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The Emperor's Shadow: Book One of Rogue's Rebellion
- GenresFantasy
482 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2026
3 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Mehran Baluch
1 book4 followersMehran Baluch is a London-based epic fantasy author whose work blends high adventure with emotional consequence. Inspired by tabletop roleplaying, classic space opera, and the grit of modern fantasy, his stories explore fallen heroes, dangerous magic, and the fragile power of found family.
His debut duology Rogue’s Rebellion follows Kyrin the Grey, an ex-hero dragged back into war by a deadly curse and a past he thought buried. When he’s not writing about airships and imperial conspiracies, Mehran can be found building elaborate worlds, running games, and geeking out about great stories.
His debut duology Rogue’s Rebellion follows Kyrin the Grey, an ex-hero dragged back into war by a deadly curse and a past he thought buried. When he’s not writing about airships and imperial conspiracies, Mehran can be found building elaborate worlds, running games, and geeking out about great stories.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 3, 2026
The author's love for RPGs and TTRPGs is woven all through this adventure, from the way the characters come together and interact to how combat moves forward. The only difference is that this story flows smoothly, without all the drama and confusion and mess that usually happens when a bunch of people get together to play a game. There's some really great world building, even though the fantasy races and classes are familiar. I'm especially fond of the main team and the earnest downtrodden reluctant hero that leads them into a heist that ends up encompassing so much more than what they originally set out to achieve, gathering up forces along the way.
May 10, 2026
Thank you to Mehran Baluch, and BookSirens for this free ARC.
❌ Final Thoughts
While I'm somewhat new to LitRPG, and a complete novice to D&D, I understood enough of the premise of the subgenres to not feel completely lost and indeed, the story of Kyrin a fallen legend who has to who has to team up with his former teammates to find why he's suddenly wanted by the Emperor, was an interesting premise—the execution would have done better in an action game script than a book.
There are a few things I'd like to add that could have been worked on:
-The explanation of what happened to the Grey Blades came way too soon. They should have waited, built up the tension surrounding it releasing tidbits, here and there. Maybe a misunderstanding or two to throw in some confusion, before it all comes to a head where Kyrin reveals what really happened—possibly in a flashback.
-There was quiet a few 'tells', where they should have left it as 'shows', like the scene when they're in a village and the characters state what they'd already internally observed, as if the reader—or their companions wouldn't have clued on.
-The character inconsistency, particularly with Kyrin. He's first portrayed as a don't care, gruff, grumpy man that grunts and glares (you know the type). but not long after his personality changed for no reason such as starting to 'babble like an idiot' during an encounter, where he should have stayed in control as he was. Then there's time, where later, he finds out that something's happened to him, and he's remarkably calm in his reaction, despite his fearful outburst a few scenes ago.
-There were characters that bring out skills that weren't even hinted at beforehand, cringey dialogue, and let not forget the the estrangement between Kyin and his wife Maya. Feelings of betrayal, grief, regret should have made their reunion fraught with danger, but it turned out to be lackluster. There was nothing there, not even a weak fizzle with their subsequent interaction doing nothing to change that.
All in all, this had a lot of potential, and if the issues I mentioned earlier are considered it could be better, in my opinion. If you're a D&D fan though, this might be more your thing!
❌ Final Thoughts
While I'm somewhat new to LitRPG, and a complete novice to D&D, I understood enough of the premise of the subgenres to not feel completely lost and indeed, the story of Kyrin a fallen legend who has to who has to team up with his former teammates to find why he's suddenly wanted by the Emperor, was an interesting premise—the execution would have done better in an action game script than a book.
There are a few things I'd like to add that could have been worked on:
-The explanation of what happened to the Grey Blades came way too soon. They should have waited, built up the tension surrounding it releasing tidbits, here and there. Maybe a misunderstanding or two to throw in some confusion, before it all comes to a head where Kyrin reveals what really happened—possibly in a flashback.
-There was quiet a few 'tells', where they should have left it as 'shows', like the scene when they're in a village and the characters state what they'd already internally observed, as if the reader—or their companions wouldn't have clued on.
-The character inconsistency, particularly with Kyrin. He's first portrayed as a don't care, gruff, grumpy man that grunts and glares (you know the type). but not long after his personality changed for no reason such as starting to 'babble like an idiot' during an encounter, where he should have stayed in control as he was. Then there's time, where later, he finds out that something's happened to him, and he's remarkably calm in his reaction, despite his fearful outburst a few scenes ago.
-There were characters that bring out skills that weren't even hinted at beforehand, cringey dialogue, and let not forget the the estrangement between Kyin and his wife Maya. Feelings of betrayal, grief, regret should have made their reunion fraught with danger, but it turned out to be lackluster. There was nothing there, not even a weak fizzle with their subsequent interaction doing nothing to change that.
All in all, this had a lot of potential, and if the issues I mentioned earlier are considered it could be better, in my opinion. If you're a D&D fan though, this might be more your thing!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Full disclosure: The author is a friend of mine, but I wouldn't slap five stars on something I didn't actually enjoy.
