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Lives of Bitter Rain

A Tyrant Philosophers Novella

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Lives of Bitter Rain

By: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Narrated by: David Thorpe
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Bloomsbury presents Lives of Bitter Rain by Adrian Tchaikovsky, read by David Thorpe.

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.©2025 Adrian Czajkowski (P)2025 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Action & Adventure Epic Fantasy Hard Science Fiction Military Science Fiction Royalty
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Critic reviews

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'
An outstanding companion novella to the Tyrants Philosophers series third novel, it bites, it proclaims, it satisfies and rewards in equal measure.
Elegant prose to understand and complex politics to uncover, but it is all very readable
All stars
Most relevant
I just really like this series and seeing this character fully explored is a great use of a short story

another excellent addition to the series

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no surprises in the structure and content of this novella. But that is part of the fun.

A ripping yarn, brilliantly narrated. What's not to like.

An interesting addition to the Tyrant Philosophers world

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Very generic story with absolutely no emotional depth, no highlights, no twists, no fun... Adds absolutely nothing to the sequel.

Shockingly boring

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