Shadowed by the deeds of her past… Assassin Emamori Matsukara has already broken her code once. She won’t let it happen again. After a year away to reaffirm her commitment to her clan, she returns home to find her leaders forging a disturbing path: allying themselves with the Faction, a ruthless, anti-imperial organization leading the country to war. Protecting the clan is her primary duty. Supporting honorless, warmongering tyrants? Not a chance. Bound by a lifetime of loyalty... To prove her allegiance, Ema is tasked to eliminate a rogue assassin targeting the Faction’s leaders. She has no choice but to accept. Orders are orders, after all. But when a high lord arrives to oversee the mission, he reveals a devastating truth, shattering what she’s always believed about her true purpose. Compelled by the coming storm… A promise is broken, honor is no longer sacred, and trust is as fleeting as blossoms in bloom. As the world she once knew darkens, Ema must find a way to stop the Faction from controlling her clan and fracturing the rest of the country. And the one who can help her may be the very person she’s tasked to kill…

A rogue assassin on the run. Former assassin Emamori Matsukara stands alone against the warring Ichiyo Faction. The once-notorious "Black Thorn'' struggles to protect the innocent and bring justice to the Faction's brutal raiders. But with a bounty on her head, she can't evade her enemies forever. When an impossible encounter with a mythological Shadow of Death leaves Ema critically injured, she finds herself at the mercy of three men from a rival clan—and they know exactly who she is. A tentative trust in uncertain times. Lord Commander Saitama Ren faces dwindling allies and the demands of a merciless high lord. The last thing he needs is a wanted criminal on his hands—especially one who saves his life. Worse, his closest friend Hagane quickly accepts Ema into their fold, while his stoic vice commander Akhito wants nothing to do with her. Yet despite her unknown allegiances, she may be the key to preventing his clan's demise. A bond born from the shadows. Alliances are uncertain, trust is a rare commodity, and peace is a relic of the past. As shadows spread across the land, secrets unfold and death lurks ever closer. Ema and her unexpected allies must venture through the dark night of dishonor and betrayal to uncover the world's inevitable fate. For the one who controls the shadows controls the world. For fans of epic fantasy reverse harem like The Gladiator's Downfall (Kristen Banet) and stories deeply rooted in Japanese history and mythology like Red Winter (Annette Marie). Immerse yourself in a Japanese-inspired world of assassins and samurai, honor and intrigue, sentient shadows of death, and a strong-willed heroine finding her path. VISION OF THE MOON is Book 1 in the epic fantasy reverse harem series, "Shadowed World Saga". It is a complete novel with a steamy enemies-to-lovers romance, multiple consensual love interests, and no cliffhanger. The series is intended for mature readers due to language and themes of violence, sex, and death.