Lives of Bitter Rain - (Tyrant Philosophers) by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Hardcover)

About the Book

LIVES OF BITTER RAIN is a novella in Adrian Tchaikovsky's award-winning Tyrant Philosopher Quintet. It is a prequel to the third novel in the sequence, DAYS OF SHATTERED FAITH.

Book Synopsis

SHORTLISTED FOR THE HUGO AWARD FOR BEST SERIES 2025

City-by-city, kingdom-by-kingdom, the Palleseen have sworn to bring 'Perfection' and 'Correctness' to an imperfect world. But before these ruthless Tyrant Philosophers send in their legions, they despatch Outreach - the rain before the storm.

Outreach is that part of the Pal machine responsible for diplomacy - converting enemies into friends, achieving through words what an army of five thousand could not, urging the oppressed to overthrow the bloody-handed priests, evil necromancers and greedy despots that subjugate them.

Angilly, twelve-years-old, a child of Pal soldiers stationed in occupied Jarokir, does not know it yet, but a sequence of accidents and questionable life choices will lead her to Outreach. As she travels from Jarrokir to Bracinta, Cazarkand, Lemas, The Holy Regalate of Stouk and finally, Usmai, she'll learn that the price of her nation's success is paid in compromise and lost chances, and that the falling rain will always be bitter.

LIVES OF BITTER RAIN is a novella in Adrian Tchaikovsky's award-winning Tyrant Philosopher series. It is a prequel to the third novel in the sequence, DAYS OF SHATTERED FAITH.

Review Quotes

"PRAISE FOR THE TYRANT PHILOSOPHERS SERIES:

'Exceptional.... Not to be missed' - Publishers Weekly, Starred review

'Brilliant' A Daily Mail Book of the Year

'An intriguing tangle, dense, dark, ingenious, ironic, complex, often funny, and always smart'" --Locus

"delightful ... Written in the same breezy style as the novels, this will delight those who've read the series, or it could serve as a wonderful prequel." --Booklist

"Tchaikovsky, permanently in my "will read anything with his name" list, continues to wow us with his deft prose, nuanced character sketches, and rewarding progression... Lives of Bitter Rain is a must-read novella for anyone who is a fan of the Tyrant Philosophers series.. Only a few short months till I can sink my teeth into the next mainline entry, Pretenders to the Throne of God. Till then, let us worship at the altar of grimdark perfection!" --Distorted Vision

"Lives of Bitter Rain is an enjoyable read ... The prose is smooth, the pace, as noted, quick-moving, and the universe as fascinating as it has been through the novels. There's also a wonderfully wry sense of humor that runs throughout." --Fantasy Literature

"Lives of Bitter Rain has enough meat to stand on its own and continues to build out Tchaikovsky's amazing world in interesting ways." --Biles by the Bed

"It was quite nice to simply follow one person for a while, slowly build up a picture of her life through the series of vignettes" --Sifa Elizabeth

"As usual, I can count on Adrian Tchaikovsky for a well-crafted solid story that brings that particular satisfaction I have when experiencing a work of a confidently competent artist... It's a writing exercise on character development, a peek behind the writing scenes that Tchaikovsky turned into a novella, and I'm very happy that he did so." --Books are life

"Gil was one of the most intriguing characters in Shattered Faith, and learning her backstory-while it was hinted at during the events in Usmai-in full was such a treat!...Bitter Rain flew by, and I enjoyed almost every second of it. The story is well-written and immersive." --A Refuge from Life

"So, yes - thoroughly recommended, but you're probably best starting with any of the earlier volumes" --Little Frog Scribbles

"Lives [of Bitter Rain] is able to balance the epic and succinct in one 123-page novella...The world and character of Angilly are brought to life in quality fashion by Tchaikovsky's writing...There is elegant prose to understand and complex politics to uncover, but it is all very readable." --SF Book Review

"I still enjoyed this a lot, and would recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed the Tyrant Philosophers series so far, it's the perfect thing to tide you over until Pretenders to the Throne of God releases next year" --Too Many Thoughts

About the Author

Adrian Tchaikovsky is a British science-fiction and fantasy writer known for a wide-variety of work including the Children of Time, Final Architecture, Dogs of War, Tyrant Philosophers and Shadows of the Apt series, as well as standalone books such as Elder Race, Doors of Eden, Spiderlight and many others. Children of Time and its series has won the Arthur C Clarke and BSFA awards, and his other works have won the British Fantasy, British Science Fiction and Sidewise Awards.