Lives of Bitter Rain

*2026 LOCUS FINALIST FOR BEST SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL* *SHORTLISTED FOR THE HUGO AWARD FOR BEST SERIES* City-by-city, kingdom-by-kingdom, the Palleseen have sworn to bring ''Perfection'' and ''Correctness'' to an imperfect world. But before these ruthless Tyrant Philosophers send in their legions, they despatch Outreach the rain before the storm. Outreach is that part of the Pal machine responsible for diplomacy - converting enemies into friends, achieving through words what an army of five thousand could not, urging the oppressed to overthrow the bloody-handed priests, evil necromancers and greedy despots that subjugate them. Angilly, twelve-years-old, a child of Pal soldiers stationed in occupied Jarokir, does not know it yet, but a sequence of accidents and questionable life choices will lead her to Outreach. As she travels from Jarrokir to Bracinta, Cazarkand, Lemas, The Holy Regalate of Stouk and finally, Usmai,