Witness an emperor’s absurd demise (a slip in the bath!), then navigate a crumbling empire’s ruthless power vacuum. Choose your point of view: guilt-ridden princes, disillusioned general, slaves with forbidden passions, and knights torn by oaths. Expect political chaos, slow-burn romance in the shadows, morally gray choices, and the ashes of legacy—all in a dark epic fantasy built for adults.

After the fall of the First Empire, the Ashridge Empire, humanity's last hope forged by the conqueror Sariel I, stood on the brink of uniting all humankind—until the emperor slipped in his bath and died. This sudden, almost absurd death unravels the tenuous order he fought so fiercely to forge, leaving the Ashridge Empire teetering on the brink of chaos.

Now, on the threshold of a new age, people whisper about the true cause of the emperor's death, as loyal knights dance with powerbrokers, a prince torn between love and duty, and a slave cook's secret devotion collides with forbidden passions. These entangled souls must decide whether to rekindle the dream of a golden age or let the empire burn to ashes.

Follow the law and you’ll stay safe. But what if the law is wrong?
SPFBO Finalist

Indie Ink Award Finalist

BBNYA Finalist

Stabby Nominee—Best Debut 2021

Stabby Nominee—Best Indie Book 2021

Tashué’s faith in the law is beginning to crack. Three years ago, he stood by when the Authority condemned Jason to the brutality of the Rift for non-compliance. When Tashué’s son refused to register as tainted, the laws had to be upheld. He’d never doubted his job as a Regulation Officer before, but three years of watching your son wither away can break down even the strongest convictions.

Then a dead girl washed up on the bank of the Brightwash, tattooed and mutilated. Where had she come from? Who would tattoo a child? Was it the same person who killed her? Why was he the only one who cared?

Will Tashué be able to stand against everything he thought he believed in to get the answers he’s looking for?

"Legacy of the Brightwash is a grounded, realistic, and surprisingly dark book, but it’s a book with a fundamentally moral lead that keeps the darkness from feeling gratuitous."
-Grimdark Magazine

Legacy of the Brightwash is many things. It is a murder mystery. It is a political fantasy. It is also sprinkled with magic. And romance covers many pages of the book. But more importantly, whether you consider this a grimdark novel or not, Legacy of the Brightwash is a heavily character-driven novel that depicts love, found family, passion, justice, and hope in an unforgiving world and system that is terrible and bleak.
-Petrik Leo

"Everything about Legacy of the Brightwash is perfect. Tashue is one of the most complicated, compelling main characters of any book, fantasy or otherwise."
-Before We Go Blog

"...this book destroyed me in all of the best ways. It broke my heart, moved me to moments of intense anger but also hopefulness, and ultimately delivered one of the best stories I've ever read. If you skip this book you are really doing yourself a considerable disservice. Remarkable doesn't even begin to describe the depth and quality of Krystle Matar's Legacy of the Brightwash."
-Nick Borrelli, Out Of This World SFF Reviews

"Is the Brightwash a good book? It is an absolute yes from me. I liked the writing, the characters and the plot lines and even that damned cliffhanger."
-FanFiAddict
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“A Thousand Li is one of the best English-language cultivation series out there, written with obvious love for the genre. If you’ve heard about cultivation but don’t know where to begin, this is a great place to start.” —Will Wight, New York Times Best-Selling Author of the Cradle series

Given a chance at immortality, can Wu Ying grasp the fleeting opportunity?

Long Wu Ying never expected to join a Sect or become a real cultivator. His days were spent studying, planting rice on the family farm and spending time with his friends. Fate, however, has different plans for Wu Ying and when the army arrives at his village, he and many other members of the village are conscripted.

Given the opportunity to join the Verdant Green Waters Sect, Wu Ying must decide between his pedestrian, common life and the exciting, blood soaked life of a cultivator.

Join Wu Ying as he takes his first step on his Thousand Li journey to become an immortal cultivator.

The First Step is the first novel in A Thousand Li series, a book on cultivation, immortals, wondrous martial art styles and spirit beasts and will be loved by wuxia and xianxia fans. The First Step is written by Tao Wong, the bestselling scifi and fantasy LitRPG author of the System Apocalypse, Adventures on Brad and the Hidden Wishes.
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