5 Star Review - Readers Favourite Reviews - Son of Empire by S A Melia

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers’ Favorite

Son of Empire by S. A. Melia introduces readers to the twelve-planet dominion of the Dodecahedral Empire. Prince Teodor, the only heir to the empire, is kidnapped on the eve of his sixteenth birthday and shackled in the glass-floored Cap of the Dodecahedron Dome. Hope lies in the unlikeliest of allies: Guy Erma, an unregistered Domeside orphan who sells strawberries by day and dreams of joining the Dome Militant. Regent Sayginn races her snow goran Blue Barbrina at Royal Ascot in her son's name. Zaracan telepaths Nuria and Karl Valvanchi hunt the Dome to save the prince. But rescue is only the beginning, as deadly Sas Darona plague flies have been smuggled into London, and soon the Dome itself must burn.

S. A. Melia creates a dazzlingly detailed world. You meet cy-roaches programmed to a prince’s DNA, battle borgs with “needle blades” for fingernails, and the Dome Militants, who embrace the motto “Loyal to Empire, Fear only God,” etched inside Chart Segat’s ring. The characters are intriguing and unforgettable, especially Teodor, who keeps his calm in the midst of crisis by repeating Tilson's mantra, “Calm, Teodor, control.” Guy is torn between his prince and the only life he has ever known. Segat is driven by a ruthless ambition while Loulou hides a devastating secret. The author writes cleverly about class, identity, and found family. Yet some moments are emotionally gripping, like when a prince and a pauper meet as equals. The pacing is relentless, driven by short chapters that leave readers with questions, telepathic thought-voices woven into dialogue, and nail-biting scenes like the snake droid's five-second fuse. Son of Empire is a hero's journey times two: you'll cheer for both boys long after the Dome goes dark.