Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Behind the Throne
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.kbwagers.com/
CITY:
STATE: CO
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/authors/k-b-wagers/ * http://www.tor.com/2016/12/21/book-reviews-after-the-crown-by-k-b-wagers/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: son.
EDUCATION:University of Colorado, Boulder, bachelor’s degree.
ADDRESS
CAREER AVOCATIONS:
Second-degree black belt in Shaolin Kung Fu, running, dancing.
AWARDS:Air Force Space Command media contest awards (two).
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
K.B. Wagers has a bachelor’s degree in Russian studies and has earned two Air Force Space Command media contest awards for nonfiction. She lives at the base of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with her husband and son.
Behind the Throne
In 2016, Wagers published two works of science fiction, the first and second volumes in the “Indranan War Trilogy.” In the first book, Behind the Throne, gunrunner Cresson Stone has built up a dangerous reputation after traveling the galaxy for twenty years. But she is not who she seems. Cresson is actually Hail Bristol, the middle daughter of the Empress of Indrana. She left the stifling life in the court twenty years earlier with a purpose: to track down and kill her father’s murderers. However, she had no intention of ever returning home. Life plays cruel tricks, and despite her protestations she is located and brought home to an empire in chaos. Her two sisters have been murdered, and her mother is dying under suspicious circumstances. As the last remaining heir to the throne, Hail finds herself now leading the empire but unable to conform to the laws of civility, her years as a gunrunner coming to the forefront.
On the SciFi Now Web site, Krystal Sim was impressed with the story, the characters, and the writing: “These characters feel alive, and as a result you invest in them. … Behind the Throne is a politically charged and action-packed story, with a commanding woman at its centre. It’s a wonderful start to a promising new sci-fi series.” In Booklist, Anna Mickelson wrote: “Behind the Throne investigates power dynamics, family, and trust as it explores the story of a clever and determined woman struggling to find her place in the face of great loss.” A Publishers Weekly contributor observed: “Hail is at her most intriguing when she’s unashamed of who she was and may still need to be, and her personality is a perfect mix of cunning and flaws that she never quite patched.”
After the Crown
After the Crown takes up where Behind the Throne ended. Indranan is rife with political intrigue and betrayal, and Hail is caught in the middle with very few people she can trust. As a result, she reunites with some of her old gunrunner pals—who can’t exactly be trusted themselves—in order to retain order in her empire. Hail is trying to have peace talks with planetary allies, but the negotiations turn violent and Hail encounters a traitor in her midst. Along with her loyal bodyguards, she fights to protect her throne and her empire.
Reviewers were just as impressed with the second book as they were with the first. A Publishers Weekly reviewer wrote: “Wagers pulls readers into Hail’s former haunts in the intergalactic underworld, perfectly showing off her more disreputable but constantly useful talents. Tor.com reviewer Liz Bourke was enthusiastic in her praise and observed: “After the Crown has a pace best described as breakneck, and its interest in action and explosions sometimes diverts attention away from the—potentially fascinating—political manoeuvring surrounding the Empress of Indrana. But it has an exuberance, an utter delight in putting its space opera operatics right into your face that makes it just about entirely wonderful as an example of the genre: I enjoyed the hell out of it, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what comes next.” On the Eloquent Page Web site, a contributor wrote: “Behind the Throne is great, but I reckon After the Crown might be even better. I suppose that is the real trick to a sequel. You up the ante, continue to develop the plot, and make sure a reader ends up caring even more about the characters and their fate. This novel has left me hungry for more, I can’t wait to discover what happens next. This is pitch perfect science fiction that blends action, adventure, political intrigue and more than a little heart.”
Girls in Capes Web site reviewer Feliza Casano commented: “Wagers doesn’t shy away from commentary on difficult topics in the second book. … Like its predecessor, After the Crown fulfils the same real-life-applicable political intrigue that usually feels like it’s missing from sweeping epics.” Booklist reviewer Anna Mickelson wrote that “Wagers adds more depth to the portrait of Hail, now a fearless but haunted leader.” Everdeen Mason, on the Washington Post Web site, called After the Crown fast paced, and its focus on a female action heroine defined by her decisions rather than romance is refreshing and fun.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, August 1, 2016, Anna Mickelsen, review of Behind the Throne, p. 45; December 1, 2016, Anna Mickelsen, review of After the Crown, p. 37.
Publishers Weekly, June 13, 2016, review of Behind the Throne, p. 79; September 19, 2016, review of After the Crown. p. 53.
ONLINE
Eloquent Page, http://www.theeloquentpage.co.uk (December 15, 2016), review of After the Crown.
Girls in Capes, http://girlsincapes.com (December 12, 2016), Feliza Casano, review of After the Crown.
SciFi Now, https://www.scifinow.co.uk (August 17, 2016), Krystal Sim, review of Behind the Throne.
Tor.com, http://www.tor.com (December 21, 2016), Liz Bourke, review of After the Crown.
Washington Post Online, http://www.washingtonpost.com/ (December 5, 2016), Everdeen Mason, review of After the Crown.
K. B. Wagers
K. B. Wagers has a bachelor's degree in Russian Studies and her non-fiction writing has earned her two Air Force Space Command media contest awards. A native of Colorado, she lives at the base of the Rocky Mountains with her husband and son. In between books, she can be found lifting heavy things, running on trails, dancing to music, and scribbling on spare bits of paper.
