Empire in Black and Gold (Shadows of the Apt Book 1)

From the author of the thrilling science-fiction epic Children of Time, winner of the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke Award.Empire in Black and Gold is the first instalment in the critically-acclaimed fantasy series Shadows of the Apt by 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. The first volume in a dramatic and colourful new fantasy series, ‘Shadows of the Apt’, concerns the fight for survival against a menacingly regimented empire. Seventeen years ago Stenwold witnessed the Wasp Empire storming the city of Myna in a brutal war of conquest. Since then he has preached vainly against this threat in his home city of Collegium, but now the Empire is on the march, with its spies and its armies everywhere, and the Lowlands lie directly in its path. All the while, Stenwold has been training youthful agents to fight the Wasp advance, and the latest recruits include his niece, Che, and his mysterious ward, Tynisa. When his home is violently attacked, he is forced to send them ahead of him and, hotly pursued, they fly by airship to Helleron, the first city in line for the latest Wasp invasion. Stenwold and Che are Beetle-kinden, one of many human races that take their powers and inspiration each from a totem insect, but he also has... Empire In Black And Gold Is The First Novel In Adrian Tchaikovsky's Critically Acclaimed Fantasy Series, The Shadows Of The Apt. The Days Of Peace Are Over . . . The City States Of The Lowlands Have Lived In Peace And Prosperity For Decades: Bastions Of Civilization And Sophistication. That Peace Is About To End. In Far-off Corners, An Ancient Empire Has Been Conquering City After City With Its Highly Trained Armies And Sophisticated Warmaking . . . And Now It's Set Its Sights On A New Prize. Only The Ageing Stenwold Maker, Spymaster, Artificer And Statesman, Can See The Threat. It Falls Upon His Shoulders To Open The Eyes Of His People – As Soon A Tide Will Sweep Down Over The Lowlands And Burn Away Everything In Its Path. But First He Must Stop Himself From Becoming The Empire's Latest Victim. Empire In Black And Gold Is Followed By The Second Book In The Shadows Of The Apt Series, Dragonfly Falling. Empire in Black and Gold is the first instalment in the critically-acclaimed epic fantasy series Shadows of the Apt by 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. Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of the Arthur C. Clarke Award winner Children of Time, brings you an epic fantasy series of war and empire. In this first volume, an ancient empire sets its sights on conquering its allies, threatening decades of peace. But only one man sees war is coming.