The Empire's Ruin

Ashes of the Unhewn Throne, Book 1

By: Brian Staveley

Narrated by: Moira Quirk, Joe Jameson, Oliver Cudbill

Length: 35 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Brian Staveley, author of The Emperor's Blades, gives listeners the first book in a new epic fantasy trilogy based in the world of his popular series the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, The Empire's Ruin.

Best of Summer 2021 - Polygon

The Annurian Empire is disintegrating. The advantages it used for millennia have fallen to ruin. The ranks of the Kettral have been decimated from within, and the kenta gates, granting instantaneous travel across the vast lands of the empire, can no longer be used.

In order to save the empire, one of the surviving Kettral must voyage beyond the edge of the known world through a land that warps and poisons all living things to find the nesting ground of the giant war hawks. Meanwhile, a monk turned con-artist may hold the secret to the kenta gates.

But time is running out. Deep within the southern reaches of the empire and ancient god-like race has begun to stir.

What they discover will change them and the Annurian Empire forever. If they can survive.

©2021 by Brian Staveley. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Brian Staveley’s books are epic in every sense of the word. His characters are complex, his history deep, his plots rife with action and intrigue. He’s a giant in the genre, no doubt.” (Nicolas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld)

“If you loved Brian Staveley's Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne, then hang onto your war hawk, 'cause his new book, The Empire’s Ruin, returns to the world of the crumbling Annurian Empire in a spectacular way. Fans of Staveley's work, and those who enjoy epic fantasy outside the conventional mold, are going to unearth treasure.” (R.S. Belcher)

Noticeable improvement in just about every regard.

I absolutely love this book. the voice actors were perfect. be careful because it does get quite gory.

love the story

loved it, however, this book was a bit more graphic than his other. More graphic than it needed to be. in my opinion. but I still loved the story.

Series keeps getting better and better!

great series! Gwena was amazing. i want to get the book now and get the story again.

Fourth the charm

Enjoyed as much as the best of the first three. Congrats, Brian! Must be very difficult to keep the pace and creation up to your standards.

Fantastic extension

Loved the whole book, can’t wait to see what’s next.

One five one five one five one five

as a sequel and new story line this book is rich!

I think this book is rich in so many ways. Great narrators, pace and story! I was disappointed by the characters brought forward! Akeel (sp?) NO! Gwenna ok, but NO! Gwenna was being built as Resident Evil's Alice or Lara Croft. I'm worn out on this them.
Definitely give this book a go. Especially if you're interested in stated characters.

Epic

only half way through, but this is so well written! all 3 character's pov are intriguing. tension is managed so well, it propels from one chapter to another.

narration is excellent. helped by the writing, each character has a distinct voice: easily distinguishable without remembering names.


noticed a small error at the end of chapter 44 where the last word is cut off abruptly. took me out of the story for a second while I checked to make sure it hasn't skipped ahead somehow.

wow just amazing

I love the story of this book. I feel it is a lot lot stronger than book 1 and an epic start to a new chapter. For anyone who has read the first trilogy this is a no brainer. For others I will say only this. epic scale, deep characters and an immersive world with magic on a slow burn.

So good.

This is the best fantasy book I’ve read in decades. All of the storylines are excellent and the characters are amazing we’ll written.

awesome book! amazing voicework

At first I was a little bored, and some of the vulgar dialogue around the first protagonist Gwenna Sharp is initially off putting.
But like a good fantasy book the story, characters and places draw you in and I could not stop listening/reading.
I really enjoyed the different VAs for the different character arcs, it was a bit jarring at first but each actor is strongly unique and very well done.