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John McGuire
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J Edward Neill
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Hollow Empire: Episode 1 (Night of Knives) Kindle Edition

by J Edward Neill (Author), John McGuire (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.4 3.4 out of 5 stars 133 ratings
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*Note: The FULL SEASON (Episodes 1-6) are now available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Hollow-Empire-Season-Night-Knives-ebook/dp/B00OBQSHEA/

Once, the empire of Vhur was the world's most powerful. But that was before the Lichy plague. Now, twenty years and millions of dead later, only a few cities remain. The survivors walk a fine line between staying alive and crumbling into the grave.

Come the Night of Knives, even these last few might perish.
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  1. Book 1 of 6
    Night of Knives
  2. Print length
    53 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    September 11, 2014
  6. File size
    1495 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00NJ0Q4WG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tessera Guild Publishing (September 11, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 11, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1495 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 53 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.4 3.4 out of 5 stars 133 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
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  1. John McGuire

    John McGuire

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    His love and collection of comic books began when he was 10, in a convenience store in Waycross, Georgia. It wasn't long afterward when he started writing his first comic-related stories. This passion has continued throughout his adult life as he remains an avid comic book reader and collector.

    In 2002, he was a founding member of Terminus Media. It began as a writer's collective in the back of the Dragon's Horde Comic Book Store in Decatur, GA. Through the next decade, Terminus published anthologies in which John was both an editor and contributor.

    In 2010, John took the storytelling skills that he has learned and applied them to the writing of novels and short stories. He has written three novels, The Dark That Follows (2013), the serialized dark fantasy Hollow Empire (2014), and the science fiction The Echo Effect (2020).

    On the comic book side, he is the creator/writer of the Gilded Age series from Terminus Media as well as the co-writer of The Crossing from 133art with Robert Jeffrey II.

    He writes a weekly blog at www.tesseraguild.com where he talks about writing, movies, comics, and anything else that happens to pop into his head. John currently lives in Suwanee, Georgia with his wife Courtney and three cats: Inigo, Sawyer, and Nox.

    He maintains that he would have been a marine biologist if not for the movie Jaws.

    See more on the author's page
  2. J Edward Neill

    J Edward Neill

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    J Edward Neill is a sci-fi, fantasy, and horror author. He's also the creator of the Coffee Table Philosophy series, spanning fifteen books and 1,000+ party-ready philosophy questions.

    His latest titles:

    Lords of the Black Sands - Immortals living in a post-apocalyptic desert wage war for the supremacy of Earth

    Eaters of the Light - An AI woman journeys far and wide to destroy a hive of otherworldly horrors

    444 Questions for the Universe - The ultimate coffee table book. Contains hundreds of conversation-igniting dilemmas

    J Edward currently lives in the 'burbs of North Georgia. He's a big-time foodie, an artist, and a sipper of too much Balvenie.

    Visit him at http://downthedarkpath.com

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

3.4 out of 5 stars
3.4 out of 5
133 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sandra w.
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2015
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I did not like it--it did not hold my interest so I only read a few chapters.
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eleanor
4.0 out of 5 stars Oh no
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2019
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Oh no ,a cliffhanger. I was disappointed when it ended. A fast read with interesting characters. Where will the story go?
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Robert DeFrank
5.0 out of 5 stars A book that will torture you and make you love it
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2016
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A review of the entire first season.

A book that will torture you and make you love it

A novel originally released in installments, I picked up the first part out of curiosity, having already read something of one of the authors. But by the end of their freebie I’d decided I had to know what happened in the rest.

In a style reminiscent of Greg Keyes’ Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone, the story is told in several characters, each with their own exclusive point of view chapters. The action is fast, and the reader is on tenderhooks throughout as many of the chapter end with an outright cliffhanger or with a surprising revelation, we then get another chapter from another point of view with another ending on the precipice, and so on and so forth. The effect is to make the book nearly impossible to put down.

However, I will say that initial installments can be dizzying. The authors are uncompromising, throwing the reader headfirst into this world and its turmoils in medias res and forcing the hapless reader to seize onto details as the plotline rushes forward, yet the point of view characters undergo intense struggles against everything the world throws at them, and their personal struggles carry the reader along.

