Warlord of Io #[nn]

On the volcanic moon of Io in 2853 AD, Prince Max Zing—more at home with hologame controllers than court politics—finds himself thrust into the role of heir to the throne. With Urk as his reluctant bodyguard and a desire to impress the enigmatic Moxy Comet, Max shocks the empire by slashing the military budget to fund sweeping social reforms. But when General Grymak learns of the cuts, he begins rallying the troops, setting the stage for a clash between idealism and power.

Max Zing seeks guidance from his mentor Tne just as General Grymak seizes control of Io—only to witness Tne’s death and inherit a mysterious sapling that speaks with wisdom of its own. With Moxy Comet, Urk, and the sapling aboard the Terror, they flee the planet’s chaos, but Max’s dream of stardom at Mega Vega’s Casinoid pulls him away from duty. When Grymak’s forces close in on the Casinoid, Max must decide whether his destiny lies in music or in reclaiming the world he left behind.

In "Chapter 3 - The Big Finish," Max Zing awakens the legendary Tiki Space Pirates from their ancient tomb, rallying them to reclaim Io from a crumbling regime. With the help of Moxy Comet and a cast of eccentric allies, Max confronts General Grymak in a brutal showdown that reveals a shocking family secret—Grymak is his half-brother. As the fate of Io hangs in the balance, Max must decide what kind of ruler he’ll be, facing down betrayal, war, and the weight of a crown he never wanted.