The Far Shores (The Central, #3)

Built on the Fringe of Central, where the sand meets the endless sea of Ether and the fog never breaks, the Far Shores is an institution dedicated to the pursuit of scientific discovery, remote from Central and a neutral party in the simmering conflicts between cartels. Shrouded in a sinister reputation, rumors of forbidden sciences, and layers of official secrecy, it is one of the most mysterious and isolated locations in Central – and, thanks to radical changes in the political and military organization of Central, it’s also the new home for both the Auditors and the students enrolled in the Program. Thrown into the unfamiliar and occasionally creepy environment of the Far Shores, Alexander Warner does his best to juggle an evolving protocol, a violent introduction to the realities of fieldwork, and the complexities of attempting to date a Changeling. Katya Zharova, on the other hand, focuses mainly on keeping Alex alive – generally by killing people with sewing needles.

In the wake of the Anathema raid on Central, alliances crumble and allegiances shift. The Director is in open conflict with the Committee-at-Large, and is the target of an Inquiry directed by his brand-new Chief Auditor, Alice Gallow. The weakened Black Sun Cartel is consumed with internal conflicts, while the ascendant Hegemony starts to coalesce around new leaders. Cartels of all denominations eye each other nervously, uncertain how far the Anathema contagion has spread, and defection and sabotage are rife. In an effort to bolster the depleted ranks of the Auditors, dire and irreversible steps are taken. Old wounds are opened, and old rivalries are renewed, against the background of the expanding power of the Outer Dark. ... more>>