Description
Book Synopsis'Brian Staveley’s storytelling gets more epic with every book, and The Empire’s Ruin takes it to a whole new level' – Pierce Brown, author of Red Rising
The Empire's Ruin is the first book in the epic fantasy Ashes of the Unhewn Throne trilogy by Brian Staveley. If you liked Game of Thrones, you'll love this.
One soldier will bear the hopes of an empire
The Kettral were the glory and despair of the Annurian Empire – elite soldiers who rode war hawks into battle. Now the Kettral’s numbers have dwindled and the great empire is dying. Its grip is further weakened by the failure of the kenta gates, which granted instantaneous access to its vast lands.
To restore the Kettral, one of its soldiers is given a mission. Gwenna Sharpe must voyage beyond the edge of the known world, to the mythical nesting grounds of the giant war hawks. The journey will take her through a land that warps and poisons all living things. Yet if she succeeds, she could return a champion, rebuild the Kettral to their former numbers – and help save the empire. The gates are also essential to the empire’s survival, and a monk turned con-artist may hold the key to unlocking them.
What they discover will change them and the Annurian Empire forever – if they survive. For deep within the southern reaches of the land, a malevolent force is stirring . . .
'Epic in every sense of the word' – Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld
'An aching, bruised, white-knuckled symphony' – Max Gladstone, author of This Is How You Lose the Time War
Trade ReviewBrian Staveley’s books are
epic in every sense of the word . . . He’s a giant in the genre, no doubt -- Nicholas Eames, author of
Kings of the WyldBrian Staveley’s storytelling gets more epic with every book, and
The Empire’s Ruin takes it to a whole new level -- Pierce Brown, author of
Red RisingAn aching, bruised,
white-knuckled symphony -- Max Gladstone, author of
This Is How You Lose the Time WarStaveley sunk his adrenaline-dipped claws into me right away and refused to let go . . . Whether this is your first foray into the world of the Unhewn Throne, or you're a Kettral veteran,
you're going to have an awesome time -- Brian Naslund, author of
Blood of an ExileHang onto your war hawk . . .
The Empire’s Ruin returns to the world of the crumbling Annurian Empire in a spectacular way.
Fans of Staveley's work, and those who enjoy epic fantasy outside the conventional mold, are going to unearth treasure -- R. S. Belcher, author of
The Six-Gun TarotThe Empire’s Ruin is
a scintillating explosive epic fantasy with multiple legendary scenes that rivalled
The Way of Kings --
NovelNotionsThe epitome of high fantasy. An unrelenting, staggering piece of fiction that goes above and beyond in every single facet of the genre . . .
This is Staveley's best yet --
FanFiAddictBrilliant -- V. E. Schwab on
SkullswornWill keep you turning pages late into the night -- Pierce Brown on
The Emperor's BladesDeeply satisfying --
Kirkus Reviews on
The Last Mortal BondA truly epic tale full of memorable characters, clever politics, an intelligent magic system, brutal battle scenes, and witty dialogue --
FantasyFaction on
The Last Mortal Bond
