Empire in Black and Gold

· Shadows of the Apt Book 1 · Pan Macmillan
4.2
43 reviews
Ebook
624
Pages
Eligible
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About this ebook

Empire in Black and Gold is the first instalment in the critically-acclaimed epic fantasy series Shadows of the Apt from the award-winning author of Children of Time, Adrian Tchaikovsky.

The days of peace are over . . .


The Lowlands’ city states have lived in peace for decades, hailed as bastions of civilization. Yet that peace is about to end. A distant empire has been conquering neighbours with highly trained soldiers and sophisticated combat techniques. And the city states are its desirable new prize.

Only the ageing Stenwold Maker – spymaster, artificer and statesman – foresees the threat, as the empires’ armies march ever closer. So it falls upon his shoulders to open the eyes of the cities’ leaders. He sees that war will sweep through their lands, destroying everything in its path.

But to warn his people, he must stay alive . . .

Empire in Black and Gold is followed by the second book in the Shadows of the Apt series, Dragonfly Falling.

Ratings and reviews

4.2
43 reviews
David Robert Hoare
March 30, 2018
Creative world, and interesting characters. But way too much battle description for my taste.
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A Google user
December 3, 2016
Fantasy and technology collide. I love the way the older characters are written with such sensitivity, yearning and insight. Romps along too.
2 people found this review helpful
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Mauricio
May 18, 2018
Very entertaining. A good read, but could do with more world-building and descriptions.
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About the author

Adrian Tchaikovsky was born in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, and headed off to university in Reading to study psychology and zoology. For reasons unclear even to himself, he subsequently ended up in law. Adrian has since worked as a legal executive in both Reading and Leeds and now writes full time. He also lives in Leeds, with his wife and son. Adrian is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor. He has also trained in stage-fighting and keeps no exotic or dangerous pets of any kind – possibly excepting his son.

Adrian is the author of the critically acclaimed Shadows of the Apt series, the Echoes of the Fall series and other novels, novellas and short stories. The Tiger and the Wolf won the British Fantasy Award for Best Fantasy Novel – and Children of Time won the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. This was in the award’s thirtieth anniversary year.

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