Description
Empire in Black and Gold by Adrian Tchaikovsky is the first book in the Shadows of the Apt fantasy series, set in a richly imagined world of rival city-states, political intrigue and insect-inspired peoples with distinctive abilities.
For decades, the Lowlands have enjoyed peace and prosperity, protected by trade, treaties and trust between their neighbours. But the Wasp Empire has been steadily conquering distant territories, building its power through disciplined armies, advanced machinery and devastating military tactics. Stenwold Maker, an ageing spymaster, artificer and statesman, recognises the danger before those around him are willing to believe it. As the threat draws closer, he must find a way to alert the complacent city-states while evading the forces that would silence him.
Combining military strategy, espionage, political manoeuvring and imaginative world-building, Empire in Black and Gold launches an epic fantasy about ambition, resistance and the cost of underestimating a rising power. It will appeal to readers who enjoy complex fantasy worlds and large-scale conflicts.
