In a quiet corner of the Imperial City, Investigator Narin discovers the result of his first potentially-lethal mistake. Minutes later he makes a second.

The Empire of a Hundred Houses is a brittle and bloated monster; constrained by tradition, ruled by unassailable power. While noble factions prepare for civil war, gods and demons enter the fray and Narin discovers a plot to bring it all down from within. To save his own life and those of untold thousands Narin must understand the key to it all – Moon's Artifice, the poison that could destroy an empire.

A strong, confident effort from Lloyd, who is surely set to dominate the genre with an opulent, tangible world, captivating readers' imaginations. It's even worth reading for the wonderfully inventive exclamations and cuss words alone.--Starburst Magazine

An entertaining and strong entry into a new fantasy universe that reads like the fantasy equvalent of a technothriller--Paul Weimer, SF Signal

This is a hugely assured modern fantasy novel.--Jonathan Wright, SFX Magazine

Tom Lloyd has created a rich and multi-layered society...The mythology of the world is well crafted.--Alistair Davison, Starburst Magazine