Books › Empire in black and gold
Empire in black and gold
624 pages
A sprawling, inventive epic where the gears of industry and the shadows of ancient magic collide under the looming threat of an unstoppable empire.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like standing on the precipice of a new era, watching the smoke of industrial progress mingle with the gathering storm clouds of war. It is a steady, expansive epic that takes its time immersing you in a wholly original world where humanity is divided by insectoid traits and abilities. The mood is steeped in looming dread and the frustrating tension of unheeded warnings, yet it pulses with the adventurous spirit of a classic quest. The prose is detailed and pragmatic, perfectly suited to a setting where clockwork mechanics and ancient mysticism violently intersect. It will deeply satisfy readers who love sprawling, multi-POV fantasies that trade traditional elves and dwarves for steampunk espionage, political maneuvering, and the gritty realities of a world on the brink of total upheaval.
- Mood
- looming dread
- industrial
- expansive
- tense
- Tone
- earnest
- pragmatic
- ominous
- adventurous
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- clash of tradition and progress · burden of foresight · loss of innocence · cost of complacency · technological warfare
- The writing
- Detailed and immersive, balancing the intricate mechanics of a steampunk-adjacent world with the sweeping, kinetic energy of epic battles.
- The arc
- Begins with the frustrating isolation of unheeded warnings and builds to a desperate, adrenaline-fueled scramble as the reality of war shatters a peaceful world.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave sprawling, multi-POV epic fantasies with highly original magic systems, political intrigue, and the gritty collision of magic and industry.
Content notes
- fantasy violence
- warfare
- prejudice
- torture
About the book
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 - forsees the threat, as the empire's 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.
Description from Open Library.
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