Empire in Black and Gold – Adrian Tchaikovsky
After the cover that made me pick the book it was he setting is what drew me into this book. It is a fantasy world on the brink of an steam-punk inspired industrial revolution. Some of the races of the world can use this new technology, others rely on the old ways instead - old ways that have hints of magic. The races are in this setting are not the usual dwarves and elves. The races are instead humans that have inherited traits from some kind of insect. Everything are enduring and sturdy beetle-kinden to fly-kinden that have inherited their namesakes ability to fly.
The story is centred around Stenwold Maker, a University professor and spy master, and his group of friends and accomplishes. Their home country is about to be invaded by the large Wasp Empire, and they are the only ones that can see the approaching treat. The story is truly epic in proportion and Adrian Tchaikovsky has created a setting that is worthy of such an epic story line.
It took a while for the characters to grow onto to me, but that might only have been the unusual, but exciting, setting that drew my attention away. Once I got used to the characters I really liked all of them. Each of them have their own vices and virtues, and even when living up to their kinden namesake they all feel very human. A few of the characters were too perfect, but with a big cast it did not really matter. There were plenty of other characters to fall in love with.
Published here on 2nd of May 2011, but dated to 10th of February to keep some kind of synchronization with my Goodreads list going.