About the Author
K.B. Wagers
K.B. Wagers lives and runs in the shadow of Pikes Peak. She loves flipping tires and lifting heavy things. She's especially proud of her second-degree black belt in Shaolin Kung Fu and her three Tough Mudder completions. When not writing she can be found wrangling cats with her husband, or trying to keep up with her teenage son.
AUG 12 2016
4 COMMENTS
INTERVIEW
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: K.B. WAGERS
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Today I am interviewing K.B. Wagers, debut author of the new science fiction novel, Behind the Throne, first book in the Indranan War trilogy.
◊ ◊ ◊
DJ: Hey K.B! Thanks for stopping by to do this interview!
For readers who aren’t familiar with you, could you tell us a little about yourself?
K.B. Wagers: Thanks! It’s nice to be here.
I am a tragically unhip, tattooed Coloradoan, who’s owned by four cats. I have a degree in Russian studies from CU Boulder that seems to impress my potential employers and means I can talk about how much I dislike Tolstoy until people’s eyes cross. I like weightlifting and whiskey, and I am terrified of heights.
DJ: What were some of your influences for Behind the Throne and the Indranan War trilogy?
KBW: I’d love to claim that Star Wars played an influential role, but really if it did it was all subconsciously. *laughs* Instead the two major Sanskrit epics from ancient India—the Mahabharata and the Raymayana—were influential factors as well as a movie called Seven Days in May from 1964. I was also putting the finishing touches on it when Mad Max: Fury Road came out and I think that ended up having an impact on the final pace of the book.
DJ: What is Behind the Throne about?
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KBW: Behind the Throne is about a woman wrestling with her past, her love of family, and her sense of duty. Hail’s very much the prodigal daughter come home. No one is happy about her return, least of all her; but as it turns out she’s the only hope Indrana has left. The book is about her coming to terms with what must be done to save her empire and coming to terms with the fact that she couldn’t save her family from their fate.
DJ: The Indranan War trilogy is being described as “An action-packed, Star Wars-style science fiction adventure trilogy.” That sounds amazing! Where do you think this comparison came from?
KBW: *laughs* Honestly, I am not really sure. I think credit belongs with someone on the team at Orbit because it wasn’t a comparison that I had in my brain at any point during the writing of the book. I think it’s great!
DJ: Could you briefly tell us a little about your main characters? Do they have any cool quirks or habits, or any reason why readers would sympathize with them?
KBW: Hail’s got a smart mouth, and she’s lived the last twenty years around criminals and other people of questionable character. However, she’s never really lost the poise and education that was hammered into her before she left home. She’s got a temper and can be quite nasty when provoked enough to react, but everything she does is very carefully thought out before she does it. So she’s really not someone you want to mess with.
DJ: What is the universe for the Indranan War trilogy like?
KBW: Pashati is the main planet of the binary star system of Ashvin. It’s one of two habitable planets in the system that was settled several thousand years in the future by colonists primarily from India, but also from Pakistan, China, Japan and other assorted smaller countries in the region. At one point it was part of the Solarian Conglomerate which is a massive organization of planets attached to Earth.
It’s an Earth-like planet, meaning the weather patterns and environs are very similar. The action all takes place in the capital city, which is on the coast, so one could reference New York for an idea of how the weather is in the area.
The society itself is a matriarchal monarchy. I looked at the influences of British colonialism on India’s development but also tried to imagine a world where, through circumstance and some very strong personalities, would have developed into a woman-led society.
DJ: What was your favorite part about writing Behind the Throne?
KBW: The relationship that develops between Hail, Emmory, and Zin. The original draft of the story had a very different tone and some very different results. When I tore it apart to rewrite it after a rejection, I came at it from the opposite direction and I love what it did to the three of them.
DJ: What do you think readers will be talking about most once they finish it?
KBW: The pace. One of my favorite things about books are the ones that you can’t seem to put down and you end up reading them through to the end only to realize it’s 4 a.m. and you have to be at work in three hours.
DJ: What is your goal in writing the Indranan War trilogy? Behind the Throne is only the first book, but is there a particular message or meaning you are hoping to get across to readers when it is finally told?
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KBW: I don’t have a specific message or goal. I want to tell stories that people enjoy. I’m looking to make people laugh, hold their breath, even cry and curse me a bit. *grins* To me, the most important thing for a writer to remember is you have no control over what the reader decides to get out of it, and that’s okay. Everyone’s going to come away with something different from it.
DJ: When I read, I love to collect quotes – whether it be because they’re funny, foodie, or have a personal meaning to me. Do you have any favorite quotes from Behind the Throne that you can share with us?
KBW: I am the same way. I love quotes (and have more than a few tattooed on me). It’s always a challenge to come up with an answer to this question, but I’d have to say this one has always made me laugh: “Princess, gunrunner—let’s be honest—they’re two sides of the same coin.”
DJ: Now that Behind the Throne is released, what is next for you?
KBW: The sequel, After the Crown, is coming in December, and the third book will be out at the end of 2017, so I’m currently still working on both of those books. After that, we’ll see. I’ve got a suitcase full of characters and ideas that I’ve been packing around for close to twenty years. I’m pretty sure some of them are going to make an appearance after Hail has her run.
DJ: Where can readers find out more about you?
