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Empire Divided
The Silizzarus have been defeated and contained within their homeworld. Jonathan Somerville—now Emperor—has stepped out of his father’s shadow to become the leader he was born to be. But one enemy remains—the one who killed his father.
With their Imperator dead, the Karacknid Empire is fractured. Yet if the fourteen Karacknid Clans unite behind a single leader once more, their threat will be as deadly as ever.
Now is the time to strike. Now is the time to avenge James Somerville’s death.
But securing peace and freedom will be no easy task for Emperor Jonathan and his sister, Georgia. Every ship and ally the Empire has built over the last two decades must be called upon—and even then, the sheer scale of the Karacknid Clans dwarfs everything the Allies possess.
With time running out, Jonathan and his commanders have no choice but to go on the offensive and bring the war to the Clans. Their goal is they must ensure the Karacknids never again unite behind one Imperator. If they fail, everything their friends and family have fought and died for will have been for nothing.
Empire Divided is the climactic final installment of the epic twenty-two-book Empire Rising series.
With their Imperator dead, the Karacknid Empire is fractured. Yet if the fourteen Karacknid Clans unite behind a single leader once more, their threat will be as deadly as ever.
Now is the time to strike. Now is the time to avenge James Somerville’s death.
But securing peace and freedom will be no easy task for Emperor Jonathan and his sister, Georgia. Every ship and ally the Empire has built over the last two decades must be called upon—and even then, the sheer scale of the Karacknid Clans dwarfs everything the Allies possess.
With time running out, Jonathan and his commanders have no choice but to go on the offensive and bring the war to the Clans. Their goal is they must ensure the Karacknids never again unite behind one Imperator. If they fail, everything their friends and family have fought and died for will have been for nothing.
Empire Divided is the climactic final installment of the epic twenty-two-book Empire Rising series.
- GenresScience Fiction
696 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2025
159 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 22, 2025
Wow.
this was a fantastic conclusion to a long-running series. a 22 book epic...3.2 million words... and I've come to absolutely cherish this series.
I'm not going to lie, D.J. I think you're my favorite author. this series has been everything I've ever wanted out of a sci-fi epic. honestly, I've probably annoyed my friends to no end with how much I've talked about it.
I originally encountered this series, I think almost 4 years ago, around when the 11th or 12th book was published. and I've been hooked ever since. when counting my rereads of some of the books in the series, you've given me something like 35 books worth of content.
I am so happy that there are two additional series planned in this universe. I know they're a few years away, but I'll be eagerly awaiting them.
12/10 series
this was a fantastic conclusion to a long-running series. a 22 book epic...3.2 million words... and I've come to absolutely cherish this series.
I'm not going to lie, D.J. I think you're my favorite author. this series has been everything I've ever wanted out of a sci-fi epic. honestly, I've probably annoyed my friends to no end with how much I've talked about it.
I originally encountered this series, I think almost 4 years ago, around when the 11th or 12th book was published. and I've been hooked ever since. when counting my rereads of some of the books in the series, you've given me something like 35 books worth of content.
I am so happy that there are two additional series planned in this universe. I know they're a few years away, but I'll be eagerly awaiting them.
12/10 series
August 12, 2025
Whew! I can’t believe I have finished reading all 22 books. I started reading this series in 2015 with book 1 (of courseI) and now I’ve finished this final, long book. It was a thrilling series with lots of characters and many, many, many space battles. I can honestly say I never want to hear about Karacknids ever again!
This book begins after Jonathan and Georgia Somerville have returned from conquering the Silizzarus. They left Edward to oversee the agreement between the Human Empire and the Silizzarus that would guarantee the Silizzarus would stop melding in other civilizations progress. So far, they are sticking to the agreement. Edwards has enough firepower to destroy their entire world if they don’t.
So now Johnathan and Becca are to be formally married. In addition, Christine has decided to step-down as Queen allowing Jonathan and Becca to ascend to the Human Empire thrown as Emperor and Empress! This has to be done in order for Jonathan to carry out his pledge to his Father, the late James Somerville. His Father specifically told him to “stay the course”, which meant, he needs to eliminate the Karacknid threat to humanity and all its allies once and for all.
