Carnelians

Multiple Nebula-award-winning Catherine Asaro continues her brilliant and intricate Skolian space opera opus. Two emperors navigate an uneasy peace, while a powerful trader guild does everything in its power to bring on war. And as if Kelric, the Skolian Imperator, didn't have enough problems, his own brother--who happens to be a rock star of galactic proportions--has a hit song that calls the traders out as the hidebound blueblood jerks they are, and pleads for an end to centuries of war. Kelric and his Eubian Trader Empire counterpart Jabriol attempt finally to meet in a public summit and sign a treaty that will save billions of lives and end the grinding, millennium-long war. But assassins lurk everywhere, and intrigue is afoot as the baroque old order has no intention of giving up its war-bought privilege and power without a fight to the death--and they don't care if they take the rest of galactic civilization down with them.

About Carnelians:

" T]he ending satisfied. . . a solid and worthwhile entry into the saga. . .it can be read as a standalone novel. . .." -SF Crowsnest About Catherine Asaro's Skolia saga:

"Entertaining mix of hard SF and romance."--Publishers Weekly "Asaro's Skolian saga is now nearly as long and in many ways as compelling as Dune, if not more so, featuring a multitude of stronger female characters."--Booklist "Rapid pacing and gripping suspense."--Publisher's Weekly