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/K.-B.-Wagers/e/B01DMVYWB6/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkbwagers/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14742557.K_B_Wagers
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midwaybrawler/
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kbwagers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kbwagers
Website: www.kbwagers.com
DJ: Before we go, what is that one thing you’d like readers to know about Behind the Throne that we haven’t talked about yet?
KBW: Nothing comes to mind, but if they have questions after they read it they can always hit me up on Twitter for an answer!
DJ: Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to answer my questions!
KBW: Thank you for having me! And thanks to all the folks who read the book, I hope they enjoy it.
Interview with K.B. WAGERS
September 20, 2016 Civilian Reader InterviewAfter the Crown, Behind the Throne, Indranan War, KB Wagers, Most Anticipated 2016, Orbit, Sci-Fi
wagerskb-authorpicLet’s start with an introduction: Who is K.B. Wagers?
I have no idea. *laughs* “I am a writer stitched together with ink and dreams” would be the fanciful answer. I’m a native Coloradan, a pretty stubborn Taurus, a lover of coffee and cats (though I prefer if my cats stay out of my coffee), a fan of explosions, and a hopeless optimist.
Your debut novel, Behind the Throne, was recently published by Orbit. It looks interesting: How would you introduce it to a potential reader?
I am honestly so awful at this! It’s been awesome to have reviews for the book because my words tend to fail me when I’m asked to talk about my work. Behind the Throne is a story about a woman coming to grips with her past and her family, something that’s challenging enough on its own; but when people are trying to kill you it adds a whole other level of difficulty. When Hail finds out that her sisters have been murdered and she’s the only person left to help her empire, she trades in her gunrunning life for a crown and discovers that life in a palace is even more dangerous than the underside of the galaxy.
WagersKB-1-BehindTheThrone
Orbit have also announced the sequel, After the Crown, due out in December. What can fans of the first novel expect from the second? Are there plans to extend the series further?
More explosions, more sass, and a betrayal no one will see coming. Fans will get to see Hail hook up with some old friends from her gunrunning days and watch her BodyGuards wrestle with keeping her safe outside the palace. She’s in her element in After the Crown, and it shows.
There is a third book in the Indranan War series, it’s currently set to come out December of 2017.
What inspired you to write the novel and series? And where do you draw your inspiration from in general?
The inspiration for BTT was a Christmas tree ornament from my grandmother. I was lying on my couch back in December of 2009 and spotted this tatted diamond. The opening scene for the book just kind of slammed into my head, and that design ended up as the basis for the Star of Indrana tattoo that’s on Emmory’s cheek. I scrambled for my laptop, and the rest is history.
Everything inspires me. My biggest issue is probably that I have 10 million ideas and not enough time in the world to get to them all.
wagerskb-2-afterthecrown
How were you introduced to genre fiction?
I’ve been reading it for so long I’m not sure I could pinpoint a date. Since Curious George? *laughs*
How do you like being a writer and working within the publishing industry?
I’ve been a writer for a long time and only recently went through that final door into the publishing industry. Things really haven’t changed a whole lot for me overall. One of the benefits to taking a long time to get published is you develop a lot of good consistent habits that some newer writers might still be working on. I’ve got a great team at Orbit, both in the US and across the pond, which has made this pretty hectic schedule I’m on a lot easier to manage.
Do you have any specific working, writing, researching practices?
I have a day job and a family, so it’s imperative to have dedicated time for things. Since I’m on a tight deadline right now, when I get home from work it’s a routine of workout/write/bed that’s super consistent. I’m lucky enough to have a home office that is all mine and I go in there and put up my “Do Not Disturb” Hulk sign (which the cats ignore) and get to work. If something comes up that interferes with that schedule, I have learned to prioritize things pretty diligently. Writing almost always comes first right now. I tend to set aside specific time for research rather than trying to work it into the writing time, so my manuscript has a lot of notes in it even on the zero draft about looking things up or verifying information.
When did you realize you wanted to be an author, and what was your first foray into writing? Do you still look back on it fondly?
I joke that I’ve been writing since I learned how to write. *laughs* It’s not far off the mark though. Somewhere in my childhood keepsakes is a crayon version of Romeo and Juliet. I have fond memories of some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fanfiction before the Internet was a thing. And my first novel was an alien invasion story I wrote in high school and printed out on a dot matrix printer. I’ve written several million words in the last 40 years and none of them was wasted. Everything I’ve done up to this point has made me better so I do look back on a lot of it fondly – no matter how awful it may be. *grins and winks*
What’s your opinion of the genre today, and where do you see your work fitting into it?
I am beyond excited about the direction that SFF is taking today. I want to read stories about interesting characters by people who truly know them because they’re living that life. The inclusion movement being spearheaded especially by women of color is producing such beautiful stories. I am in a privileged position and want to use that to provide work that isn’t the same old same old. It means I’m going to always be aware of what topics I shouldn’t try and that I’m checking myself constantly to make sure that the people I’m portraying aren’t coming across as stereotypes rather than real characters. It also means I’m going to screw up. I’m aware of it, and I’m willing to apologize for it and try and do better.
Do you have any other projects in the pipeline, and what are you working on at the moment?
I am writing the first draft of book three in the Indranan War series. Once that gets turned in I’m going to have a chat with my agent about what we’re up to next.
