Deathstalker by Simon R. Green (Audiobook + Text)

This is the first in the series featuring protagonist Owen Deathstalker and the story of his rebellion against the evil Empire. We meet Owen at a turning point in his life - a historian by profession, he lives the languid life of the lazy aristocracy. However, in a flash all this is stripped from him, for he has been outlawed, which basically means everyone is suddenly looking either to capture or to kill him.