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  • Empire in Black and Gold

  • Shadows of the Apt, Book 1

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Publisher's Summary

Empire in Black and Gold is the first instalment in the critically-acclaimed fantasy series Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of the Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning Children of Time.

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.
©2020 Adrian Tchaikovsky (P)2020 Macmillan Publishers International Ltd
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Epic Fantasy Action & Adventure
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What the critics say

Brimming with imagination (SciFiNow)

The Shadows of the Apt series is simply one of the best epic fantasy series out there (LEC Book Reviews)

Super worldbuilding, great characters and extreme inventiveness (Fantasy Book Critic)
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What listeners say about Empire in Black and Gold

Overall Ratings

  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    31
  • 4 Stars
    14
  • 3 Stars
    6
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    0
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    0
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Customer Reviews

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4 out of 5 stars
By Jonathan Alexiou on 2022-04-23

Great Original Fantasy

Really enjoyed this book, the world is very immersive. Adrian is an amazing writer and the narration is really really well done. Ben Allen does the different voices so well at times it feels like there are multiple voice actors.

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1 person found this helpful

5 out of 5 stars
By Kindle Customer on 2020-12-17

this series needs more attention!

I adored this book and I am shocked I have never herd of it before. please give this book a chance if you love interesting creative Worldbuilding and epic fantasy stories with a steampunk flare.


can't wait to listen to the second one!

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3 people found this helpful

5 out of 5 stars
By Carolyn on 2024-01-25

Great series, fantastic performance

I just finished the final book in this series and I highly recommend it. It has such a unique premise, the worldbuilding is second-to-none, and the narrator does a great job interpreting the characters and giving each Kinden a distinct accent. Tchaikovsky has been one of my favourite sci-fi authors ever since I read his Children of Time trilogy, and this foray into steampunk-type fantasy didn’t disappoint. My only regret is that it had to end, I wanted to keep exploring this world forever

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