What are you reading at the moment (fiction, non-fiction)?
I don’t read a lot while I’m working due to the distinct lack of time and energy. My day job involves being on the computer all day, so I have to be careful of eye strain. Plus I don’t like risking reading fiction while I’m writing. I did sneak Kameron Hurley’s The Geek Feminist Revolution back in July when it came out. And I took a break during release week to read Runtime by S.B. Divya and Tracer by Rob Boffard. There are two nonfiction books by Col. Chris Hadfield and Buzz Aldrin I really want to read and I might squeeze them in here soon. I’ve got a whole lot of books staring at me and I’m planning on spending December doing a reading marathon. There is an endless amount of books and just not enough time.
wagerskb-reading
If you could recommend only one novel to someone, what would it be?
Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky is hands-down one of the coolest books I’ve ever read. Our bodies can’t manufacture salt, but it’s essential for our survival. It’s been used as currency, wars have been fought over it, and revolutions won, and if we can’t find a source of it off this planet then our hope of exploring the stars will be in jeopardy.
kurlanskym-salt
What’s something readers might be surprised to learn about you?
I flew to England all by myself to meet up with a group of people I’d only known on the Internet, back in 1999. About a year later I met my husband on the internet and we married less than three years after that. Most of my friends I’ve met online, which doesn’t seem so very strange now, but at the time it caused quite a ruckus!
What are you most looking forward to in the next twelve months?
Peace and quiet? *laughs* It’s been a pretty hectic year. I’m grateful for the opportunity but I’ve been going nonstop since April of 2015 and am really looking forward to having a little time to breathe and work on book three and the next project at a slightly slower pace.
***
K.B. Wagers‘s Behind the Throne is out now, published in the UK and North America by Orbit Books. For more on the author writing and novels, be sure to check out her website, and follow her on Twitter and Goodreads.
Here’s the synopsis for Behind the Throne:
Hail Bristol has made a name for herself in the galaxy for everything except what she was born to do: rule the Indranan Empire.
When she is dragged back to her home planet to take her rightful place as the only remaining heir, she finds that trading her ship for a palace is her most dangerous move yet.
Quick Six Interview: K.B. Wagers
JL Jamieson12.2016Author Interview, Books
kb-wagersK.B. Wagers is the author of the new Indranan War series, with books one and two; Behind the Throne and After the Crown. The series is part space opera, part court intrigue that would please fans of shows like Firefly and Killjoys.
The books follow the heir to the Indranan throne; the system was first populated by earth settlers who eventually broke rank, forming their own means of government. After the men of the main 14 families of settlers started getting space dementia, the women formed a matriarchal empire. The books take place generations later.
The main character, Hail Bristol, is a princess who ran away twenty years previous and changed her appearance to become a feared gunrunner and criminal. She is recalled to her empire when members of her family are killed in mysterious circumstances, and she becomes the next in line for the throne.
K.B. Wagers lives in Colorado with her husband, son, and cats–we caught up with her for a Quick Six Interview:
What inspires you recently?
Hamilton. *laughs* Everyone probably gives that answer this year, but it’s true. I’ve been listening to the music obsessively this year. I got a line inked on my arm back in the fall and I’m about to get “Rise up” inked on the other arm here in a week. I just finished reading the “Hamiltome” and I’m in awe of Lin Manuel-Miranda’s drive and dedication.
What do you do when you aren’t actively writing?
I don’t know? I’ve been writing constantly all year so I’m honestly not really sure what that means. *laughs* There was a lot of stuff I did a few years ago when I wasn’t writing but I’m not sure it’s things I’m interested in, or that I can do any more. Like running. I’m breaking myself back into the idea of free time right now with reading as many books as I can cram into a day.
Morning or night person for work?
I am without a doubt a morning person. Not those cheery morning people, mind you, but I like being up early. Probably because it’s quiet and I live in house with night owls so none of them are awake to talk to me at o’dark-thirty. I probably do my best work in the mornings, but this year I learned to write pretty much whenever I had an opportunity to do so.
What book is your touchstone?
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I fell asleep listening to the audio books a LOT as a kid. It’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. It’s comforting, like a towel or Vogon poetry.
Any film/tv adaptations either make you cringe or make you think, they nailed it?
Sometimes I think I’m in the minority on this, but I loved The Hobbit movies. Jackson’s adaptation, for me, hit all the right spots of the book and brought them to life in a way that made me extremely happy.
What’s next for you?
Not quite sure yet. I’m trying to refill the well and then in the new year I’ll sit down with my agent and my editor and talk about what we can do so we can make a decision on where to go from here. I have a wealth of ideas in the trunk; but there’s always a chance for more Hail. Following me over on Twitter @kbwagers is always the best way to stay on top of the mess going on in my brain!
Review of Behind the Throne Pop Culture Beast, 2016:
Green haired gunrunner Captain Cressen Stone thought she’d left her former life as Imperial Princess Hailimi Bristol far behind her–20 years behind her. When one of her crew tries to kill her, and two Imperial Trackers show up, she knows her past is coming back to bite her.( Click to Continue)
Review of After the Throne Pop Culture Beast, 2016:
Hailimi Bristol, heir to the Indranan throne has been dodging a lot of assassination attempts lately. The more she’s sure she’s closing in on her family’s murderer, the more dangerous her life becomes. (Click to Continue)
Quick Six: Pop Culture Beast lets artists choose from our standard ten questions – and we let them tell us what they’d like you to know.
