What do you think?
Rate this book
Hidden Legends: University of Sorcery #5
The Shifter Empire
Soulmates fight for the crown.
Emma
My friends and I managed to survive the revolution, but worse things are yet to come.
The remaining Crystals of Harmony are out of our reach, and my prophecy darkens the road beyond. The time has come where the cult will harvest my blood, and raise the dark lord from the dead. I’ll do everything in my power to prevent them from performing the ceremony that will cause Droga to take over our world… but not even the gods can stop what’s coming.
There might yet be hope. All I can do is accept my fate, and rise to become the ruler our people need me to be.
Ethan
War has torn Malovia in two. The country has split, loyalties divided, and brother is pitted against brother in a conflict that will bring about the extinction of all fae… unless Emma and I stop it.
A new king must be crowned, to challenge the current monarchy and restore what the fae have lost. The hope of a better future is on the horizon, looming with the dawn of a battle unlike any fae has ever seen.
Our home is on the verge of collapse. Emma and I will continue to fight for our nation...
If there’s anything left to fight for.
***
Return to a world of noble kings and evil queens as Ethan and Emma face their greatest trials yet in Book Five of the University of Sorcery Series. Royal fae, strong shifters, and mighty sorceresses battle for the right to rule Malovia in this rejected mates paranormal romance series.
This is a full length novel over 400 pages. Recommended reading age 18+
Emma
My friends and I managed to survive the revolution, but worse things are yet to come.
The remaining Crystals of Harmony are out of our reach, and my prophecy darkens the road beyond. The time has come where the cult will harvest my blood, and raise the dark lord from the dead. I’ll do everything in my power to prevent them from performing the ceremony that will cause Droga to take over our world… but not even the gods can stop what’s coming.
There might yet be hope. All I can do is accept my fate, and rise to become the ruler our people need me to be.
Ethan
War has torn Malovia in two. The country has split, loyalties divided, and brother is pitted against brother in a conflict that will bring about the extinction of all fae… unless Emma and I stop it.
A new king must be crowned, to challenge the current monarchy and restore what the fae have lost. The hope of a better future is on the horizon, looming with the dawn of a battle unlike any fae has ever seen.
Our home is on the verge of collapse. Emma and I will continue to fight for our nation...
If there’s anything left to fight for.
***
Return to a world of noble kings and evil queens as Ethan and Emma face their greatest trials yet in Book Five of the University of Sorcery Series. Royal fae, strong shifters, and mighty sorceresses battle for the right to rule Malovia in this rejected mates paranormal romance series.
This is a full length novel over 400 pages. Recommended reading age 18+
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 2, 2021
42 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Megan Linski
98 books568 followersMegan Linski lives in Michigan. She is the author of more than fifty fantasy and paranormal novels which feature themes of friendship, community, and healthy romantic relationships. She has over fifteen years of experience writing books alongside working as a journalist and editor. She graduated from the University of Iowa, where she studied Creative Writing.
Her passions include ice skating and horseback riding. In her free time she enjoys dancing in the snow and drinking fancy coffee while at her natural habitat, the mall.
Megan advocates for the rights of the disabled, and is an activist for mental health awareness.
Megan co-writes the Hidden Legends Universe with Alicia Rades. She also writes under the pen name of Natalie Erin for the Creatures of the Lands series, co-authored by Krisen Lison.
Awards Megan has won include;
Best Fantasy Book of the Year 2019 by Once Upon a Book
Best Co-Authored Book of the Year 2022 by Once Upon a Book
Author of the Year 2022 by Once Upon a Book
Keynote Speaker at Once Upon a Book 2023
Best Book Friends (Ava and Kallie) 2023 by Once Upon a Book
Featured in the FOX Teen Choice Awards Gift Baskets
Two-time Reader's Favorite Five Star Read (Bronze Medal Finalist)
Winner of Amazon's Kindle Scout Competition
Her passions include ice skating and horseback riding. In her free time she enjoys dancing in the snow and drinking fancy coffee while at her natural habitat, the mall.
Megan advocates for the rights of the disabled, and is an activist for mental health awareness.
Megan co-writes the Hidden Legends Universe with Alicia Rades. She also writes under the pen name of Natalie Erin for the Creatures of the Lands series, co-authored by Krisen Lison.
