Lichtenberg

Exclusive pre-release event in the Irish Writers Centre, as part of the Dublin Book Festival. Official (West Coast) launch in Charlie Byrne's Bookshop, Galway. East Coast launch in Roe River Books, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Special event in HMV Henry Street, Dublin. Events information on templedarkbooks.com

Fiercest among the corpsmen of Raidon City is Riven, his prowess in battle matched only by the intellect he evinces in the ritual games. But Riven will learn of cracks in Raidon's propaganda; of long-kept secrets festering in the darkness; and of rumours of a coming Ramasite invasion that conflict with the reality he sees beyond the walls.

In a frozen and hopeless future, Raidon City stands, the last bastion of civilisation in an otherwise barbaric world. The city's elite soldiers, the Corps, keep its inhabitants safe, hunting the treacherous Ramasites scattered around the barren wastes who seek to bring the city to its knees. To the Corps, these outsiders are vermin, nothing more than animals to be slaughtered on sight - and they delight in this sport. To the citizens of Raidon, the Corps are their heroes, the offspring of noble lines sacrificing all to protect their beloved home.

At least, this is how it seems.

Fiercest among the corpsmen is Riven, whose prowess in battle is matched only by the intellect he evinces in the ritual games of their order. But Riven will learn of cracks in the propaganda of the city-state; of long-kept secrets festering in the darkness; and of rumours of a coming Ramasite invasion that conflict with the reality he sees beyond the walls.

Questioning his own morals and introduced to truths that challenge a lifetime of indoctrination, Riven must tackle an eternal question at the risk of Raidon's demise...

How can an intelligent man be so easily fooled?