Fortunately, I had read something of these authors and was confident that they had the story under control and my continued reading would be rewarded, and it was.

It is only at about the halfway mark that a clear idea is given of the big picture and the stakes. At that point, I made myself go back and re-read several segments to better understand the clues I had missed and I still think a re-read or two is in order to pick up on details I had overlooked the first time due to the breakneck pace.

But on to the story itself.

We are introduced to a plague-devastated empire reminiscent of Russia, where the plague itself has wrought its damage on an individual, societal and even spiritual level. The title is most fitting. The empire is hollow. The cities are decimated, great houses are crumbling and abandoned, villages are deserted, everyone has lost family and friends, people are uprooted and wandering, lawlessness and bandits are everywhere and a fanatical, apocalyptic religious sect has risen to power.

More, a plot is brewing, to be kicked off by the eponymous Night of the Knives, but it is this time that ordinary people fighting for their lives and their loved ones must rise to the occasion and become heroes.

A fugitive woman and her son flee and try to hide, both from pursuer and predator and from a dark past.

A band of soldiers is sent to pacify a region for a local noble and bring the area back into the empire, but the people have no wish to be repatriated and one of these soldiers learns some hard truths about duty.

A pair of special rangers in service to the empire are tasked with finding a fugitive, but what dangerous secrets could this unassuming scholar keep?

A malformed man must hold a hospice together and care for the injured and ill orphans with nowhere else to go.

The characters are the strongest feature. They are people whose adventures you are invested in and whose fates you want to see play out.

But the plague has left another mark: those who have survived are left with a ‘brand’ somewhere on their person, and they manifest strange powers and abilities, from a healing touch, to ability to see in the dark or distinguish truth from lies, or instantly heal from any injury. Most impressive was how this element was introduced organically and felt like part of this world.

A highly recommended work. Read it, and hope for more installments!
One person found this helpful
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J. L. Clayton
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2015
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After a plague hits, only a few towns still stand. But they might cease to exist. In Hollow Empire episode one, you get a peek into the lives of five people. Vadim, Nadya, Cassidy, Murgul and Ranier. I've read author Neill's work before so I expected nothing but amazing writing and unique characters. Needless to say, he delivered yet again. This was the first time I've had a chance to read anything author McGuire has written, but the two authors came together and made a wonderful short. The book is only 53 pages, but you can get the first book for free on Amazon so it's worth trying. If you enjoy it like I did, you can get the rest of the episodes. There are 6 in total.
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Mantis
4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing entrance
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2016
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My possible job in this domain set's upon the edge of contemplation. A door set ajar in the darkness. The screams silent and smothering. Walk upon the end of these world's in the eternal transition.
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Kimberly Alaman
5.0 out of 5 stars This is Interesting & Eager to Know More
Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2018
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Each person’s tale is different, but similar, to the next. The first, speaks of a brut and then brings in nurturing during some points. The veil of the whole points towards the authors intro of many.  I have never read a tale such as this, so I will continue to Episode 2, and continue undoing the facade created before me.
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Clan Makepeace
4.0 out of 5 stars Urban Fantasy set in a Medieval World
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2014
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Hollow Empire is a desolate world, ravaged by plague, but it's characters bring it to life! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
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Graeme Ing
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic sword & sorcery set in a plague-stricken world
Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2015
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Excellent start to a promising series. Very reminiscent of classic sword & sorcery fantasy, especially the descriptions and dialog. Very well written, great world building. I particularly love the use of a plague called the Lichy, that has ravaged the world and shaped the personalities of the survivors.

A lot of characters were introduced in such a short piece, but they are complex and rich, so I hope they all have a bearing on the remainder of the story.
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Top reviews from other countries

Alix
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 28, 2019
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This is a well written book with an interesting plot definitely worth buying
One person found this helpful
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Sean ohara
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 6, 2021
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Very Enjoyable. Faced paced,excellent storyline.Great characters.
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Karen Hurren
5.0 out of 5 stars Great writing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 1, 2018
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A real page turner. A new story each chapter - and every one draws you in and makes you want to read more.
One person found this helpful
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Sue
5.0 out of 5 stars worth reading
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2017
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good story
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C. C. Jolly
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 18, 2016
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Good plot and storyline
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