100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Enjoy overnight NZ-wide delivery from our NZ-owned independent bookstore! 🎉

The Ark and the Empire

By Dr Michael Livingston
Series: The Shards
0.0 (0 reviews)
3.62 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating. ( 489 ratings, 120 reviews)
Brief Description
The beginning of an epic historical fantasy series that reveals the hidden celestial battle behind the course of history.HISTORY BELONGS TO THE CONQUERORS — BUT THE FUTURE IS FORGED BY THE WEAPONS OF THE GODSJulius Caesar is dead, assassinated on the senate floor, and the glory... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2499
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

The beginning of an epic historical fantasy series that reveals the hidden celestial battle behind the course of history.

The beginning of an epic historical fantasy series that reveals the hidden celestial battle behind the course of history.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The beginning of an epic historical fantasy series that reveals the hidden celestial battle behind the course of history.

HISTORY BELONGS TO THE CONQUERORS — BUT THE FUTURE IS FORGED BY THE WEAPONS OF THE GODS

Julius Caesar is dead, assassinated on the senate floor, and the glory that is Rome has been torn in two...

Octavian, Caesar’s ambitious great-nephew and adopted son, vies with Marc Antony and Cleopatra for control of Caesar’s legacy. As civil war rages from Rome to Alexandria, and vast armies and navies battle for supremacy, a secret conflict threatens to shift the course of history.

Juba, Numidian prince and adopted brother of Octavian, has embarked on a ruthless quest for the Shards of Heaven, lost treasures said to possess the very power of the gods — or the one God. Driven by vengeance, Juba has already attained the fabled Trident of Poseidon, which may also be the staff once wielded by Moses. Now he will stop at nothing to obtain the other Shards, even if it means burning the entire world to the ground.

Caught up in these cataclysmic events, and the hunt for the Shards, are a pair of exiled Roman legionnaires, a Greek librarian of uncertain loyalties, assassins, spies, slaves. . . and the ten-year-old daughter of Cleopatra herself.

Book 1 in THE SHARDS TRILOGY
#1 The Ark and the Empire
#2 The Spear and the Storm
#3 The Ring and the Ruin

Series: The Shards

View all
  • The Ark and the Empire
    The beginning of an epic historical fantasy series that reveals the hidden celestial battle behind the course of history.HISTORY BELONGS TO THE CONQUERORS — BUT THE FUTURE IS FORGED BY THE WEAPONS OF THE GODSJulius Caesar is dead, assassinated on the senate floor, and the glory that is Rome has been torn in two...Octavian, Caesar’s ambitious great-nephew and adopted son,...
    By Dr Michael Livingston
    Paperback
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781035919161

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 January 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Head of Zeus -- an AdAstra Book

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 34.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 194.0mm

Weight: 320g

Pages: 464

Collections

Dr Michael Livingston Fantasy Fiction General Fiction Historical Fantasy Sci-Fi & Fantasy Series: The Shards

About the Author

Michael Livingston is the author of the bestselling audiobook Black Crow, White Snow, the Seaborn Cycle series of novels it inspired, and The Shards historical fantasy trilogy. He has twice won the Distinguished Book Prize from the international Society for Military History and is the author of numerous popular histories, including Never Greater Slaughter and Agincourt.

Also by Dr Michael Livingston

View all
  • Iceborn: Book 2 of the Seaborn Cycle
    In the thrilling sequel to Seaborn, the Windborn threaten war against the Fair Isles – and three women of the sea hatch daring plans to change their fates. Bela, the reluctant hero, journeys into the inhospitable Sea of Ice in search of the ancient portal that broke the world. Shae, the ship-less Bone Pirate, stands with a Windborn exile before...
    By Dr Michael Livingston
    Paperback
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Seaborn
    The seven houses of the matriarchal Seaborn have plied the seas of the Fair Isles for centuries, trading among the islands and fending off the attacks by the fearsome Bone Pirate. But suddenly, out of the night sky, a common enemy appears – the Windborn, who come without warning to raid, burn, and kill. Hoping to turn the tide, Shae...
    By Dr Michael Livingston
    Paperback
    $2499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Stormborn: Book 3 of the Seaborn Cycle
    In this stunning conclusion to Michael Livingston’s Seaborn Cycle, the Fair Isles sail to battle, legends become real, and new magicks threaten to shatter the world. Bela sails the skies with a reader and a metal man, searching for a path to peace. Shae faces the truth of what it means to love and what she is willing to sacrifice...
    By Dr Michael Livingston
    Paperback
    $2299
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Crécy
    'Like Crécy itself, this book is a triumph and the tale it tells gives an old story new life.’ - Bernard Cornwell, bestselling author of The Last Kingdom series A groundbreaking new study of the battle of Crécy, in which the outnumbered English under King Edward III won a decisive victory over the French and changed the course of the...
    By Dr Michael Livingston
    Paperback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Agincourt
    Agincourt
    SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 HISTORICAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION NON-FICTION CROWN AWARD ‘It’s quite a feat to write an account of England’s most famous battle that makes the reader feel like they’re experiencing history that is fresh, new and exhilarating.’ Dan Snow This groundbreaking study by Mike Livingston, as featured on History Hit's Agincourt, presents a new interpretation of Henry V's great...
    By Dr Michael Livingston
    Paperback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Two Hundred Years War
    The Two Hundred Years War
    The Two Hundred Years War by Dr Michael Livingston offers a new and radically original account of the longest military conflict in European history, challenging the conventional periodisation of the ‘Hundred Years War’ to consider a much longer period of Anglo-French conflict. Michael Livingston argues that the English lens through which the war has been viewed has led historians to...
    By Dr Michael Livingston
    Hardback
    Sold Out
  • Agincourt
    SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2024 HISTORICAL WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION NON-FICTION CROWN AWARD "It’s quite a feat to write an account of England’s most famous battle that makes the reader feel like they’re experiencing history that is fresh, new and exhilarating." - Dan Snow This groundbreaking study by Mike Livingston, as featured on History Hit's Agincourt, presents a new interpretation of Henry V's...
    By Dr Michael Livingston
    Hardback
    Sold Out

