The Down Deep

In "Dust Knights," the first installment of Catherine Asaro’s Skolian Empire series, the City of Cries on the dying world of Raylicon grapples with stark divisions between the wealthy and the impoverished Undercity residents. Major Bhaajan, a former soldier from the Undercity turned recognized figure in the Imperialate, seizes a unique opportunity to help her people when Colonel Lavinda Majda invites her and her Dust Knights to assist in a goodwill mission. As they delve into the Undercity's depths, known as the Down Deep, they confront hidden challenges and a looming threat that could jeopardize their lives and interstellar peace.