Without their Imperator, who James Somerville killed in his last act of this Second Karacknid War, the Karacknids are already fighting amount themselves to see who might become the new Imperator. They do not recognize Jonathan, as heir to the Human Thrown, as their new Imperator, although there are several clans of Free Karacknids that have already sided with Jonathan and recognized him as the true Imperator. Yeah, a lot of politics. Never the less, Jonathan has one goal and that is to invade Karacknid space and eventually capture their home planet Gayla.
He has put together a vast armada composing of not only Human Empire ships, but ships from over a dozen of alien allies. All have sworn to follow Emperor and Admiral Jonathan Somerville as did they follow his Father. They all believe that his goal is a sound one that has to be done if ever there is to be a lasting peace in the galaxy.
Jonathan has identified two border Karacknid clans that he sees a vulnerable to an attack by his forces. Yet, Jonathan isn’t just going after these two clans. No, he has another fleet composed of Eaglaton and Gramrians that are forming up to also strike northwest against two more Karacknid clans. This should confuse and put the overall Karacknid Empire in disarray for they have no leadership; only individual Clan leaders who can only bring to bear those ships they command. Jonathan believes his armadas are more than capable of defeating any Karacknid clan he might face.
He also has set into motion the building of a massive support effort at Earth and with every allied planet. They will continue to build new ships and manufacture more and more supplies, equipment and ammo that will flow to Jonathan and his armadas as they thrust through the heart of the Karacknid Empire. They will also be training new personnel to man this new ships because as they and everyone knows, Jonathan and his allies will have the burden of seeing many of their comrades killed in battle.
Now begins something that Jonathan’s Father had himself once accomplished. He and his fleet fought their way to Gayla and there James Somerville managed to kill Imperator Tanaka in Trava-klan, a personal one-on-one battle. Now, Jonathan wants to make sure that no Clan leader can ever claim the title of Imperator since to do so they must sit on the thrown of their capital city, Gayla. If Jonathan can capture and hold that capital and thrown, he will deny any other Karacknid the ability to claim they are Imperator. Eventually, he will force all fourteen or so individual Clans to recognize him as Imperator and begin teaching them a new way of life. Already Free Karacknids have seen that there is another way to live where their off-spring not be forced to die in pointless squabbles between clans. They also will see an Imperator that is not out to just glorify himself with the death of his people, but one that cares about his people and wants the best for them. That is a concept very few Karacknids have very experienced.
There will be many space battles in this book and it sometimes become an accounting nightmare in trying to track how many ships and missiles are being destroyed for fired at each other. Then you have the starfighters flying in each battle. These are the most expendable assets to the fleets but Jonathan doesn’t want to lose any more of these assets than does Georgia. But she will be flying right into the thick of battles. Her luck doesn’t always hold up and Georgia experiences something she never thought possible.
As you read through these books, the historian telling of these exploits also alludes to another war far into the future. This is something to do with the Antarians, but that’s an entire different war and a totally new series. This one has ended.
==[Note: As of 12/03/2023, this will not be published on Amazon since I have been banned from posting reviews for some unknown reason. Once the ban is lifted, assuming it does get lifted, I’ll go back and post this to Amazon.]==
This book begins after Jonathan and Georgia Somerville have returned from conquering the Silizzarus. They left Edward to oversee the agreement between the Human Empire and the Silizzarus that would guarantee the Silizzarus would stop melding in other civilizations progress. So far, they are sticking to the agreement. Edwards has enough firepower to destroy their entire world if they don’t.
So now Johnathan and Becca are to be formally married. In addition, Christine has decided to step-down as Queen allowing Jonathan and Becca to ascend to the Human Empire thrown as Emperor and Empress! This has to be done in order for Jonathan to carry out his pledge to his Father, the late James Somerville. His Father specifically told him to “stay the course”, which meant, he needs to eliminate the Karacknid threat to humanity and all its allies once and for all.