More from Sci-Fi & Fantasy

View all
  • The Strength of the Few
    The highly anticipated follow-up to The Will of the Many—one of 2023's most lauded and bestselling fantasy novels. The Hierarchy still call me Vis Telimus. They still, as one, believe they know who I am. But with all that has happened—with what I fear is coming—I am not sure it matters anymore. I am no longer one. I won the...
    By James Islington
    Paperback
    $2899
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Project Hail Mary
    Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, the SUNDAY TIMES and NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of The Martian, offers a gripping new adventure in hard science fiction. With endorsement from notable figures such as Barack Obama and a slew of five-star reviews, this novel promises a thrilling and intellectually stimulating journey. Ryland Grace, a lone astronaut, finds himself on a...
    By Andy Weir
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    (4)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Red Rising
    The first book in the incredible New York Times bestselling series Darrow is a Helldiver, toiling beneath the surface of Mars. As a member of the Red caste, he performs grueling labor in the belief that his sacrifice will enable future generations to one day inhabit the surface of the Red Planet. The Reds are humankind's lowest caste, living in...
    By Pierce Brown
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Crossroads of Ravens
    THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON RETURNS... Every legend has an origin - and Geralt of Rivia's begins here. In this brand-new chapter of Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher series, follow Geralt in his earliest days as a Witcher, as he faces monsters and humans alike. Discover the untold stories and encounters that shaped the iconic character known today. Crossroads of Ravens brings readers into...
    By Andrzej Sapkowski
    Paperback
    $2899
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Will of the Many
    Phenomenal! One of the best high fantasy novels I've read in years—think Red Rising meets The Name of the Wind. I couldn't put it down. - LYNETTE NONI This new edition of book one in the Hierarchy series features never-before-seen bonus materials, including a full-colour map by the author, a note to the reader, and new cover art. AUDI. VICE....
    By James Islington
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Wind and Truth
    The long-awaited explosive climax to the first arc of the Number One New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive. Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson sees Dalinar Kholin challenge the evil god Odium to a contest of champions with the future of Roshar on the line. The Knights Radiant have only ten days to prepare, and the sudden ascension of the...
    By Brandon Sanderson
    Paperback
    $3100
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Ministry of Time
    One of the 18 best novels of the year for the Sunday Times A book of the year for the New York Times, Guardian, Independent, Evening Standard, Spectator, Red, NPR, Vanity Fair, People, Slate, Advocate, Sydney Morning Herald, Globe and Mail, Den of Geek, Good Housekeeping, Goodreads, NetGalley and Smithsonian Magazine 'A sparkling delight' Observer 'Make room on your bookshelves...
    By Kaliane Bradley
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Assassin’s Apprentice
    Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb marks the beginning of an extraordinary adventure in the rich and immersive world of the Six Duchies. Set against the backdrop of a kingdom teetering on the brink of civil war, this gripping tale introduces readers to FitzChivalry Farseer, a royal bastard whose existence threatens the stability of the crown. When the crown prince's secret...
    By Robin Hobb
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • I Who Have Never Known Men
    A haunting, heartbreaking tale of female friendship and intimacy that evokes the chilling atmospheres of The Handmaid's Tale and the desolate landscapes of The Road, I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman is a story that lingers long after the last page is turned. This gripping narrative takes us deep underground, where thirty-nine women are held in isolation...
    By Jacqueline Harpman
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Colour Illustrated Hobbit
    The Colour Illustrated Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien is a timeless classic that has enchanted readers for generations. This beloved tale follows Bilbo Baggins, a peace-loving hobbit from the quaint and picturesque Shire, who finds himself thrust into an epic journey far from the comforts of his cosy home. Charming and lively illustrations by Jemima Catlin breathe new life...
    By J. R. R. Tolkien
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $2999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Blood Over Bright Haven
    A riveting dark academia fantasy about the limits of truth and power, from the author of The Sword of Kaigen. The first woman ever admitted to a prestigious order of mages unravels a secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever, in this standalone dark fantasy from the author of The Sword of Kaigen. For twenty years, Sciona...
    By M. L. Wang
    Paperback
    $3400
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Great Dune Trilogy
    Frank Herbert's The Great Dune Trilogy plunges readers into an evocative and grandiose saga set on the desert planet of Arrakis. This richly detailed landscape becomes the focal point for a complex tapestry of political intrigue, military conflict, and galaxy-wide repercussions. Arrakis, also known as Dune, is the sole source of the spice melange, a valuable and highly sought-after substance...
    By Frank Herbert
    Paperback
    $3900
    Elsewhere:
    $4499
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.

Sci-Fi & Fantasy lists from the team

Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!

The Latest at Book Hero

View all