QUOTED TEXT: Wagers adds more depth to
the portrait of Hail, now a fearless but haunted leader
After the Crown
Anna Mickelsen
Booklist.
113.7 (Dec. 1, 2016): p37.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
After the Crown. By K. B. Wagers. Dec. 2016.432p. Orbit, paper, $15.99 (9780316308632); ebook (9780316308625).
Wagers keeps up the breathless pace of Behind the Throne (2016) in a sequel that takes new Empress Hail Bristol out
of the throne room and into the wider universe, where she spent years as a criminal. War is brewing with the
neighboring Saxon Empire, and Hail does everything she can to prevent it from happeninguntil she's betrayed and
forced to flee for survival. Collecting a motley group of allies from her gunrunning days and rallying her loyal subjects,
Hail faces various threats, including from the man who orchestrated the death of her family. Wagers adds more depth to
the portrait of Hail, now a fearless but haunted leader still adjusting to her new role and bound by the weight of
responsibility to her people, and secondary characters to an already rich supporting cast. For fans of Star Wars, action,
and adventure. Anna Mickelsen
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Mickelsen, Anna. "After the Crown." Booklist, 1 Dec. 2016, p. 37. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA474719449&it=r&asid=3fc5cab47ff44ec0e66ebc4fb966d286.
Accessed 5 Mar. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A474719449
3/5/2017 General OneFile Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1488762891473 2/6
After the Crown
QUOTED TEXT: Wagers pulls readers into Hail's former haunts in the intergalactic underworld,
perfectly showing off her more disreputable but constantly useful talents
Publishers Weekly.
263.38 (Sept. 19, 2016): p53.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
* After the Crown
K.B. Wagers. Orbit, $15.99 trade paper (432p) ISBN 9780316308632
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Wagers's exciting second Indranan War space epic keeps roaring, with plenty of action, tension, and constant interplay
among the characters. In Behind the Throne, Hail Bristol, gunrunner and secret heir to the 31stcentury galactic
Indranan Empire, was dragged back home after her sisters were murdered. She had to assume the throne and the
struggle against political intrigue and a looming war. Now a calamity engineered by Hail's enemies has knocked the
empire off balance and has given Hail and her laserfocused personal bodyguards, Emmory and Zin, the biggest
challenges of her short reign. In order for her and the empire to survive, she'll need all the help she can get from both
the Indranans she can trustwho are fewand her gunrunning acquaintances, who are less trustworthy. In fact, one of
them has put a price on Hail's head. Wagers pulls readers into Hail's former haunts in the intergalactic underworld,
perfectly showing off her more disreputable but constantly useful talents, which were often hinted at before. Hail is in
her element again, as Wagers's fans will be.
Agent: Andrew Zack, Zack Company. (Dec.)
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"After the Crown." Publishers Weekly, 19 Sept. 2016, p. 53. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA464352731&it=r&asid=57a1cbb5192da3bcc4f5736e835cec4e.
Accessed 5 Mar. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A464352731
3/5/2017 General OneFile Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1488762891473 3/6
Behind the Throne
QUOTED TEXT: Behind the
Throne investigates power dynamics, family, and trust as it explores the story of a clever and determined woman
struggling to find her place in the face of great loss.
Anna Mickelsen
Booklist.
112.22 (Aug. 1, 2016): p45.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Behind the Throne. By K. B. Wagers. Aug. 2016. 432p. Orbit, paper, $14.99 (9780316308601).
Debut author Wagers opens a promising sciencefiction series featuring Hailimi "Hail" Bristol, known throughout the
galaxy as a ruthless gunrunner. Since her father's death, Hail has done everything she can to track down his killers and
avoid her responsibilities as a princess of the Indranan Empire. From the Trackers sent by the ailing empress to retrieve
her, Hail learns that her sisters and niece have also been assassinated, leaving her the sole heir. She reluctantly returns
home to an empire in crisis, entering a tangle of intrigue without clear allies. Pulling few punches, Wagers creates an
intriguing and technologically advanced matriarchal society based on the Indian culture of its early settlers. Behind the
Throne investigates power dynamics, family, and trust as it explores the story of a clever and determined woman
struggling to find her place in the face of great loss. For fans of stories with plenty of action and political
maneuvering.Anna Mickelsen
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Mickelsen, Anna. "Behind the Throne." Booklist, 1 Aug. 2016, p. 45. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA460761738&it=r&asid=0d0b9c86c581034810aa9c7854bd39fe.
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Behind the Throne
QUOTED TEXT: Hail is at her most intriguing when she's unashamed of
who she was and may still need to be, and her personality is a perfect mix of cunning and flaws that she never quite
patched.
Publishers Weekly.