Awards Megan has won include;
Best Fantasy Book of the Year 2019 by Once Upon a Book
Best Co-Authored Book of the Year 2022 by Once Upon a Book
Author of the Year 2022 by Once Upon a Book
Keynote Speaker at Once Upon a Book 2023
Best Book Friends (Ava and Kallie) 2023 by Once Upon a Book
Featured in the FOX Teen Choice Awards Gift Baskets
Two-time Reader's Favorite Five Star Read (Bronze Medal Finalist)
Winner of Amazon's Kindle Scout Competition
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 2, 2021
In The Shifter Empire, Ethan and Emma are looking for the rest of the Crystals of Harmony. They need the Crystals of Harmony to help protect their people. They need to find all the crystals themselves before they fall into the wrong hands. They are trying to prevent the annihilation of their people and their home or their home as they know it.
The time has come to crown a new king and queen. Ethan and Emma are in the running but first, they must pass trials and challenges if they want to be the new king and queen. Emma is not up on being the queen or ruler of her people but she will do whatever it takes to keep her people safe.
I love Ethan and Emma. I love how much they love each other and always want to please the other. I like that they don’t always get along or maybe it is more like agreeing with each other all the time. They have their disagreements and they do argue from time to time but they don’t stay mad with each other for long periods of time.
I like how Emma is always looking out for the people in the community and how she is always putting their needs before her own. Emma is the kind of person that if she wants something for herself then she thinks she is being selfish but she's not though.
The Shifter Empire is so full of action with battle after battle not to mention the trials that they have to face. The Shifter Empire is the fifth book in the Hidden Legends: University of Sorcery series and it is just as good if not better than its predecessors.
I actually think that The Shifter Empire is just maybe the best one to date. But it is very hard to say though as I truly liked them all. I highly recommend all the books in the Hidden Legends: University of Sorcery series and would like to suggest that you grab a copy of all five books in the series today for the adventure of a lifetime!
The time has come to crown a new king and queen. Ethan and Emma are in the running but first, they must pass trials and challenges if they want to be the new king and queen. Emma is not up on being the queen or ruler of her people but she will do whatever it takes to keep her people safe.
I love Ethan and Emma. I love how much they love each other and always want to please the other. I like that they don’t always get along or maybe it is more like agreeing with each other all the time. They have their disagreements and they do argue from time to time but they don’t stay mad with each other for long periods of time.
I like how Emma is always looking out for the people in the community and how she is always putting their needs before her own. Emma is the kind of person that if she wants something for herself then she thinks she is being selfish but she's not though.
The Shifter Empire is so full of action with battle after battle not to mention the trials that they have to face. The Shifter Empire is the fifth book in the Hidden Legends: University of Sorcery series and it is just as good if not better than its predecessors.
I actually think that The Shifter Empire is just maybe the best one to date. But it is very hard to say though as I truly liked them all. I highly recommend all the books in the Hidden Legends: University of Sorcery series and would like to suggest that you grab a copy of all five books in the series today for the adventure of a lifetime!
November 4, 2021
The Shifter Empire is the fifth book in the Hidden Legends University of Sorcery series and it was fantastic. It fits the series to a tee with gods and monsters, romance and betrayal, celebration and despair, an action-filled journey lead by one daring couple. How could I not love this story, this series? The story picks up where the previous book, the Griffin Knight, left off. The University is in shambles, the country is divided, lives have been lost and Gabby is still on the loose.
Gabby has fleed (she wasn't a good queen anyway) and Arcanna needs leaders to help put them back together and not just after the battle but to fix what Gabby and Elijah broke. Those two destroyed the country with their rule and now Ethan wants to fix it, to step up and become the leader that his country needs and he needs Emma by his side.
Ethan has come a long way from his Phantom days and he learned a lot of tough lessons but the one thing I can say about him is that he loves his country. Emma has also come a long way, she accepts her fate is determined to be Molina's champion and save the fae but she also has decided to take her future into her own hands. Emma wants to be queen just as Ethan wants to be king and they're good at it. At the politics, socializing, changing things for the better, and uniting all of Arcanna. Yes, they have some pushback, not to mention it's a lot harder to get used to but even when stumble they push through. I like them as leaders they just need to learn to make better decisions.
The story was fantastic, not only did readers get more of the fae political world but also more of the Fae's rich magical history was revealed. Megan is an excellent world builder, to see the fae culture and religion written in such detail is my favorite part. To see their traditions, the holidays they celebrate, the rituals that they perform, the gods that they worship, and the history behind it, all of it is super fascinating and helps me get lost in their world.
