{"product_id":"lives-of-bitter-rain-by-adrian-tchaikovsky-9781035911493","title":"Lives of Bitter Rain","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e2026 Locus Finalist for Best Science Fiction Novel\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eShortlisted for the Hugo Award for Best Series\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLives of Bitter Rain\u003c\/em\u003e unfolds in a world where city-by-city, kingdom-by-kingdom, the Palleseen have vowed to spread ‘Perfection’ and ‘Correctness’ to a world they see as flawed. Before these merciless Tyrant Philosophers send in their legions, they dispatch Outreach – the rain before the storm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOutreach is the facet of the Pal machine dedicated to diplomacy — transforming foes into allies, accomplishing through dialogue what an army of five thousand cannot. It urges the oppressed to rise against their tyrannical priests, malevolent necromancers, and avaricious rulers who subjugate them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAngilly, a twelve-year-old child of Pal soldiers stationed in occupied Jarokir, is unaware that a series of accidents and questionable life choices will bring her to Outreach. As she journeys from Jarrokir to Bracinta, Cazarkand, Lemas, The Holy Regalate of Stouk, and ultimately Usmai, she discovers that her nation's triumph is accompanied by compromise and missed opportunities, and that the falling rain is perpetually bitter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe world of the Tyrant Philosophers is steeped in magic of all kinds: divination, demonology, necromancy, alchemy, gods, monsters, and portals to other dimensions. This magical chaos meets an unwavering adversary — the Tyrant Philosophers — intent on imposing reason, logic, and ‘perfection’ upon it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eCity of Last Chances\u003c\/em\u003e: portrait of Ilmar, a city under Palleseen occupation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eHouse of Open Wounds\u003c\/em\u003e: depiction of the Palleseen war machine in action.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eDays of Shattered Faith\u003c\/em\u003e: portrayal of a kingdom systematically taken over by Palleseen diplomatic manoeuvring and espionage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eLives of Bitter Rain\u003c\/em\u003e: a prequel novella to \u003cem\u003eDays of Shattered Faith\u003c\/em\u003e, illustrating a life within the Palleseen diplomatic corps.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003ePretenders to the Throne of God\u003c\/em\u003e: depiction of a city under siege.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eThe Grave of Perfection\u003c\/em\u003e: return to Ilmar, the 'City of Last Chances', the origin of the narrative.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48317973233900,"sku":"9781035911493","price":22.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781035911493-lives-of-bitter-rain-1.jpg?v=1788750601","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/products\/lives-of-bitter-rain-by-adrian-tchaikovsky-9781035911493","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}