First published 2010
The vampiric sorcerer Uctebri has seized the Shadow Box, a powerful artifact. He plans to use it in a dark ritual that he believes will grant the Wasp-kinden Emperor immortality. But Uctebri has his own sinister agenda, one that could spell doom for the Empire. As the ritual approaches, the stage is set for a clash of ambition, sorcery, and the hunger for power that will determine the fate of all.
Genres: science-fiction, fantasy, dark-fantasy, epic-fantasy
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: dark-magic, high-stakes, power-dynamics
Setting: Collegium, Capitas
459 pages · Paperback · TOR
Content warnings: violence