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The city of Khaim is surrounded by a land crippled by the use of magic, and a tyrant intent on rebuilding an empire - unless the people find a way to resist.

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From two award-winning SFF authors, a new fantasy novel about a land crippled by the use of magic.

For fans of Ken Liu and Gene Wolfe.

Khaim, the last city of a once-great empire, clings to life.

This is a world poisoned by its addiction to magic . Every time a spell is cast, toxic bramble sprouts, bursting forth from tilled fields, thrusting up from between cobblestones. A bit of magic, and bramble follows until whole cities are consumed by tangling vines . Armies hack and burn... yet in a world that can´t give up magic´s sweet succour, the bramble can´t be stopped .

When Jeoz the alchemist discovers a potent new weapon to wield against the bramble, his invention promises Khaim freedom from fear and starvation . But these are twisted times and the bramble is not the only corruption that blights the land .

´Pulses with the siren call of power, the throb of remorse and dreams of redemption´ Daily Mail .

´Exploring themes of power, corruption, greed and thwarted hope, the authors deliver an absorbing and sensitive fantasy´ Guardian .

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´The two writers do a wonderful job of maintaining the same style, creating a coherent, rounded world peopled with imperfect, believable characters ... [it] is well worth the investment´ SFX , featured book.

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Bacigalupi, Paolo
Paolo Bacigalupi is the bestselling author of The Windup Girl . Between them, Bacigalupi and co-author Tobias S. Buckell have either won or been nominated for the Locus, Hugo, Nebula, Compton Crook, and John W. Campbell awards.

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