Kyrin the Grey is the kind of protagonist I love reading: a wash-up who keeps waking up in gutters, still dangerous but barely holding his life together. He's working as a bouncer for a crime lord and self-medicating with cheap wine. Big Sam Vimes energy (IYKYK), if Vimes lived in a darker world and carried daggers instead of a badge. But the book does something early on that completely pulled the rug out from under me. I won't spoil it, but it reframes everything, and I had to put the book down for a minute to think through the ramifications!
The world is brilliant — it feels like a setting someone's been building in their head for years, full of weird and wonderful details. There are cactus people! There's a mechanical butler who might have a soul. It's THAT kind of book.
The crew Kyrin puts together are great company, funny, scrappy, squabbling amongst themselves and you genuinely worry about them when things kick off. Ends on a proper cliffhanger too. I will be reading Book Two just as soon as he lets me...
Kyrin the Grey is the kind of protagonist I love reading: a wash-up who keeps waking up in gutters, still dangerous but barely holding his life together. He's working as a bouncer for a crime lord and self-medicating with cheap wine. Big Sam Vimes energy (IYKYK), if Vimes lived in a darker world and carried daggers instead of a badge. But the book does something early on that completely pulled the rug out from under me. I won't spoil it, but it reframes everything, and I had to put the book down for a minute to think through the ramifications!
The world is brilliant — it feels like a setting someone's been building in their head for years, full of weird and wonderful details. There are cactus people! There's a mechanical butler who might have a soul. It's THAT kind of book.
The crew Kyrin puts together are great company, funny, scrappy, squabbling amongst themselves and you genuinely worry about them when things kick off. Ends on a proper cliffhanger too. I will be reading Book Two just as soon as he lets me...
Review of advance copy received from Author
I’ve just finished reading The Emperor’s Shadow and I can’t wait to read the conclusion in the next book! I’m relieved to hear that this has already been completed, so it’s not going to be a George R.R. Martin-type situation where we could be left waiting indefinitely.
It’s clear from the Author’s notes and Acknowledgements at the end of the book that the author has a background of playing and worldbuilding in Dungeons and Dragons. I’ve never played myself, and the little I know about it is mostly from watching Stranger Things, but I can recognise several D & D archetypes in this book - the Thief, the Sorceror, the Cleric and so on. But my lack of any real knowledge or experience of D & D did not in any way diminish my enjoyment of the book.
The author has done a great job of worldbuilding and bringing together a diverse cast of interesting and engaging characters.
If you enjoy fantasy writing with fast-paced action and strong characters, give this a go!
It’s clear from the Author’s notes and Acknowledgements at the end of the book that the author has a background of playing and worldbuilding in Dungeons and Dragons. I’ve never played myself, and the little I know about it is mostly from watching Stranger Things, but I can recognise several D & D archetypes in this book - the Thief, the Sorceror, the Cleric and so on. But my lack of any real knowledge or experience of D & D did not in any way diminish my enjoyment of the book.
The author has done a great job of worldbuilding and bringing together a diverse cast of interesting and engaging characters.
If you enjoy fantasy writing with fast-paced action and strong characters, give this a go!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Mehran Baluch’s Bergot is a vividly-imagined world, with characters I care about, plenty of fast action, wit, and a grim humour. The adventure story unfolds at a rapid pace, framed by strong values of concern for the rights of all people / sentient beings, no matter how different from ourselves. There are themes that chime with developments here in our own world, in 2026. “The Emperor is issuing more and more mad decrees….The Council of Lords is not even bothering to debate them”. Bergot is no longer safe for its minorities, who are being steadily stripped of their rights… “They’ve been living under a pall of terror. Thinking at any moment one of their neighbours was going to denounce them for the reward money”. The Emperor’s Shadow is a really good read. I’m enjoying it and I hope you will too.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book takes the popular fantasy genre it riffs off and does something different. It reads like the beloved campaign of a gifted TTRPG table, the author investing the sort of passion and pathos into the characters and setting that you'd normally expect to find amongst a group of friends at their weekly meet. And friends is precisely what the characters became as I read. Friends I came to love (and yes, in some cases love to hate), for their drive, desire and their flaws.
This book is well worth your time. Give it and you won't be disappointed.
This book is well worth your time. Give it and you won't be disappointed.
March 17, 2026
This is just a really fun read, pacey and a bit dark and keeps you turning pages. I confess it’s probably because I recently started watching episodes of Critical Role (and High Rollers - don’t forget the Brits!) that this appealed in the first place and if you like a DnD fantasy flavour tha isn’t too formulaic this might be your thing too. Lots of nice chewy characters and a couple of surprises, I’ll be looking for the sequel.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is such a fantastic read, so funny and the writing is exciting it was hard to put it down. The world that is created and the characters are so evocative, it is like watching a film. I'm already looking forward to the next book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love the characters in this book, Kyrin in particular is such a treat to read. The book is incredibly imaginative and I can't wait to see where things go next.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews