When you realize the system is rigged, it’s tempting to give up on justice completely.
If abusers keep getting promoted, if complaints go nowhere, if whistleblowers are punished — what’s the point of trying to make anything right?
In Yugen, Vian reaches that breaking point. Faced with a god’s empty throne and an institution that has destroyed him, he does something unthinkable: he destroys the symbol of divine authority itself.
It’s a fantasy gesture, but it raises a very real question: what does justice even look like when the whole structure is corrupt?
Justice vs. Reputation Management
Most institutions confuse justice with PR damage control. Real justice would mean:
- Acknowledging harm
- Naming who caused it
- Repairing what can be repaired
- Changing structures so it can’t be repeated
Instead, we usually see:
- Secret settlements
- Carefully worded non-apologies
- Cosmetic “training”
- Quiet shuffling of abusers
The Guardians in Yugen follow the same script: they’d rather condemn Vian than confront the rot in their order or the absence of their god.
When Vian shatters the protected throne, he’s not just being dramatic. He’s refusing to obey a symbol that has never earned his faith.
What Justice Can Look Like for Survivors
You may never see the institutional justice you deserve. Your abuser may retire with honors. The organization may never apologize. That is a brutal reality.
But that’s not the only form of justice that exists.
- Narrative justice: Telling your story on your terms, to people who believe you.
- Relational justice: Helping protect others from what hurt you, even if the institution stays in denial.
- Personal justice: Refusing to let what happened define your worth or your future.
Vian gets some measure of all three:
- His story is fully known among the Executioners.
- He uses his new position to execute Brantley — a literal act of retributive justice his world understands.
- He claims a new name and identity that are not defined by the Guardians’ verdict.
We may not get the fantasy version of justice, but we can still claim pieces of it: truth-telling, solidarity, protection for others, and a life not warped around our abusers.
You Are Not the Broken One
Across this series, through the lens of Yugen, we’ve looked at:
- How institutions reward the worst people
- How good people get sidelined and broken
- What institutional betrayal does to mental health
- How found family can rise from the ruins
- Where justice can still be found, even when systems fail
If any part of this feels like your life, know this: you are not the broken one. You were operating by the values the institution claimed to hold — it just never meant them.
Like Vian, your journey may lead you far from the places you once called home. You may lose titles, status, or whole worlds you thought you’d live in forever.
But like Yugen, you also have the possibility of something institutions can’t manufacture or manage: a self and a community built on truth, not obedience.
And in a world of Guardian‑style systems, that might be the most radical kind of justice there is.
When the systems we trust fail us, the quest for justice can feel impossible. Yugen dares to ask what happens when a hero refuses to accept a corrupt world, culminating in an act of defiance that redefines justice itself. If you crave stories where the oppressed fight back and truth ultimately prevails, Vian’s journey will ignite your spirit. Don’t wait for justice—read about it. Secure your copy of Yugen and witness a powerful rebellion against the rot.
📗 Pre-order your copy – Ready to dive into Vian’s world the moment it’s released? Pre-ordering Yugen not only guarantees you’ll have it on launch day, but it also sends a powerful signal to retailers and algorithms that this book matters. Every pre-order counts toward launch week sales, which can make or break a debut novel. Secure your copy now and be among the first to experience this dark, transformative journey. [Pre-order Yugen from Amazon here – Click Here]
📖 Sign up to be an ARC Reader – I get it—not everyone can afford to pre-order a book, and that’s totally okay! If you’d love to read Yugen but can’t swing the cost right now, I need YOU. I’m looking for ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) readers who’ll get the book completely free in exchange for leaving an honest review on Amazon, Goodreads, or wherever you love to share your thoughts on books. Your reviews are pure gold and help other readers discover Yugen. Interested? [Apply to be an ARC reader here – Click Here]
[Link to Purchase Yugen]
Janessa Keeling 
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