Reviews

Empire in Black and Gold by Adrian Tchaikovsky

fatbadger88's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

booleancat's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

iono's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, and Colonisation

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Trafficking, Body horror, Xenophobia, Slavery, Murder, Torture, Racism, Kidnapping, and Death

Minor: Bullying, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual content, and Misogyny

st_aurafina's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Motherfucking epic. So epic. I loved the world-building, I loved the clans of humans with insect-like characteristics and how this played into archetypes. I loved the general rolling history of it all, and the connections you can draw to early 20th political history. 

Sometimes, the epic nature of the storytelling was, in itself, a bit of a lead weight. I feel quite intimidated about taking on the next book. That could be because I read in audio? Kudos to the narrator for accent work helping me keep track of characters, including a startlingly good Australia accent. 

tarynkayb's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.75

irishiwasirish's review against another edition

Dnf

sechurae's review against another edition

3.75

Not as convinced by this compared to Tchaikovsky's other works. There were some poignant moments and interesting reveals/plot progressions, but I wasn't very invested in the characters motivations. Maybe the audiobook narrator just isn't for me. May or may not continue the series.

paull9115's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A great start to this series. Tchaikovsky doesn't feel like a new author here, and yet it's one of his first. Great pace and actioning characters that you care about. Its genius really comparing these nations with insect life. I was hooked from the start. 4.5 stars

catalyst_indigo's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

3.75

mhedgescsus's review

5.0

4.5 stars rounded up for goodreads. A fantastic intro into a wonderfully built world. Can't wait to continue reading this underrated series.

Watch my video review by clicking here.