Down Among the Dead

by K. B. Wagers

Overview

Gunrunner empress Hail Bristol must navigate alien politics and deadly plots to prevent an interspecies war, in this second novel of the Farian War space opera trilogy.

 
In a surprise attack that killed many of her dearest subjects, Hail Bristol, empress of Indrana, has been captured by the Shen — the most ruthless and fearsome aliens humanity has ever encountered. As she plots her escape, the centuries-long war between her captors and the Farians, their mortal enemies and Indrana's oldest allies, finally comes to a head.
 
When her captors reveal a shocking vision of the future, Hail must make the unexpectedly difficult decision she's been avoiding: whether to back the Shen or the Farians.
 
Staying neutral is no longer an option. Will Hail fight? Or will she fall?
 
Praise for The Farian War Trilogy:

"Action- and emotion-packed, folding political tension, personal relationships, and trauma into a vivid space opera that does not pull any punches." —Library Journal (starred review)

"An exciting dose of space opera and political intrigue peppered with hard choices. Highly recommended!" —Booklist

"Twisty and clever and magnificent, full of political maneuvers, space action, and genuine feeling."  —Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger

The Farian War Trilogy
There Before the Chaos
Down Among the Dead
Out Past the Stars

For more from K. B. Wagers, check out:

Indranan War Trilogy
Behind the Throne
After the Crown
Beyond the Empire

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316411257
Publisher:	Orbit
Publication date:	12/03/2019
Series:	Farian War Series , #2
Pages:	448
Sales rank:	622,719
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

K. B. Wagers is the author of the Indranan & Farian War trilogies with Orbit Books and the new NeoG novels from Harper Voyager. They hold a bachelor's degree in Russian Studies and a second-degree blackbelt in Shaolin Kung Fu. A native of Colorado, K.B. lives at the base of the Rocky Mountains with their partner and a crew of recalcitrant cats. In between books, they can be found attempting to learn Spanish, dying in video games, dancing to music, and scribbling new ideas in their bullet journal.

Editorial Reviews

11/25/2019

Wagers’s rough and raucous gunrunner empress Hail Bristol returns in the exhilarating second installment of the Farian War series. The massive blast that ended There Before the Chaos killed almost everyone Hail loved and left her in the hands of mysterious enemy aliens called the Shen. The Shen need Hail’s help to stop powerful beings posing as gods and try to sway her to their side by showing her visions of a devastating future. Hail doesn’t know what to believe or who to back in the ongoing war. The only thing she knows for sure is that eventually she’ll have to fight her way out. Though Hail’s mental health is failing, her hard-edged toughness persists. Wagers viscerally portrays both Hail’s violent rages and her loving protectiveness over her surviving loved ones as she teeters on the edge of losing her mind. This excellent, electric space opera will delight Wagers’s fans and appeal to lovers of political speculative fiction. Agent: Andy Zack, the Zack Company. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

"Action- and emotion-packed, folding political tension, personal relationships, and trauma into a vivid space opera that does not pull any punches."—Library Journal (starred review)

"Twisty and clever and magnificent, full of political maneuvers, space action, and genuine feeling. The end broke my heart in the best sort of way. I cannot wait for the next book."—Beth Cato on There Before the Chaos

"Wagers achieves a rare balance of action... tension, and quiet moments, keeping pages turning while deepening the portraits of Hail and the friends and foes around her. Fans of the original trilogy will welcome Hail's return, and any space opera reader can easily jump in here."—Publishers Weekly on There Before the Chaos

"A perfect blend of political intrigue and realistically-conveyed action.... Kick-butt women, space battles, complex relationships, and fiendish plots abound."—Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog on There Before the Chaos

"This series launch provides an exciting dose of space opera and political intrigue peppered with hard choices. Highly recommended for fans of science fiction with assertive female characters."—Booklist on There Before the Chaos

"Perfectly executed.... Science fiction with brains, and a buckload of heart.... K. B. Wager's latest novel manages the trickiest of tasks, deftly moving from galactic spanning space opera to insightful character piece and back again without missing a single beat."—The Eloquent Page on There Before the Chaos

From the Publisher

★ 10/01/2019

Betrayed and attacked during a peace talk on Earth, Hail Bristol, empress of Indrana and former gunrunner, has lost many of her subjects, including her brothers. Now Hail and her remaining bodyguards are "guests" of the Shen, ruthless, immortal aliens at war for centuries with Indrana's allies, the Farians. While Hail's friends attempt to find a way to escape, she deals with her crumbling mental state and the ghosts of her dead people. When the Shen reveal dire truths about the attack on Earth and the future, Hail is forced to question everything she has believed—and decide whether to remain true to her Farian allies or fight for the Shen. Through grief, blood, death, and resurrection, the Star of Indrana shines in her loss and fury. Readers will root for Hail, despite her faults and missteps, because her loyalty inspires all those who follow her. VERDICT Wager's follow-up to There Before the Chaos is action- and emotion-packed, folding political tension, personal relationships, and trauma into a vivid space opera that does not pull any punches.—Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

Library Journal

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