Empire in Black and Gold: Shadows of the Apt 1

"Empire in Black and Gold" is the first book in Adrian Tchaikovsky's acclaimed fantasy series, Shadows of the Apt, set in a world where peace among city-states is disrupted by a conquering empire with formidable military prowess. As the threat grows, aging spymaster and artificer Stenwold Maker must navigate political intrigue and danger to warn his people of impending war, all while facing personal peril.