263.24 (June 13, 2016): p79.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
* Behind the Throne
K.B. Wagers. Orbit, $14.99 trade paper (432p) ISBN 9780316308601
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Taut suspense, strong characterization, and dark, rapidfire humor are the highlights of this excellent SF adventure
debut. Hail Bristol has spent years earning a reputation as one of the galaxy's most notorious smugglers. But her
biggest challenge is dealing with her mother, the ruler of the Indranan Empire. The empress has sent two relentless
Trackers, Emmory and Zin, to drag Hail to the last place Hail wants to gohome to the empireto be the new heir after
her sisters were murdered. Hail doesn't care about duty, but she does intend to find out who killed her sisters, especially
once she realizes the assassins may have also killed her father years before. Byzantine political intrigue, the empress's
growing senility, and a looming war mean the initially despised Emmory and Zin may be the only people Hail can trust,
and her gunrunning skills will serve her well at home too. Wagers's debut is a deviously labyrinthine adventure in
which smuggling is less dangerous than interstellar politics. Hail is at her most intriguing when she's unashamed of
who she was and may still need to be, and her personality is a perfect mix of cunning and flaws that she never quite
patched. Agent: AndrewZack, Zack Company. (Aug.)
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"Behind the Throne." Publishers Weekly, 13 June 2016, p. 79. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA458871720&it=r&asid=c35836642ad33a5d2e5e8ccc6d639362.
Accessed 5 Mar. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A458871720
3/5/2017 General OneFile Saved Articles
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'After the Crown' and other science fiction and
fantasy books to read this month
Everdeen Mason
Washingtonpost.com.
(Dec. 5, 2016):
COPYRIGHT 2016 The Washington Post
Full Text:
Byline: Everdeen Mason
Bingeing on a book series is the perfect activity for December it makes for a great escape from the crush of social
obligations, and when the weather turns cold, it is an ideal indoor diversion. Here are three suggestions for series that
you can step into this month or any.
K.B. Wagers's After the Crown (Orbit), the second novel in her Indranan War series, continues the story of Hail Bristol,
galactic gunrunnerturnedempress, as she wards off dastardly plots to take her throne. (One can't help but wonder why
so many people want the throne.) Hail had no choice but to take the throne after the deaths of her sisters, and in this
novel, she works to prevent war by entering peace talks with her planetary allies. These negotiations turn violent, and
Hail finds a traitor in her midst. With her loyal Bodyguards at her side and the help of some old criminal friends, Hail
fights to protect her empire and her throne. Like its predecessor "Behind the Throne," "Crown" is fast paced, and its
focus on a female action heroine defined by her decisions rather than romance is refreshing and fun.
The Dreamweaver series is something of a departure for C.S. Friedman, best known for "This Alien Shore" and "The
Madness Season." The books follow Jessica Drake as she travels into a parallel world called Terra Prime, where society
is centered on classes of people with special gifts and access to other worlds. Jessica has spent the past two novels
coming to terms with her status as a Dreamwalker, a person who can manipulate and travel through dreams (an ability
long thought gone after a genocidal campaign by a class of necromancers). In Dreamweaver (DAW), Jessica finds
herself and her family haunted by Reapers, wraithlike creatures tasked with killing Dreamwalkers. She must cross into
Terra Prime one more time to seek a landmark that holds the key to what happened to the Dreamwalkers and how to
save herself and her family. The book may be a young adult title, but its premise has broad appeal: What would happen
if you could steal the gifts and resources of other worlds? This is an America where African slavery never happened
because Americans imported subhumans from other universes. That world has endless possibilities that tickle at the
brain long after the book is put away.
The Fate of the Tearling (Harper) concludes Erika Johansen's genrebending series. In this book, Queen Kelsea Glynn
is in the hands of the enemy that was haunting her for the past several novels. But now Kelsea realizes that there is a
much greater evil at play one that she herself released. Kelsea continues to use her powers to spy on the past,
learning how humanity left the Earth as we know it for a new world and how William Tear's utopia rotted from within.
In this book, Kelsea is much more selfassured, the growing pains of being a teenager behind her. Kelsea flourishes
alongside the other female characters at the center of the novel: These are powerful, determined women who work hard
to accomplish their goals even as their mistakes haunt them. Johansen doesn't punish them for these mistakes; she
allows them to grow, leading to a wellearned ending.
Everdeen Masonreviews science fiction and fantasy every month for The Washington Post.
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Mason, Everdeen. "'After the Crown' and other science fiction and fantasy books to read this month."
Washingtonpost.com, 5 Dec. 2016. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA479834439&it=r&asid=78da2bb15218cfff39782490ad1c0208.
Accessed 5 Mar. 2017.
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A Noir-Tinted Space Opera: After the Crown by K.B. Wagers
Liz Bourke
Wed Dec 21, 2016 12:00pm Post a comment Favorite This
After the Crown is the second book in K.B. Wagers’ Indranan War trilogy, following hard on the heels of Behind the Throne.
In Behind the Throne, Hail Bristol, a princess of the Indranan empire—one who’s lived her entire adult life under a different name as a gunrunner and a smuggler—reluctantly returned to her homeworld. She was given no choice: all the other direct heirs to the throne had died, either violently or suspiciously, and her estranged mother, the reigning empress, had fallen ill. By the time Behind the Throne ends, Hail has survived multiple assassination attempts and ascended to the throne, but her reign is hardly secure: not only do many see her as an unsuitable empress, but the Saxon rivals to the Indranan empire have launched a (deniable) attack on Indranan territory, including the shipyard where the Indranan empire is building its next-generation warships.