Without their Imperator, who James Somerville killed in his last act of this Second Karacknid War, the Karacknids are already fighting amount themselves to see who might become the new Imperator. They do not recognize Jonathan, as heir to the Human Thrown, as their new Imperator, although there are several clans of Free Karacknids that have already sided with Jonathan and recognized him as the true Imperator. Yeah, a lot of politics. Never the less, Jonathan has one goal and that is to invade Karacknid space and eventually capture their home planet Gayla.
He has put together a vast armada composing of not only Human Empire ships, but ships from over a dozen of alien allies. All have sworn to follow Emperor and Admiral Jonathan Somerville as did they follow his Father. They all believe that his goal is a sound one that has to be done if ever there is to be a lasting peace in the galaxy.
Jonathan has identified two border Karacknid clans that he sees a vulnerable to an attack by his forces. Yet, Jonathan isn’t just going after these two clans. No, he has another fleet composed of Eaglaton and Gramrians that are forming up to also strike northwest against two more Karacknid clans. This should confuse and put the overall Karacknid Empire in disarray for they have no leadership; only individual Clan leaders who can only bring to bear those ships they command. Jonathan believes his armadas are more than capable of defeating any Karacknid clan he might face.
He also has set into motion the building of a massive support effort at Earth and with every allied planet. They will continue to build new ships and manufacture more and more supplies, equipment and ammo that will flow to Jonathan and his armadas as they thrust through the heart of the Karacknid Empire. They will also be training new personnel to man this new ships because as they and everyone knows, Jonathan and his allies will have the burden of seeing many of their comrades killed in battle.
Now begins something that Jonathan’s Father had himself once accomplished. He and his fleet fought their way to Gayla and there James Somerville managed to kill Imperator Tanaka in Trava-klan, a personal one-on-one battle. Now, Jonathan wants to make sure that no Clan leader can ever claim the title of Imperator since to do so they must sit on the thrown of their capital city, Gayla. If Jonathan can capture and hold that capital and thrown, he will deny any other Karacknid the ability to claim they are Imperator. Eventually, he will force all fourteen or so individual Clans to recognize him as Imperator and begin teaching them a new way of life. Already Free Karacknids have seen that there is another way to live where their off-spring not be forced to die in pointless squabbles between clans. They also will see an Imperator that is not out to just glorify himself with the death of his people, but one that cares about his people and wants the best for them. That is a concept very few Karacknids have very experienced.
There will be many space battles in this book and it sometimes become an accounting nightmare in trying to track how many ships and missiles are being destroyed for fired at each other. Then you have the starfighters flying in each battle. These are the most expendable assets to the fleets but Jonathan doesn’t want to lose any more of these assets than does Georgia. But she will be flying right into the thick of battles. Her luck doesn’t always hold up and Georgia experiences something she never thought possible.
As you read through these books, the historian telling of these exploits also alludes to another war far into the future. This is something to do with the Antarians, but that’s an entire different war and a totally new series. This one has ended.
==[Note: As of 12/03/2023, this will not be published on Amazon since I have been banned from posting reviews for some unknown reason. Once the ban is lifted, assuming it does get lifted, I’ll go back and post this to Amazon.]==
June 6, 2025
Fantastic end to the series
I’ve really enjoy each book in the series and I’m looking forward to reading the authors next adventures.
I would have liked the other species appearance described more through the series and maybe a little more about their cultures but that’s okay, it didn’t ruin or take away from the story at all.
I’ve really enjoy each book in the series and I’m looking forward to reading the authors next adventures.
I would have liked the other species appearance described more through the series and maybe a little more about their cultures but that’s okay, it didn’t ruin or take away from the story at all.
June 16, 2025
a fitting end
Solid story lines brought to an end. As much as I’ve enjoyed the series the size of the conflicts grew to such a scale that the peril to characters was largely removed so probably right that it should end, but it did so in a good way, unlike so many other series that see to fumble it this gave closure on those stories whilst keeping the door open on the universe.
