Empire of Blood: An Alt-History Spy Thriller Where Imperial Japan Never Fell
A murdered princess. A buried secret. A spy with one chance to stop a war.
1975. The Empire of Japan never fell—and neither did its ghosts. When a royal assassination shatters the illusion of order, disgraced intelligence officer Major Suzuki Wataru is pulled back into the field. His mission: uncover the truth—or take the fall.
In the decaying shadows of Manchukuo, Suzuki’s only ally is Lieutenant Park Ji-won, a sharp Korean operative with secrets as deep as the Empire’s own. Together, they follow a trail of betrayal that could fracture the global balance of power between Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany, and the Soviet Union.
EMPIRE OF BLOOD is a taut, atmospheric thriller for fans of The Man in the High Castle, Fatherland, and John le Carré. A haunting story of espionage, empire, and resistance in a world where the war never truly ended.
Empire of Japan: 1975
Manchukuo, with its capital in Xinjing, lies in northeastern China. Officially a member of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, it operates as a nominally independent state under its puppet ruler, Pu Yi. In practice, the Kwantung Army, a rogue military force with its own agenda, wields absolute authority over Manchukuo. Operating with little oversight from Tokyo, the Kwantung Army enforces its vision with ruthless efficiency. In Harbin, the shadowy and infamous Unit 731 conducts its secretive operations, further cementing the Army's unchecked power.
The Nakano Spy School
Founded in 1938, the Nakano School was the Imperial Japanese Army's elite academy for training spies, later relocated to Mitaka to safeguard its secrecy. Major Suzuki Wataru was teaching the intricacies of espionage to cadets when his superior, General Murata, introduced him to Lieutenant Park Ji-won, the first female Korean graduate of the school. That fateful encounter would thrust them into a globe-trotting conspiracy, with its origins buried deep in the intrigues of Manchukuo.
Xinjing: Manchukuo's Capital
Xinjing, the capital of Manchukuo, was where the Japanese Princess studied just a year ago. At the heart of the city rises the Co-Prosperity Tower, an imposing structure reaching 555 meters (607 yards). Shortly before Suzuki and Park arrived, an unidentified man plummeted from its observation deck, sparking local intrigue. Meanwhile, whispers of underground opium tradingspread like wildfire through the shadowy backstreets.
The Kwantung Army HQ
In the heart of Xinjing, the Kwantung Army has erected a replica of a traditional Japanese castle, a stark symbol of their brutal invasion of the continent in the 1930s that led to the creation of Manchukuo. Beneath its imposing façade lies an underground dungeon where dissenters and political prisoners are confined, their fates sealed in silence. Within its walls, shadowy conspiracies churn relentlessly, one of which threatens both the Japanese Princess and the fragile balance of the global order.
Maj. Suzuki Wataru
After a botched mission in Seoul, seasoned operative Suzuki Wataru has been reassigned to instruct at the Nakano School, Japan's military intelligence academy. Haunted by the unresolved mystery of his father's death, Suzuki now grapples with discerning right from wrong in a world shrouded in moral ambiguity. Now he is singled out to investigate the Princess's assassination, along with Park.
Lt. Park Ji-won
Born in Seoul and educated at the esteemed Keijo Imperial University, Park Ji-won has emerged as a rising star in Japan's Army Intelligence. Her deep understanding of Japanese culture and philosophy distinguishes her in her field. However, Park continues to navigate a society where discrimination persists. Unbeknownst to Suzuki, she harbors a hidden identity that he could never fathom.
Gen. Murata Yoshio
Enlightened and well-educated, Murata has been a vocal advocate for ethnic equality within the Empire of Japan. He was instrumental in establishing the Integration Program, which facilitated Park's entry into Imperial Japan's Intelligence. As the principal of the Nakano School, Murata oversees the cultivation of the Empire's future spies.
Maj. Kimura Jun (the Kwantung Army)
Born and raised in Manchukuo—a puppet state established by the Empire in Northeast China—Kimura is the son of a powerful general in the Kwantung Army, the Imperial Japanese Army's branch in Manchuria. As a proud second-generation soldier from Manchukuo, Kimura views his state as truly independent from the Empire, and acts accordingly.