosely connected anthology of sensual encounters and eccentric personalities rather than a tightly plotted novel. Still, that’s part of its quirky charm. Goff’s prose walks a fine line—provocative yet playful, with just enough world-building to give context to the madness. Though the narrative focus shifts unpredictably and some readers may find the character overload disorienting, Southern Heat thrives on its wild energy and unapologetic tone. The women here are far from passive—they’re bold, savvy, and often more than a match for the supernatural oddities around them. This isn’t the most structured entry point into the Empire series, but for readers who enjoy their fantasy with flair, heat, and a touch of the bizarre, it’s an entertaining—and unforgettable—ride.

[Yvonne · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok, story was hard to follow