Masquerade – serie

Shortlisted for the 2016 David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Debut[Published as The Traitor Baru Cormorant in the US]Baru Cormorant believes any price is worth paying to liberate her people - even her soul.When the Empire of Masks conquers her island home, criminalizes her customs, and murders one of her Fathers, Baru vows to hide her hate, join the Empire's civil service, and claw her way up enough rungs of power to put a stop to the Emperor's influence and set her people free. As a natural savant, she is sent as an imperial agent to distant Aurdwynn - a post she worries will never get her the position and power she craves. But Baru soon discovers Aurdwynn is a complex and secretive country, seemingly on the brink of rebellion. All it would need is a match to the tinder . . .Drawn by the intriguing duchess Tain Hu into a circle of seditious aristocrats, Baru may be able to use her position to stoke a revolution that will threaten to bring the Empire to its knees.As Baru maintains a precarious balance between the rebels and a shadowy cabal within the Empire, she orchestrates a do-or-die gambit with Aurdwynn's freedom as the prize. But winning the long game of saving her own people may be far more costly than Baru imagines.

Shortlisted for the 2016 David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Debut[Published as The Traitor Baru Cormorant in the US]Baru Cormorant believes any price is worth paying to liberate her people - even her soul.When the Empire of Masks conquers her island home, criminalizes her customs, and murders one of her Fathers, Baru vows to hide her hate, join the Empire's civil service, and claw her way up enough rungs of power to put a stop to the Emperor's influence and set her people free. As a natural savant, she is sent as an imperial agent to distant Aurdwynn - a post she worries will never get her the position and power she craves. But Baru soon discovers Aurdwynn is a complex and secretive country, seemingly on the brink of rebellion. All it would need is a match to the tinder . . .Drawn by the intriguing duchess Tain Hu into a circle of seditious aristocrats, Baru may be able to use her position to stoke a revolution that will threaten to bring the Empire to its knees.As Baru maintains a precarious balance between the rebels and a shadowy cabal within the Empire, she orchestrates a do-or-die gambit with Aurdwynn's freedom as the prize. But winning the long game of saving her own people may be far more costly than Baru imagines.

‘Makes Game of Thrones look like Jackanory’ Independent on The TraitorThe traitor Baru Cormorant is now the cryptarch Agonist – a secret lord of the corrupt empire she’s vowed to destroy. But to gain the power to shatter this Empire of Masks, she’s had to betray everyone she loved.She’s now hunted by a mutinous admiral and haunted by the wound which has split her mind in two. But Baru is still leading her dearest foes on an expedition, to gain the secret of immortality. It’s her best and perhaps only chance to trigger a war – one that would consume the Masquerade.But Baru’s heart is broken, and she fears she can no longer tell justice from revenge . . . or her own desires from the will of the man who remade her.The Monster is a breathtaking epic fantasy (published as The Monster Baru Cormorant in the US). It’s the sequel to The Traitor, Seth Dickinson’s powerful, critically acclaimed debut novel. 'A fascinating tale of political intrigue and national unrest' – Washington Post on The Traitor'Dickinson’s originality and ambition are to be applauded' – Guardian on The Traitor

‘Makes Game of Thrones look like Jackanory’ Independent on The TraitorThe traitor Baru Cormorant is now the cryptarch Agonist – a secret lord of the corrupt empire she’s vowed to destroy. But to gain the power to shatter this Empire of Masks, she’s had to betray everyone she loved.She’s now hunted by a mutinous admiral and haunted by the wound which has split her mind in two. But Baru is still leading her dearest foes on an expedition, to gain the secret of immortality. It’s her best and perhaps only chance to trigger a war – one that would consume the Masquerade.But Baru’s heart is broken, and she fears she can no longer tell justice from revenge . . . or her own desires from the will of the man who remade her.The Monster is a breathtaking epic fantasy (published as The Monster Baru Cormorant in the US). It’s the sequel to The Traitor, Seth Dickinson’s powerful, critically acclaimed debut novel. 'A fascinating tale of political intrigue and national unrest' – Washington Post on The Traitor'Dickinson’s originality and ambition are to be applauded' – Guardian on The Traitor

‘Makes Game of Thrones look like Jackanory’ – Independent on The TraitorThe Tyrant is a sweeping fantasy of empire and intrigue – the third book in Seth Dickinson’s powerful, critically acclaimed fantasy quartet Masquerade. After years of service to the corrupt Imperial Republic of Falcrest, Baru Cormorant finally knows how to destroy it. She’s discovered a deadly, weaponized blood plague. And if she releases it, the epidemic will kill millions . . . not just in Falcrest, but worldwide.As her divided mind turns on itself, Baru’s enemies close in. She must choose between genocidal retribution and a harder path. All she has to do is defeat a conspiracy of kings, spies and immortals, manipulate the outcome of two great wars, and steal the greatest riches in the world. If Baru triumphs, she can force Falcrest to abandon its colonies and make right its crimes. But does she want a slim chance at justice — or certain revenge?The Tyrant follows The Traitor and The Monster in this extraordinary quartet, and is published as The Tyrant Baru Cormorant in the US.

‘Makes Game of Thrones look like Jackanory’ – Independent on The TraitorThe Tyrant is a sweeping fantasy of empire and intrigue – the third book in Seth Dickinson’s powerful, critically acclaimed fantasy quartet Masquerade. After years of service to the corrupt Imperial Republic of Falcrest, Baru Cormorant finally knows how to destroy it. She’s discovered a deadly, weaponized blood plague. And if she releases it, the epidemic will kill millions . . . not just in Falcrest, but worldwide.As her divided mind turns on itself, Baru’s enemies close in. She must choose between genocidal retribution and a harder path. All she has to do is defeat a conspiracy of kings, spies and immortals, manipulate the outcome of two great wars, and steal the greatest riches in the world. If Baru triumphs, she can force Falcrest to abandon its colonies and make right its crimes. But does she want a slim chance at justice — or certain revenge?The Tyrant follows The Traitor and The Monster in this extraordinary quartet, and is published as The Tyrant Baru Cormorant in the US.