Solid story lines brought to an end. As much as I’ve enjoyed the series the size of the conflicts grew to such a scale that the peril to characters was largely removed so probably right that it should end, but it did so in a good way, unlike so many other series that see to fumble it this gave closure on those stories whilst keeping the door open on the universe.
August 21, 2025
Great series.
This was the best way to end a series. The book was full of surprises and had plenty of battle in it both in space and on different planets. The book always kept you reading to see what was going to happen next. I would suggest this series to anyone who is into space syfi.
This was the best way to end a series. The book was full of surprises and had plenty of battle in it both in space and on different planets. The book always kept you reading to see what was going to happen next. I would suggest this series to anyone who is into space syfi.
November 26, 2025
You MUST read this saga..
If you are a fan of military sci-fi.
I have reviewed many of the 22 books in this series, and realized that I never had the patience to read any series nearly this long before D. J. Holmes opened my eyes.
Now he has more stories to tell. How can I possibly resist?
If you are a fan of military sci-fi.
I have reviewed many of the 22 books in this series, and realized that I never had the patience to read any series nearly this long before D. J. Holmes opened my eyes.
Now he has more stories to tell. How can I possibly resist?
May 23, 2025
Long time coming
Now that we've come to the end of this thought....
Thank you.
Really enjoyable series. However, just 1 question.... you have shields that can withstand antimatter, but not particle beams and grazers?
Now that we've come to the end of this thought....
Thank you.
Really enjoyable series. However, just 1 question.... you have shields that can withstand antimatter, but not particle beams and grazers?
June 8, 2025
My favorite series
This series has been the best I have ever read, so many twists and turns, great villains and great heroes. Keep writing new series to keep the world entertained. Sell the rights to make movies out of this it would be great.
This series has been the best I have ever read, so many twists and turns, great villains and great heroes. Keep writing new series to keep the world entertained. Sell the rights to make movies out of this it would be great.
June 13, 2025
sadly the end of a fantastic series.
This series had me constantly waiting for each book to be released. And each book didn’t disappoint. The series grew and matured with each chapter .
This series had me constantly waiting for each book to be released. And each book didn’t disappoint. The series grew and matured with each chapter .
August 23, 2025
Awesome series
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole series. The story was really well thought out and it developed and flowed easily. A great read. Can’t wait to read more from the same universe and see how James legacy continued.
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole series. The story was really well thought out and it developed and flowed easily. A great read. Can’t wait to read more from the same universe and see how James legacy continued.
August 28, 2025
One of the best series of Sci Fi books I’ve read
22 books is quite an undertaking but each one is a gem and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the journey of Empire Rising. Good characters, story lines and plenty of action. The final book doesn’t disappoint. Enjoy!
22 books is quite an undertaking but each one is a gem and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the journey of Empire Rising. Good characters, story lines and plenty of action. The final book doesn’t disappoint. Enjoy!
May 25, 2025
Epic Series
Sad to see end of Empire Rising. Can’t wait for new stories. Preview of trilogy instantly drew me in. Will be watching for new books!
Sad to see end of Empire Rising. Can’t wait for new stories. Preview of trilogy instantly drew me in. Will be watching for new books!
June 15, 2025
Excellent story and a fit ending to the series. A series about “honor, sacrifice, loyalty, and love…..”. My highest recommendation is for this entire series. An excellent adventure.
July 30, 2025
Great series!
Empire Rising has deeply developed characters and a universe with rich story lines and good continuity and consistency. Worth every moment read!
Empire Rising has deeply developed characters and a universe with rich story lines and good continuity and consistency. Worth every moment read!
August 8, 2025
amazing!
3.4 million words to read to the end. It was worth it, and inspired; always new. Thanks Holmes for the memories!
3.4 million words to read to the end. It was worth it, and inspired; always new. Thanks Holmes for the memories!
January 5, 2026
Wonderful series
I read this series and found the characters came to life, i could have read more of their adventures, thank you for so many good reads!
I read this series and found the characters came to life, i could have read more of their adventures, thank you for so many good reads!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews