Tom Lloyd kicks off a spectacular new fantasy series, perfect for fans of George R. R. Martin, Joe Abercrombie and, of course, Tom Lloyd! In a quiet corner of the Imperial City, Investigator Narin discovers the result of his first potentially lethal mistake. Minutes later he makes a second. After an unremarkable career Narin finally has the chance of promotion to the hallowed ranks of the Lawbringers - guardians of the Emperor's laws and bastions for justice in a world of brutal expediency. Joining that honoured body would be the culmination of a lifelong dream, but it couldn't possibly have come at a worse time. A chance encounter drags Narin into a plot of gods and monsters, spies and assassins, accompanied by a grief-stricken young woman, an old man haunted by the ghosts of his past and an assassin with no past. On the cusp of an industrial age that threatens the warrior caste's rule, the Empire of a Hundred Houses awaits civil war between noble factions. Centuries of conquest has made the empire a brittle and bloated monster; constrained by tradition and crying out for change. To save his own life and those of untold thousands Narin must understand the key to it all - Moon's Artifice, the poison that could destroy an empire.
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I was delighted to be selected as a reviewer for Gollancz Geeks as I'm a huge fan of Tom Lloyd, having read the Twilight Reign series and thoroughly enjoyed it. I picked up Moon's Artifice with a huge sense of anticipation and I wasn't disappointed.
Lloyd's strength is his world and character building. Very quickly I got a sense of the Imperial City and Narin, the Lawbringer. For me though, the most interesting character in the book was Enchei the old warrior. What an intriguing character with a mysterious background. The female lead in the book is a refreshingly strong character capable of holding her own (most of the time!).
The very strict caste system and the different houses and characteristics of each is an interesting idea, which I wasn't sure of at first as it seemed very complicated. However, as I got further into book it made sense and actually became key to the story. It reminded me of ancient China and the very strict caste system in that society.
I loved this book and really look forward to the next in the series.
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1 primary bookThe Empire of a Hundred Houses is a 1-book series first released in 2013 with contributions by Tom Lloyd.