After the Crown starts with an execution and ends with a call to arms. In between, it contains political manoeuvring, explosions, a political summit on neutral ground, unexpected betrayals, attempted coups, fleeing for one’s life, and Hail reuniting with her gunrunner past and her gunrunner connections in order to preserve her imperial present. It’s a hell of a ride, and any summary of its events runs the risk of trailing into incoherence due to the SHEER NUMBER OF THINGS HAPPENING.
Fortunately, the narrative itself is far from incoherent. Hail’s first person voice reminds me of noir, and its wry, sarcastic, world-weary tone—occasionally interrupted by earnest shock at something else blowing up—carried me effortlessly along. Hail is an interesting protagonist, with the early training of royalty but the instincts and lifetime habits of a gunrunner, used to taking her own risks and risking her own life. The isolation her imperial position imposes is itself a source of conflict for her, as someone used to small teams and quick action, and her reactions are a frustration to her bodyguards, particularly the two with whom she’s developed the closest relationship, married men Emmory and Zin.
In some ways, this dynamic reminds me very much of the emperor Maia and his bodyguards in The Goblin Emperor. The Indranan War books may have many more explosions, but there exists as a central relationship the same intensely platonic loyalty between principal and bodyguards: a relationship mediated across a divide of power that places serious constraints on the behaviour of all parties, but one that is nonetheless undergirt by a core mutual sense of care and respect. It’s not a dynamic that often reaches the foreground in SFF, but when it does, it adds an interesting and complex layer to characters who live at the heart of power —
— At least, as in After the Crown‘s case, until unexpected developments send them into exile. A coup in the seat of her empire sends Hail back to her gunrunning contacts looking for allies, and in particular to her mentor/father-figure Hao. (I like the relationship Hail has with Hao: they can’t, quite, fall back into the roles they had before Hail was unmasked and returned home to ascend the throne, but they make a solid stab at ironing out something very similar.) The plans Hail hatches to win back the advantage see her playing to her strengths: mayhem, personal violence, dubious friends, and high-risk-high-reward scenarios. It makes her bodyguards very frustrated.
The atmosphere of After the Crown reminds me even more strongly of Star Wars (with extra matriarchy) than Behind the Throne did: the sweep of high politics meets and overlaps with a gritty criminal underworld full of dangerous scoundrels and dark knights, ruthless outcasts and perilous kingpins. And banter.
After the Crown has a pace best described as breakneck, and its interest in action and explosions sometimes diverts attention away from the—potentially fascinating—political manoeuvring surrounding the Empress of Indrana. But it has an exuberance, an utter delight in putting its space opera operatics right into your face that makes it just about entirely wonderful as an example of the genre: I enjoyed the hell out of it, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what comes next.
After the Crown is available now from Orbit.
After the Crown by K B Wagers
PUBLISHED DECEMBER 15, 2016 | BY PABLOCHEESECAKE
A word of warning, After the Crown is a direct sequel to Behind the Throne. With that in mind it is highly likely this review may contain something akin to minor spoilers if you haven’t read book one. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Former gunrunner-turned-Empress Hail Bristol was dragged back to her home planet to fill her rightful position in the palace. With her sisters and parents murdered, the Indranan empire is on the brink of war. Hail must quickly make alliances with nearby worlds if she has any hope of surviving her rule.
When peace talks turn violent and Hail realizes she’s been betrayed, she must rely on her old gunrunning ways to get out of trouble. With help from an old boss and some surprising new allies, she must risk everything to save her world.
Earlier this year, I read Behind The Throne by K B Wagers. It’s an excellent slice of science fiction adventure, with a cracking narrative and characterisation. The sequel is upon us and I can confirm that book one was no fluke. After the Throne is just as brilliant, just as exciting and just as much fun as its literary sibling.
When we last left Empress Hail Bristol, she was still coming to terms with her new lot in life. Key members of her family had been killed leaving her as the new ruler of the Indranan empire. For someone more used to bar room brawls and shady backroom deals, royal life is a bit of a minefield, especially when your empire is coming apart at the seams. Watching how Hail’s character continues to evolve is fascinating. She is beginning to understand the ramifications of being Empress but you can also clearly see that she is relying more and more on her skills as a gunrunner. Turns out the cut and thrust of politics and crime are not that far apart. The weight of responsibility weighs heavily on our heroine, however Hail remains fiercely loyal to her subjects, family and friends. When they suffer, and in some instances, die in her name, she carries the burden of their loss. There is little subterfuge in the new monarch, what you see is what you get. What is most interesting to note is that Hail learns she has to be far sneakier as a royal than she ever had to be as a criminal.
I think the thing I enjoyed most about this sequel was the fact we get to learn more about Hail’s past life as a gunrunner and the people she used to work with. Circumstance finds the young empress on the move, and the criminal underworld she returns to are a genuinely eclectic bunch. There are a whole host of mercenaries, smugglers, pit fighters and big bosses. I warmed to them all immediately. My personal favourite is a character called Johar. I’ll be honest with you, I don’t think I have the adequate language to properly explain how kick-ass this character is. You’ll just have to trust me.
On a side note – once the televisual juggernaut that is Game of Thrones inevitably comes to an end, HBO needs to be looking at The Indranan War to fill the gap. Ok, it may not be fantasy (it is most definitely science fiction), but this series it pulls off that Herculean task in having that same massive scope as its genre cousin. Are you listening top television executives? These books are screaming out for development. Hmmm, I need to start pondering my dream cast now. Who would be the best choice for Hail? Or Emmory? Or Zin? This needs some serious thought.
