Bone Weight: 5.2
Hide Quality: 4.1
Scale Quality: 3.3
Oil Quality: 10
Tooth Count: 48
Harvesting Risk: 4.3
Specimens required for Armada: 2,000
Notable Anatomy for Construction
Specimen’s oil yields are by far the most potent and efficient of the great lizard breeds. If the Green Horns are the bones of the armada, the Milk Wings are the fuel.
Cannot risk a return to Papyria personally. Too much exposure to Okinu’s dreadful widows.
Will cut writs under a large network of proxies so as not to attract unwanted attention from the Papyrians. Expect 10 to 20 years before stockpile is complete.
Ghost Moth
Bone Strength: 5.9
Bone Weight: 7.4
Hide Quality: 2.1
Scale Quality: 9.4
Oil Quality: 8.9
Tooth Count: 18
Harvesting Risk: 1.1
Specimens required for Armada: 100
Notable Anatomy for Construction
Despite the fact that the prototype skyship was built exclusively from Ghost Moth parts, their bones are not a preferred source for mass production. Too much weight, not enough strength.
Scales ideal for armor prototype, but that project is on indefinite hold.
Breed still of interest due to a unique network of capillary tissue that produces electrostatic heat, which warms their blood and allows them to survive frigid climates.
Electrical charge extinguished upon death. Can be rekindled with chemicals, but the original and full potency is lost. Exploring alternative techniques for recovery.
In his infinite wisdom, Emperor Mercer has approved the above quota based on this speculative value and the low harvesting risk. Given the stockpile of tissue already in reserve from prior projects, this will give me quite the surplus for experimentation.
Even a modest breakthrough would alter the trajectory of all future projects. Moreover, it would alter the trajectory of the world.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank my agent, Caitlin Blasdell, and my editor, Christopher Morgan. Without their advice, insight, and wisdom, I would have had a series of nervous breakdowns instead of completing this book. I would also like to thank Desirae Friesen, Laura Etzkorn, Molly Majumder, and the talented team at Tor, as well as Bella Pagan, Georgia Summers, and everyone at Tor UK.
Thank you to my family. For this one, I must thank my father in particular, for fielding a large number of very odd and specific questions about synthetic organs and how to treat trauma injuries with limited supplies.
Once again, I owe a great debt to Lola, my brave and stalwart German shepherd, who slept at my feet while a large portion of this book was written and came up with all the good ideas.
And most of all, thank you, Jess Townsend. I couldn’t have done it without you.
ALSO BY BRIAN NASLUND
Blood of an Exile
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BRIAN NASLUND is an American fantasy author based in Boulder, Colorado. He grew up in Maryland and studied English at Skidmore College in New York. Brian first started writing about dragons to escape the crushing boredom of his incredibly long bus commute. When he’s not writing, he’s usually griping about video games on Twitter; hiking with his dog, Lola; or whitewater kayaking in the mountains. The last activity makes his mother very nervous. You can connect with him at briannaslund.com, or sign up for email updates here.
Thank you for buying this
Tom Doherty Associates ebook.
To receive special offers, bonus content,
and info on new releases and other great reads,
sign up for our newsletters.
Or visit us online at
us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup
For email updates on the author, click here.
CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Map
Part I
1. Bershad
2. Jolan
3. Bershad
4. Vera
5. Jolan
6. Vera
7. Jolan
8. Bershad
9. Ashlyn
10. Bershad
Part II
11. Castor
12. Vera
13. Bershad
14. Vera
15. Bershad
16. Vera
17. Bershad
18. Ashlyn
19. Bershad
20. Bershad
22. Vera
23. Jolan
24. Vera
25. Bershad
26. Ashlyn
Part III
27. Vera
28. Jolan
29. Vera
30. Jolan
31. Ashlyn
32. Jolan
33. Vera
34. Jolan
35. Vera
36. Jolan
37. Vera
38. Ashlyn
39. Jolan
40. Vera
41. Jolan
Part IV
42. Bershad
43. Cabbage
44. Ashlyn
45. Jolan
46. Bershad
47. Ashlyn
48. Cabbage
49. Bershad
50. Ashlyn
51. Cabbage
52. Bershad
53. Ashlyn
54. Bershad
55. Ashlyn
56. Vera
57. Jolan
58. Bershad
59. Ashlyn
60. Castor
61. Jolan
Appendix
Acknowledgments
Also by Brian Naslund
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
SORCERY OF A QUEEN
Copyright © 2020 by Brian Naslund
All rights reserved.
Cover art by Larry Rostant
Map by Jennifer Hanover
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates
120 Broadway
New York, NY 10271
www.tor-forge.com
Tor® is a registered trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC.
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-30967-9 (trade paperback)
ISBN 978-1-250-30966-2 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-250-30965-5 (ebook)
eISBN 9781250309655
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.
First Edition: 2020