The Emperor's Blades (Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, #1)

by Brian Staveley

The circle is closing. The stakes are high. And old truths will live again . . .

The Emperor has been murdered, leaving the Annurian Empire in turmoil. Now his progeny must bury their grief and prepare to unmask a conspiracy.

His son Valyn, training for the empire's deadliest fighting force, hears the news an ocean away. He expected a challenge, but after several 'accidents' and a dying soldier's warning, he realizes his life is also in danger. Yet before Valyn can take action, he must survive the mercenaries' brutal final initiation.

Meanwhile, the Emperor's daughter, Minister Adare, hunts her father's murderer in the capital itself. Court politics can be fatal, but she needs justice. And Kaden, heir to the empire, studies in a remote monastery. Here, the Blank God's disciples teach their harsh ways - which Kaden must master to unlock their ancient powers. When an imperial delegation arrives, he's learnt enough to perceive evil intent. But will this keep him alive, as long-hidden powers make their move?

• ISBN10: 023077041X
• ISBN13: 9780230770416
• Publish Date: 16 January 2014 (first published 14 January 2014)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 25 February 2016
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Tor
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[ayla_abbott]

Great is the book that features three young adults that don't bitch and moan and rebel and have angst all over the pages.

The three protagonists knuckle down and train and make rough choices and in all cases believe that their teachers want the best for them even if it's (very) painful at the time. All of them struggle with their emotions but all three of them are capable of control in a way that a lot of young protagonists aren't written to be. It's not a YA book so we don't need to hash out the emotions, just experience them and grow.

Took me half the book to realize that's why I wasn't bored with the long buildup comprised mostly of just training.

And in the end I'm genuinely interested in all three of them now that they've passed their tests.

[ross91]

The only thing I didn't like about this book was Adare.
Everything else was amazing.