Haru by Casey Morales

When shadows strike at the heart of an empire, an unlikely prince must rise—or watch everything burn.

Haru has spent his life as an afterthought—a third son overlooked by his father, dismissed by the court, and content to lose himself in the arms of his devoted companion, Esumi, far from the weight of imperial expectation. He never wanted power nor craved the burden of a crown.
But fate cares little for the desires of princes.
When assassins strike at the heart of the empire and rebellion engulfs the land, Haru finds himself thrust into a role he was never meant to fill. With enemies closing in from all sides, a land fracturing beneath his feet, and ancient powers stirring in the darkness, the son who was never enough must become more than anyone—including himself—ever believed possible.
Meanwhile, Yoshi continues to struggle to master the divine gift awakening within him, while Kaneko’s shadowed secrets threaten to surface at the worst possible moment. As war descends and alliances crumble, their fates intertwine with Haru’s in ways none of them could have predicted.