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The Tyrant Philosophers #2.5
Lives of Bitter Rain
LIVES OF BITTER RAIN is a novella in Adrian Tchaikovsky's award-winning Tyrant Philosopher series. It is a prequel to the third novel in the sequence, DAYS OF SHATTERED FAITH.
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, for 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, she'll learn that the price of her nation's success is paid in compromise and lost chances, that the falling rain will always be bitter.
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, for 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, she'll learn that the price of her nation's success is paid in compromise and lost chances, that the falling rain will always be bitter.
126 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2025
115 people are currently reading
1659 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Tchaikovsky
194 books17.9k followersADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY was born in Lincolnshire and studied zoology and psychology at Reading, before practising law in Leeds. He is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor and is trained in stage-fighting. His literary influences include Gene Wolfe, Mervyn Peake, China Miéville, Mary Gently, Steven Erikson, Naomi Novak, Scott Lynch and Alan Campbell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
October 11, 2025
As usual, I can count on Adrian Tchaikovsky for a well-crafted solid story that brings that particular satisfaction I have when experiencing a work of a confidently competent artist. You see, Tchaikovsky is just really good without having to rely on literary gimmicks or flourishes; his writing is measured and normal and clear; and he knows how to be subtle, avoid condescension and not hit readers over the head with morals or sledgehammery messaging, instead trusting himself to get his point across and trusting readers to reach their own conclusions. He avoids the pitfalls of binary view of the world as good or bad, right or wrong, instead embracing complexity. And he does all that while writing at a speed that has quite a few of his readers suspect that he must have cloned himself somehow, or teamed up with a conglomerate of his alternate selves from parallel dimensions.
(Can you tell I’m a huge fangirl?)
Lives of Bitter Rain is the newest entry into his excellent Tyrant Philosophers series, but unlike the previous three long novels, this is a bite-sized novella that shines the light on Sage-Invigilator Angilly, one of the central characters of Days of Shattered Faith. It is set in the same world, the place where the expansionist Pallesand empire built on rationality and “perfection” asserts its global dominance by taking over other countries under the guise of liberation, an interesting exploration of colonialism where, as I mentioned before, subtlety prevails over simplistic messaging other less skilled authors could have gone with.
Angilly is a diplomat whose job is infiltration of future potential colonies and slow preparation of fertile ground for eventual bloody or relatively bloodless takeover. In a series of short vignettes we watch her climb the ranks from an orphaned child to a naive officer to a skilled weary diplomatic veteran, seeing the flaws of the Palleseen Empire while still working for its benefit as the wheels of history grind over “small people”, reshaping them and often crushing them (Tchaikovsky notes in the Author’s Note that “The series, after all, is about small people being caught in the wheels of history”), setting the events of Shattered Faith in motion.
This is certainly not a standalone read, and despite chronologically preceding the events of Days of Shattered Faith it should be read after that book for the events described in the brief vignettes about the life of Angilly to have emotional resonance and impact. You don’t have to read the first two books in the series as they can be standalones (although you should anyway because they are excellent) but book 3 is a must for this novella, and it works best as a companion piece. It’s a writing exercise on character development, a peek behind the writing scenes that Tchaikovsky turned into a novella, and I’m very happy that he did so.
4.5 stars, shamelessly rounding up.
——————
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA | Head of Zeus for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
(Can you tell I’m a huge fangirl?)
Lives of Bitter Rain is the newest entry into his excellent Tyrant Philosophers series, but unlike the previous three long novels, this is a bite-sized novella that shines the light on Sage-Invigilator Angilly, one of the central characters of Days of Shattered Faith. It is set in the same world, the place where the expansionist Pallesand empire built on rationality and “perfection” asserts its global dominance by taking over other countries under the guise of liberation, an interesting exploration of colonialism where, as I mentioned before, subtlety prevails over simplistic messaging other less skilled authors could have gone with.
Angilly is a diplomat whose job is infiltration of future potential colonies and slow preparation of fertile ground for eventual bloody or relatively bloodless takeover. In a series of short vignettes we watch her climb the ranks from an orphaned child to a naive officer to a skilled weary diplomatic veteran, seeing the flaws of the Palleseen Empire while still working for its benefit as the wheels of history grind over “small people”, reshaping them and often crushing them (Tchaikovsky notes in the Author’s Note that “The series, after all, is about small people being caught in the wheels of history”), setting the events of Shattered Faith in motion.
“The Diplomatic Office. The ‘Rain Life’, it’s been called. By a poet since excised from the canon, but the label remains. Because we are what passes over a nation before the storm comes, putting out fires.”
This is certainly not a standalone read, and despite chronologically preceding the events of Days of Shattered Faith it should be read after that book for the events described in the brief vignettes about the life of Angilly to have emotional resonance and impact. You don’t have to read the first two books in the series as they can be standalones (although you should anyway because they are excellent) but book 3 is a must for this novella, and it works best as a companion piece. It’s a writing exercise on character development, a peek behind the writing scenes that Tchaikovsky turned into a novella, and I’m very happy that he did so.
4.5 stars, shamelessly rounding up.
