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The Shadow of Black Wings

Author: James Calbraith

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"Fast paced and full of energy"
--Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of the Shadows of the Apt

"This manuscript is full of highly crafted detail that will make readers shiver at times with fear and delight ... a familiar yet highly original fantasy that is a worthwhile read."
-- Publishers Weekly

"The real-world cultures are incredibly well-researched and truthful, and yet well-balanced with the fantasy elements. An intriguing and impressive series."
-- Ben Galley, author of the Emaneska Series

It is the Sixteenth Year of Queen Victoria. In the powerful empire of Dracaland, Bran, a young dragon rider, joins his father on a military expedition to the mysterious lands of the Orient. In the reclusive Yamato, Sato, a tomboy samurai girl, strives to prove her right to inherit her father's school of western magic. Nagomi, a timid shrine apprentice, is haunted by the visions of dark future she must keep secret even from her best friend.

They don't know it yet, but their paths will cross... And when they do, nothing will ever be the same again.

Welcome to The Shadow of Black Wings, a steam-powered romp across the land of dragons, wizards and samurai. It's big, it's fast, it's been compared to Tolkien in terms of world-building, it has strong female characters and lots of carefully researched detail. You will meet the Royal Marines sailing mighty ironclads and Chinese walking machines; mysterious warlords and crazy inventors; you will discover dark prophecies, family secrets and blood-thirsty demons. And all that in just the first volume!
18 Episodes
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It is the sixteenth year of Queen Victoria Alexandrina; Bran ap Dylan o Cantre'r Gwaelod, young student of Applied Dracology prepares for the final exams at the Llambed Academy of Mystic Arts. 
Bran celebrates his graduation with a few friends; but not everyone is as happy with the exam results.
As the summer heat dries out the marshes and riverbeds, Bran stumbles upon a relic of ancient wars.
Bran discovers his Grandfather's diary and learns the truth behind his blue stone ring.
Inspired by his Grandfather's adventures, Bran joins Dylan on board the MFS Ladon, the greatest ship ever built.
The Ladon sails towards the great empire of Qin, and Bran has the greatest adventure of his life.
The Ladon finally reaches its destination - the Western Factories of Fan Yu - and Bran learns that there is always war in Qin.
The Second Dragoons is ordered to sail North, to assist the Qin capital against the encroaching rebels. But war is closer than anyone expected. In the heat of the battle, there is only one way for Bran to survive: to invoke the power of the Llambed Seal...
In the great harbour city of Kiyo, in the reclusive kingdom of Yamato, live Sato Takashima, the samurai wizardess, and Nagomi Keisuke, a shrine apprentice from the family of physicians.
Sato's father joins the conspiracy against the ruling dynasty. Nagomi learns about the dark prophecy concerning the fate of the Yamato.
A beam of light falls from the sky near the harbour. Sato and Nagomi run to the beach to find out what happened.
Bran wakes up in a strange place, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. It looks a bit like Qin... but something doesn't feel right.
The mysterious boy speaks a language unknown in Yamato. The initial investigation into his arrival seems to bring more questions than answers.
It is forbidden for Westerners to come to Yamato without permission. Bran's hiding place is discovered, and he has to be moved to a more secure location... but where?
Tokojiro wasted his best years learning a useless language of a country nobody's heard of. Now it's his time to shine, as he is summoned to the great Suwa Shrine.
Sato's lessons end abruptly as Keinosuke decides to confront her about the stranger seen at Nagomi's house. To forget about her worries for a day, she goes to see the Myriad Year Clock - Master Tanaka's mechanical masterpiece. 
Somewhere in Yamato, an old man descends into an ancient barrow...
Thank you for taking the time to listen to our podiobook. If you’re interested in the rest of the Year of the Dragon saga, volumes two and three – “The Warrior’s Soul” and “The Islands in the Mist” - are available on Amazon and Kobo. All three books have been released as e-book and paperback. Volume four, The Rising Tide, will be published in Spring 2013. James Calbraith’s other books include a fantasy novella Dragonbone Chest, and a short story collection, Transmission. For more information, please visit jamescalbraith.com