K B Wagers has created an ongoing narrative that works well on multiple levels. Yes, there are epic space battles and frenetic gunfights to enjoy but there is also plenty of social commentary to relish. The gender swapped Indranan society allows the author to deftly explore many of inequalities that still exist in our society.
I think After The Crown has everything I could want in a sequel. More political intrigue, more fighting and more wonderful character development. I didn’t know what to expect when I read book one, Behind the Throne, but I was quickly hooked. Book two is more of the same. K B Wagers has an ear for snappy dialogue and real skill when it comes to crafting vivid action sequences. Built on the foundations of rock solid world building and well-crafted plotting, this makes for something a bit special. Behind the Throne is great, but I reckon After the Crown might be even better. I suppose that is the real trick to a sequel. You up the ante, continue to develop the plot, and make sure a reader ends up caring even more about the characters and their fate. This novel has left me hungry for more, I can’t wait to discover what happens next. This is pitch perfect science fiction that blends action, adventure, political intrigue and more than a little heart.
After the Crown by K B Wagers is published by Orbit and is available now. I can heartily recommend it and its predecessor. The good news is that book three of The Indranan War will also be available at some point in the future. Now all I need to do is try and contain my excitement until that time.
REVIEW: AFTER THE CROWN BY K.B. WAGERS
By Feliza Casano December 12, 2016 0 Comments Books
Hail Bristol was once a gun smuggler, but now she’s Indranan Empress Hailimi, and her concerns are no longer just about her own survival. Although that hasn’t exactly dropped off her radar, either. Despite executions and imprisonments, she’s still empress, and that means people are still after her crown.
After the Crown K B Wagers book cover Orbit Books Indranan War 2After finishing Behind the Throne way back when, I’d been itching for the next book about Hail’s rule. Behind the Throne was a fun and swashbuckling adventure, and I wanted to see if her next adventure would fulfill the same promises.
I was deeply satisfied by After the Crown. Like its predecessor, After the Crown fulfils the same real-life-applicable political intrigue that usually feels like it’s missing from sweeping epics. Hail’s empire is filled with the sorts of sociopolitical issues faced by contemporary Americans, in some regards. The empire is filled with technological advancements, yet basic equalities are lying by the wayside.
After the Crown takes Hail off the empire’s capital planet and into a variety of other locations, from a neutral planet where she meets the Saxon king to a planetary system that belongs to smugglers, pirates, and other not-quite-savory types. While the series maintains the action that makes the series so much fun, there’s an abrupt shift in tone almost exactly in the middle of the book, and it’s slightly disorienting despite still being enjoyable.
Wagers doesn’t shy away from commentary on difficult topics in the second book. Early on, an organization called the Upjas seeks gender equality for men; U.S. readers might find the rights they seek uncomfortably familiar. At the same time, Hail is derided by the king of nearby Saxony because, according to Saxon culture, women aren’t fit for rule. In this book, Hail continues dealing with keeping her infertility a secret, although that concern soon gives way as she fights for the lives of herself and her officials.
While I wouldn’t say After the Crown suffers from second-book syndrome, it does feel a bit different from its predecessor, although the key qualities that made Behind the Throne great — the action, the politics, and the delightful narrator — are still there.
After the Crown is a worthy successor to Behind the Throne, which was one of my favorite SF/F releases last summer. I would recommend this title to space opera lovers seeking a lady-led adventure with less romance and more politics.
4 out of 5 stars
QUOTED: These characters feel alive, and as a result you invest in them.
Behind The Throne is a politically charged and action-packed story, with a commanding woman at its centre. It’s a wonderful start to a promising new sci-fi series.
BEHIND THE THRONE BY KB WAGERS BOOK REVIEW
The Indranan War continues in Behind The Throne
By Krystal Sim 17-08-16 54,772 0
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Author:
KB Wagers
Publisher:
Orbit
Released:
4 August 2016
Buy on Amazon
Hail Bristol is not what she seems. Known across the galaxy as gunrunner Cressen Stone, she’s also the wayward middle daughter of the Empress of Indrana – a sprawling empire on the brink of chaos.
Hail left her homeworld to hunt down her father’s murderers and escape a life of stifling court ritual. 20 years on, now a gun-runner with quite the reputation, Hail is tracked down and dragged back to Pashati to do her royal duty.
Both of her sisters have ‘gone to temple’ – murdered, leaving Hail as the last surviving heir of a matriarchal society ruled by her dying, empress mother.
KB Wagers drops us headfirst into this world of bubble FTL travel, smugglers and body mods. It’s one that just exists and works, but the most interesting part is discovering the characters.
Hail has to learn to trust her gut in a world of forced civility, and thankfully for readers she’s bad-ass, darkly funny and more capable than she is at first willing to accept. A princess rejecting a life of luxury for adventure is an old story, but not every minor royal would claim to be able to kill someone with the stem of a wine glass – or a hairpin.
These characters feel alive, and as a result you invest in them. Two standouts are the Trackers – Emmory and Zin – that bring Hail home and become her bodyguards and part of a growing entourage of interesting characters: like an intergalactic The West Wing, but with more assassination attempts.
Behind The Throne is a politically charged and action-packed story, with a commanding woman at its centre. It’s a wonderful start to a promising new sci-fi series.