There Before the Chaos (Farian War Series #1)

by K. B. Wagers

Overview

The propulsive start of a dynamic space opera trilogy featuring a gunrunning empress who must navigate alien politics and deadly plots to prevent an interspecies war.

Hail Bristol: former runaway princess, interplanetary gunrunner, Empress of Indrana.

When the Empire's closest ally asks her to intervene in a galactic military crisis, she embarks on the highest stakes diplomatic mission Indrana has ever faced.

Caught between two powerful alien civilizations at each other's throats, Hail has one chance to make peace, before all of humanity becomes collateral damage in a full-blown galactic war.

Praise for There Before the Chaos:

"An exciting dose of space opera and political intrigue peppered with hard choices. Highly recommended!" —Booklist

"Twisty and clever and magnificent, full of political maneuvers, space action, and genuine feeling."  —Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger

The Farian War Trilogy
There Before the Chaos
Down Among the Dead
Out Past the Stars

For more from K. B. Wagers, check out:

Indranan War Trilogy
Behind the Throne
After the Crown
Beyond the Empire

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316411202
Publisher:	Orbit
Publication date:	10/09/2018
Series:	Farian War Series , #1
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	393,637
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

K.B. Wagers is the author of the Indranan & Farian War trilogies with Orbit Books and the NeoG novels from Harper Voyager. They hold a bachelor's degree in Russian Studies and a second-degree blackbelt in Shaolin Kung Fu. A native of Colorado, K.B. lives at the base of the Rocky Mountains with their partner and a crew of recalcitrant cats. In between books, they can be found attempting to learn Spanish, dying in video games, dancing to music, and scribbling new ideas in their bullet journal.

Editorial Reviews

10/15/2018
Former runaway princess and interstellar gun runner Hail Bristol, now Empress of Indrana, stars in a new sequel series to Wagers's "Indranan War" trilogy. Bristol has returned to her family and defeated a rebellion; now she must govern. This classic space opera offers plenty of action, betrayal, loyal friends, alien technology, and foreshadowing. Empress Hail and her cohorts struggle to overcome the past and make both old and new alliances work together. Trouble quickly arises from two alien forces fighting for Indranan support. The story starts out a bit talky, but action does take over after the empress consults with her aides and bodyguards and recaps earlier episodes. Indrana is curiously 21st century in culture, with religious conflict, same-sex relationships, organized crime, and constant surveillance, but the Hindu-Indian setting is a welcome change from the usual Western culture-inspired dystopia. The author deftly balances starfaring technology with relatable personal interactions. VERDICT Fans of the "Indranan War" trilogy and lovers of interstellar intrigue will be pleased.—Edwin Burgess, Kansas City, KS

Library Journal

09/17/2018
Wagers opens a sequel series to the Indranan War trilogy without missing a beat. Hailimi “Hail” Bristol, an Indranan princess turned selectively ruthless gunrunner, was forced to take her empire’s throne after conspirators murdered her family. She saved the empire, but now a war between Indrana’s centuries-long allies, the Farians, who can heal or kill with a touch, and the Farians’ ancient enemy, the Shen, threatens to spill over to all of humankind, with disastrous consequences. As events careen toward a cataclysm, Hail is as sharp-edged and dark-humored as ever, growing in compassion while still engrossingly dangerous to her enemies. Wagers achieves a rare balance of action (most of which takes place late in the book), tension, and quiet moments, keeping pages turning while deepening the portraits of Hail and the friends and foes around her. Fans of the original trilogy will welcome Hail’s return, and any space opera reader can easily jump in here. Agent: Andrew Zack, Zack Company. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"Twisty and clever and magnificent, full of political maneuvers, space action, and genuine feeling. The end broke my heart in the best sort of way. I cannot wait for the next book."—Beth Cato

"Wagers achieves a rare balance of action... tension, and quiet moments, keeping pages turning while deepening the portraits of Hail and the friends and foes around her. Fans of the original trilogy will welcome Hail's return, and any space opera reader can easily jump in here."—Publishers Weekly

"A perfect blend of political intrigue and realistically-conveyed action.... Kick-butt women, space battles, complex relationships, and fiendish plots abound."—Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog

"This series launch provides an exciting dose of space opera and political intrigue peppered with hard choices. Highly recommended for fans of science fiction with assertive female characters."—Booklist

"Perfectly executed.... Science fiction with brains, and a buckload of heart.... K. B. Wager's latest novel manages the trickiest of tasks, deftly moving from galactic spanning space opera to insightful character piece and back again without missing a single beat."—The Eloquent Page

"Nerve-wracking action on the ground and in space, dark humor, and the characters' til-the-end loyalty to one another... A satisfyingly thunderous end to Hail's quest for vengeance that makes an excellent addition to any SF collection."—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Beyond the Empire

"Satisfying... Wagers's high-octane space opera trilogy is particularly appealing for its relationships."—Library Journal (starred review) on Beyond the Empire

"A rich tapestry of nuanced characters and a story that makes you care about them... I can't wait to see what she'll do next."—Pop Culture Beast on Beyond the Empire

"Kick ass space opera with a heart. I loved it."—The Eloquent Page on Beyond the Empire

"'Crown' is fast paced, and its focus on a female action heroine defined by her decisions rather than romance is refreshing and fun."—The Washington Post on After the Crown

"Two books in, this series has exemplified political plotting as compelling as the badass heroine at its center."—B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog on After the Crown

"Craving a galactic adventure? K.B. Wagers' second Indranan War novel is just the ticket."—Bookish on After the Crown

"This is pitch perfect science fiction that blends action, adventure, political intrigue and more than a little heart."—The Eloquent Page on After the Crown

"Hail is quickly becoming a favorite character... for fans of shows like Firefly and Killjoys there's a lot to love."—Pop Culture Beast on After the Crown

"Full of fast-paced action and brutal palace intrigue, starring the fiercest princess this side of Westeros."—B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog on Behind the Throne

"Behind the Throne opens with a bang and maintains the momentum throughout the story."—RT Book Reviews on Behind the Throne

"Taut suspense, strong characterization, and dark, rapid-fire humor are the highlights of this excellent SF adventure debut."—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Behind the Throne

"Promising science-fiction series... for fans of stories with plenty of action and political maneuvering."—Booklist on Behind the Throne

"This debut ranks among the best political SF novels in years, largely because of the indomitable, prickly Hail... fast-paced, twisty space opera."—Library Journal (starred review) on Behind the Throne

From the Publisher