Empire of Night (Age of Legends Series #2)

by Kelley Armstrong

Overview

In this dark fantasy sequel to the bestselling Sea of Shadows, twin sisters deal with romance and politics as they fight to save their kingdom.

Sisters Moria and Ashyn are the Keeper and Seeker of Edgewood. Or at least they were.

Their village is gone. Their friends have betrayed them. And now they are all but prisoners in court, forced to watch and wait whilst the emperor decides whether to help the children of Edgewood, who remain hostages of the treacherous Alvar Kitsune.

But when the emperor finally sends the girls on a mission to rescue the children—accompanied by Prince Tyrus and a small band of men—the journey proves more perilous than any of them could have imagined. With lies and unrest mounting in the empire, Moira and Ashyn will have to draw on every bit of influence and power they possess to unite their people and avert an all-out war.

In this second entry in her epic and captivating trilogy the Age of Legends, #1 New York Times–bestselling author Kelley Armstrong blends romance, danger, and magic to send readers on a heart-racing journey through an unforgettable world.

Praise for Sea of Shadows

“Armstrong smoothly switches from her customary modern paranormal setting to a high-fantasy adventure. Strong female protagonists make this trilogy opener a standout.” —Kirkus Reviews

“We loved the dark fantasy and smoldering romance in this story of identical twins with very different personalities. A tale of heroes, filled with mythological creatures, valor and self-sacrifice—fans of high fantasies will happily slip into this action-packed and exciting tale.” —Justine Magazine

“A fascinating mythical world filled with danger, monsters, and betrayal at every turn. Fantasy fans will enjoy the complex world.” —School Library Journal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062071293
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	08/18/2023
Series:	Age of Legends Series , #2
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	433
Sales rank:	37,533
Lexile:	HL690L (what's this?)
File size:	978 KB
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

When librarians finally granted Kelley Armstrong an adult card, she made straight for the epic fantasy and horror shelves. She spent the rest of her childhood and teen years happily roaming fantastical and terrible worlds, and vowed that someday she'd write a story combining swords, sorcery, and the ravenous undead. That story began with the New York Times bestselling Sea of Shadows and continues with Empire of Night.

Armstrong's first works for teens were the New York Times bestselling Darkest Powers and Darkness Rising trilogies. She lives in rural Ontario with her husband, three children, and far too many pets.

Editorial Reviews

02/01/2015
Gr 9 Up—Twins Ashyn (the quiet bookworm "seeker" of spirits) and Moria (the brave daredevil "keeper" of spirits) pick up where Sea of Shadows (HarperCollins) left off; determined to save the lost children of Edgewood and impatiently waiting for a plan in the Imperial city. Ashyn is puzzled and hurt that Rowan, so loyal during their journey to the city, is now so distant. Meanwhile, Moria is still reeling from Gavril's betrayal but distracts herself by battle-training with Prince Tyrus (one of the Emperor's illegitimate heirs). The Emperor decides to send an envoy including the girls, their spirit animals, and Prince Tyrus back to Fairview in an attempt to deal with the traitor Alvar Kitsune (Gavril's father). What the group finds in the small village are more horrors and unanswered questions. And so their quest continues and becomes increasingly deadly. For those already familiar with the characters and the painstakingly built world from the previous volume, this title is even more compelling. The introduction of new characters (such as misplaced spirit Guin and traitorous Simeon) adds further depth, intrigue, and even humor to this romantic fantasy. Throw in shades of richly imagined Japanese-inspired culture and Armstrong's talent shines. VERDICT Recommended for fans of the author and the previous installment.—Tara Kehoe, New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center, Trenton

School Library Journal

2015-01-10
Twins Moria and Ashyn may have left the Forest, but they aren't out of the woods yet in this romance- and politics-filled sequel to Sea of Shadows (2014).With Edgewood destroyed by shadow stalkers, Keeper Moria and Seeker Ashyn are reluctant guests at Emperor Tatsu's court. No longer tasked with settling ghosts in the Forest of the Dead, they wrestle with their own restless spirits. Moria eagerly accompanies bastard prince Tyrus to negotiate with the disgraced Alvar Kitsune, hoping to rescue the missing children of Edgewood, and Ashyn reluctantly follows, fearing further separation from her sister. But Alvar is crafty like his namesake, and the trio and their traveling companions soon face political intrigue, ruinous rumors and legendary monsters. Martial, feminist Moria trades narrative duty with her studious, sentimental sister, yet political maneuvers often render both powerless. Obligatory romantic entanglements abound, with Moria dueling with double-agent Gavrila Kitsune and playboy Tyrus, and Ashyn confused by thief Ronan and scholar Simeon. Animal companions Tova and Daigo and unruly spirits provide comic relief and frequent rescues. Armstrong's foray into noncontemporary fantasy via a vaguely Japanese world and mythology develops unevenly but with brio. Cliffhangers and morbid humor balance out too many plot twists and slow pacing in this unnecessarily complicated sequel. Readers will have to wait for resolution. (Fantasy. 14 & up)

Kirkus Reviews