Lord of Order : A Novel

“Those who like their dystopias especially gritty will want to take a look.” —Publishers Weekly The Purge is coming. New Orleans must die. Long after the collapse of electronic technology, the world is ruled by the Bright Crusade, a ruthless fundamentalist Christian theocracy that demands absolute obedience. Gabriel Troy, Lord of Order for the New Orleans Principality, has devoted his life to defending the city against the Troublers, a relentless guerrilla resistance that rejects the Crusade's authority and its rigid religious doctrines. After years of bitter conflict, Troy and his deputies finally capture the Troublers' local leader. New Orleans appears more secure than ever. But their hard-won victory is about to become meaningless. Disturbing intelligence from Washington reveals that Supreme Crusader Matthew Rook is preparing a Purge: the systematic extermination of everyone deemed disloyal to the regime. His plan is as calculated as it is monstrous. Crusade forces will transport thousands of prisoners to New Orleans, seal them inside the city, and destroy the levees. The resulting flood will drown the condemned in a terrifying reenactment of Noah's biblical deluge—and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Now Troy faces an impossible choice: remain loyal to the theocracy he has served for years or betray it to save the city he has sworn to protect. Joining forces with five unlikely conspirators, he must confront his deepest convictions, forge alliances with sworn enemies, and prepare for a battle against overwhelming odds. As the Purge approaches, faith, loyalty, and survival collide in a brutal struggle where every decision carries a terrible price—and saving New Orleans may require Troy to sacrifice everything he believes.