Shifter Empire moved at a great pace and the story felt cohesive with the rest of the stories not to mention I'm pretty sure some characters from the other series set in this universe made an appearance. I love the friendship and support Ethan and Emma get, their friends are standing by them helping out whenever they can, they have a good group.
Shifter Empire had more than one jaw-dropping plot twist that I did not see coming, I loved it. A lot happened in this, betrayal, a happy surprise, a mentor who may be more than she seems, battles, and the country in chaos. The ending truly surprised me and there's only one book left in the series before Ethan and Emma's story concludes and I have no idea who's gonna be left standing if any at all because the entire fae world is on the line. I can't wait for Fae Queen.
Gabby has fleed (she wasn't a good queen anyway) and Arcanna needs leaders to help put them back together and not just after the battle but to fix what Gabby and Elijah broke. Those two destroyed the country with their rule and now Ethan wants to fix it, to step up and become the leader that his country needs and he needs Emma by his side.
Ethan has come a long way from his Phantom days and he learned a lot of tough lessons but the one thing I can say about him is that he loves his country. Emma has also come a long way, she accepts her fate is determined to be Molina's champion and save the fae but she also has decided to take her future into her own hands. Emma wants to be queen just as Ethan wants to be king and they're good at it. At the politics, socializing, changing things for the better, and uniting all of Arcanna. Yes, they have some pushback, not to mention it's a lot harder to get used to but even when stumble they push through. I like them as leaders they just need to learn to make better decisions.
The story was fantastic, not only did readers get more of the fae political world but also more of the Fae's rich magical history was revealed. Megan is an excellent world builder, to see the fae culture and religion written in such detail is my favorite part. To see their traditions, the holidays they celebrate, the rituals that they perform, the gods that they worship, and the history behind it, all of it is super fascinating and helps me get lost in their world.
Shifter Empire moved at a great pace and the story felt cohesive with the rest of the stories not to mention I'm pretty sure some characters from the other series set in this universe made an appearance. I love the friendship and support Ethan and Emma get, their friends are standing by them helping out whenever they can, they have a good group.
Shifter Empire had more than one jaw-dropping plot twist that I did not see coming, I loved it. A lot happened in this, betrayal, a happy surprise, a mentor who may be more than she seems, battles, and the country in chaos. The ending truly surprised me and there's only one book left in the series before Ethan and Emma's story concludes and I have no idea who's gonna be left standing if any at all because the entire fae world is on the line. I can't wait for Fae Queen.
November 5, 2021
The True Beginning of the Fi Civil War Begins!
The authors of the Hidden Legends has done it again! Yet another amazing installement that gives inspriation, chills, heartache, bitterness and understanding of the Fi world.
Emma and Ethans , after a huge battle that ended up tearing apart the Arcana University, strive to become the new King and Queen of Arcania. with so many changes going through the Circle and the villages , Emma and Ethan try to rebuild what has been broken by Queen Gabby and her ilks. Emma, Delmare, Odess, Tiara having to hide their respected Wolven, Dragon, Griffyn and Alicorn stone in a special place to prevent Black Claws and Queen Gabby from getting their grubby hands on them. The team along with the help of Arther, Bara, Finley, Amantha and the headmistress to find a way to get to the Steeley stone before it's too late.
Aso many good news happening and yet some secrets are revealed after so long of being the dark. A beautiful wedding and coranation of royalty.
Jasper and Ozzie finally having their moments.
a few characters appearing from another serie.. I'll give you a hint.. element.
After reading this latest installement, in my head.. I'm thinking.. "if I need to deal with another hardcore cliffhanging moments at the end of the book, I shall give those writers a piece of my mind because dangit! my heart can't take no more strokes!" lol
Definitely deserve 5 star simply because of the world that seem real as you read the book.
If you like all things faeries, shifters an illusions then y'all should definitely not only read this book but also read the University of Sorcerory! it's quite illuminating
The authors of the Hidden Legends has done it again! Yet another amazing installement that gives inspriation, chills, heartache, bitterness and understanding of the Fi world.
