Shadows of the Apt

Shadows of the Apt is an epic fantasy series where the Lowlands' city states, long enjoying peace, face imminent threat from a conquering Empire known as the Wasp Empire.

Stenwold Maker, a spymaster, artificer, and statesman, is the first to recognize the danger and attempts to warn the leaders of the cities. As the Empire's armies advance and seek to seize the city of Collegium, Stenwold must rally allies to resist the impending war.

The Empire, led by its power-mad Emperor, seeks an artifact of immense power, the Shadow Box, to further their relentless ambition and trigger a reign of blood. As the series progresses, a stalemate is reached in the war. However, hidden threats and ancient powers awaken beneath the surface, endangering the tenuous peace.