The events of The Aspect-Emperor take place twenty years after the conclusion of The Prince of Nothing trilogy. Anasûrimbor Kellhus now rules the entirety of the Three Seas as Aspect-Emperor, and leads all of the nations of the Three Seas on a Holy War against Golgotterath and the Consult, the Great Ordeal. Drusas Achamian, the former Mandate Schoolman and tutor of Anasûrimbor Kellhus, is now the only Wizard in Eärwa as he begins his own campaign across the Ancient North in hopes of finding the birthplace of the Aspect-Emperor. Meanwhile, in Momemn, Esmenet struggles to keep control of the New Empire in her husband’s absence.