Emma and Ethans , after a huge battle that ended up tearing apart the Arcana University, strive to become the new King and Queen of Arcania. with so many changes going through the Circle and the villages , Emma and Ethan try to rebuild what has been broken by Queen Gabby and her ilks. Emma, Delmare, Odess, Tiara having to hide their respected Wolven, Dragon, Griffyn and Alicorn stone in a special place to prevent Black Claws and Queen Gabby from getting their grubby hands on them. The team along with the help of Arther, Bara, Finley, Amantha and the headmistress to find a way to get to the Steeley stone before it's too late.
Aso many good news happening and yet some secrets are revealed after so long of being the dark. A beautiful wedding and coranation of royalty.
Jasper and Ozzie finally having their moments.
a few characters appearing from another serie.. I'll give you a hint.. element.
After reading this latest installement, in my head.. I'm thinking.. "if I need to deal with another hardcore cliffhanging moments at the end of the book, I shall give those writers a piece of my mind because dangit! my heart can't take no more strokes!" lol
Definitely deserve 5 star simply because of the world that seem real as you read the book.
If you like all things faeries, shifters an illusions then y'all should definitely not only read this book but also read the University of Sorcerory! it's quite illuminating
April 27, 2024
After the partial conclusion of the revolution (Gabby is on the loose), Emma and Ethan face the challenge of becoming their society's new rulers. Two of the Crystals of Harmony remain hidden. The time has come for the Black Claw to raise the Dark God using my blood.
This tale falls into multiple genres, including Romantic Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, and Paranormal & Urban Fantasy, of which the first two seem redundant. At a few points in the story, I stopped: the scenes were too emotional for me to continue. You might not experience the same feelings. As the fifth part in the epic account of Malovia, this title is crucial. I await the sixth and final part.
Entertaining. Haunting. Romantic. Scary. Steamy. Tragic. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.
This tale falls into multiple genres, including Romantic Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, and Paranormal & Urban Fantasy, of which the first two seem redundant. At a few points in the story, I stopped: the scenes were too emotional for me to continue. You might not experience the same feelings. As the fifth part in the epic account of Malovia, this title is crucial. I await the sixth and final part.
Entertaining. Haunting. Romantic. Scary. Steamy. Tragic. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
I received a review copy of this book from a third party. This is my honest review.
November 29, 2025
The Shifter Empire (Hidden Legends: University of Sorcery Book 5) ~~ This book takes a darker, heavier turn — and I cried more than once. The sacrifices, the loss, the impossible decisions — it hit deep. Ethan and Emma’s love becomes unbreakable here, forged through absolute hell. This is where true strength shows.
The plot twists are explosive and unpredictable. Every chapter raises the stakes and punches you right in the chest.
The Audible emotional delivery? Devastating in the best way. I felt everything.
I would definitely recommend this book and series and can’t wait to start on the next book. If you want to know what happens next, you’ll just have to read this series yourself — you won’t regret it.
The plot twists are explosive and unpredictable. Every chapter raises the stakes and punches you right in the chest.
The Audible emotional delivery? Devastating in the best way. I felt everything.
I would definitely recommend this book and series and can’t wait to start on the next book. If you want to know what happens next, you’ll just have to read this series yourself — you won’t regret it.
September 6, 2025
This one took me longer to listen to due to being back at work. It was full of drama, whimsical moments and hidden mysteries. The story is coming to an end but not just yet! There is still so much to happen before we get a must needed happy ending! The big dude has risen and we are left on another cliff hanger! On to book 6!
October 8, 2025
Enjoyed this until the end, I know there is a 6th and final book so a cliff hanger and catastrophic ending was needed but this was ridiculous! We have had the prophecy since book one and knew the date everything would go to sh!! but Ethan and Emma still went to confront Gabby and ending up bringing the prophecy to fruition! IDIOTS
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2021
Astounded once again!
Another book that was hard to put down! It will have you on the edge of your seat. Wanting to finish it and find out what happens! I have to say I always finish her books in less then a day!
Another book that was hard to put down! It will have you on the edge of your seat. Wanting to finish it and find out what happens! I have to say I always finish her books in less then a day!
November 4, 2021
Great continuation of the series. The story keeps you interested and the characters are great.
February 27, 2023
Gone straight into book 6.
August 17, 2023
This series just pulls you in and gets better and better
August 29, 2025
Omg this series is getting SO GOOD! I can’t wait to read the last one!
December 29, 2025
omg so much action and anticipation in this book! Eeeeek.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews