Empire in Black and Gold

<p><b><i>Empire in Black and Gold</i> is the first instalment in the critically-acclaimed epic fantasy series Shadows of the Apt from the award-winning author of <i>Children of Time</i>, Adrian Tchaikovsky<i>.</i><br><br>The days of peace are over . . .</b><br><br>The Lowlands&rsquo; 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.<br><br>Only the ageing Stenwold Maker &ndash; spymaster, artificer and statesman &ndash; foresees the threat, as the empires&rsquo; armies march ever closer. So it falls upon his shoulders to open the eyes of the cities&rsquo; leaders. He sees that war will sweep through their lands, destroying everything in its path.<br>