Reigning Abyss by Jasmine Kah Yan Loo

What does it mean to survive a world that tries to silence you?

Perfect for readers who loved The Poet Empress and Daughter of the Moon Goddess, Reigning Abyss is a lyrical East Asian romantasy exploring love, identity, and what it means to rebuild after survival, with neurodivergent and mental health representation at its core.

Five years after fleeing the palace in fire and blood, Yan Xun is gone-presumed dead by the Empire and determined to remain that way. In her place stands Yan Ling, a woman shaped by loss, secrecy, and survival.

She was prepared to walk this path alone. But a chance encounter with an azure dragon has opened up a world of possibilities ... and perils.

Deep within the fabled mountain, revered for its rumored Smokeveil powers and feared for the demon-beasts lurking in its shadows, Ling builds a hidden sanctuary for those the Empire tries to erase. Young Weavers bonded to mythic Emberkin, feared not for crimes they have committed, but for powers they were never supposed to possess. Phoenixes. Dragons. Beings of legend the Empire denies could ever exist. More than shelter, Ling creates a fragile future for the hunted and the outcast.

But the past is not so easily buried.

As old wounds stir and forces beyond the mountain begin to close in, Ling must confront the ghosts she thought she had outrun. The Empire still fears what it cannot control, and silence can no longer guarantee safety. To protect those who now depend on her, Ling must decide whether merely surviving is enough ... or whether some stories can only be reclaimed through fire.

In a realm that hunts difference and punishes power, survival demands more than silence. It demands reckoning.

This book features:

* A neurodivergent heroine
* Found family
* Morally gray characters
* Court intrigue and espionage
* Mythical familiars
* Themes of trauma, identity, and reclamation

Reigning Abyss is the sequel to Reigning Fire. Although the plot is fully accessible as a standalone, readers who begin with Reigning Fire may find a deeper emotional connection to the characters, their relationships, and the choices they make throughout Reigning Abyss. Reigning Abyss will especially appeal to mature readers of lyrical romantasy and lovers of intricate court intrigue.

The paperback edition includes exclusive art inserts (select artwork included in the ebook version), featuring Chinese calligraphy of character names and original illustrations of key characters and scenes-a visual companion to the story's haunting beauty.

**Recommended for mature readers (18+) due to heavy themes, including suicidal ideation, violence, trauma recovery, power imbalance, and institutional harm. Reader discretion advised. Please visit author website (jasmine-loo.com) for the full list of trigger alerts.