——————
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA | Head of Zeus for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
November 6, 2025
I'm conflicted about LIVES. On the one hand, I'm a huge fan of the Tyrant Philosophers series; it is as beautifully written as the previous books in this series; it deals with the same deep themes and explorations of colonization, imperialism, 'going native', cultural erasure, and boots on the ground resistance that the other books do. On the other hand, I'm not sure *why* it was written.
When I read DAYS OF SHATTERED FAITH, then heard about LIVES coming out, I was curious as to why Gil needed her own novella prequel. I thought the character was pretty complete and fleshed out and her life before coming to Usmai was hinted at enough to give a feel of what kind of life she led prior. What LIVES does instead is make all of that explicit while also throwing in some cameos from the first two books like 'hey, do you remember these guys?'.
So, I enjoyed the heck out of this book, as I do with most things Tchaikovsky produces that I have read, especially within the Tyrant Philosophers. I was, however, confused about what purpose this book served to illuminate things that weren't already clear. I think if I had read this before reading DAYS, I might have had a different experience, as I would have no knowledge of where the story was *going*, but reading it after just left me underwhelmed compared with the rest of this brilliant series.
Still, absolutely worth reading.
When I read DAYS OF SHATTERED FAITH, then heard about LIVES coming out, I was curious as to why Gil needed her own novella prequel. I thought the character was pretty complete and fleshed out and her life before coming to Usmai was hinted at enough to give a feel of what kind of life she led prior. What LIVES does instead is make all of that explicit while also throwing in some cameos from the first two books like 'hey, do you remember these guys?'.
So, I enjoyed the heck out of this book, as I do with most things Tchaikovsky produces that I have read, especially within the Tyrant Philosophers. I was, however, confused about what purpose this book served to illuminate things that weren't already clear. I think if I had read this before reading DAYS, I might have had a different experience, as I would have no knowledge of where the story was *going*, but reading it after just left me underwhelmed compared with the rest of this brilliant series.
Still, absolutely worth reading.
January 31, 2026
(2026 Re-read)
I re-read this to get myself back into the world of the Tyrant Philosophers in anticipation of the fourth novel coming out soon. I listened to the audiobook this time around, having read the ebook previously. I basically agree with my previous review, but I actually found I enjoyed it more this time. Knowing, going in, that this was a story with a thematic thrust instead of a narrative one, a story of how we become who we are in the world, how we play the hand dealt us, added to my enjoyment. I do love the intricate and tricksy plots that Tchaikovsky can weave across his stories, but when he forgoes that here to focus on this single character’s emotional journey it shows off that he has more than one bag of tricks.
Also, to be frank, the incredible political critique wrapped up in satire and urban fantasy that AT offers in this whole series feel really relevant, at the moment. Authoritarian regimes feel like an unstoppable force, and yet they are never as stable as they seem. Angilly was born into one such regime, and believes/believed in it without question, and instead of portraying her as a villain we learn about her humanity, and as she grows and develops her relationship with the regime does as well. This series doesn’t pretend that authoritarian regimes, wealthy people in power who simply want more power, don’t cause significant pain and destruction, but he also doesn’t pretend they are indestructible, nor are they inevitable.
***
(Original 2025 review)
A character portrait in a world obsessed with Perfection, this novella is an intimate exploration into one character in the epic Tyrant Philosophers world. As usual Tchaikovsky’s writing is wonderful, it is descriptive and flows well, while managing to be full of a snarky wit at the same time. A lot of the humor in this series comes from the way the characters struggle with hypocrisy, and what it means to stand for something when that something is clearly a house of cards. This is certainly the case with Angilly, the wearied but creative and endearing heart of the third novel, Days of Shattered Faith. This novella starts with the loss of her parents as a child and continues to just before the start of the third book, but with frequent time jumps as she moves through her life and career. It captures her heartbreak and resolve beautifully, and gives the reader a lot more insight into just how complicated of a character she is.
With that said, there is not a whole lot of plot in this novella. We get little vignettes, scenes of Angilly through the ages, thought most of her time is spent in Usmai, where we meet her in book three. It is delightful to see her meet the other characters in that novel for the first time and to stare at Usmai with fresh eyes, (as well as cross paths with some other known characters along the way). It is also exciting to see some of the moments that were pivotal in her early life to create her façade, the shell she hides that in effect lets her succeed at her job. So, I loved this book, but it really is a collection of vignettes, without any strong narrative throughline, without any significant plot other than mapping out some of Angilly’s more treacherous internal terrains. This is in strong distinction to the full-length novels in the series, which balance deep character work with strong narrative propulsion. I didn’t expect this to be plot-focused so I wasn’t disappointed, but it is useful to know going in that although the writing style and concern for character is the same, and the expansive and beautiful world-building is the same, this story lacks some of the momentum of the other books in the series. It is more of a look behind the curtain, and I really enjoyed the experience.
If you’re not already invested in the series this may not be for you, given that its pace, focus, and lack of plot. However, even in this brief novella Tchaikovsky has managed to provide enough world-building and history that a new reader will not be confused, will understand the world and have a strong taste of the possibilities in this world. It is very inviting and embracing in that way, and the strong writing and perpetual commitment to character only enhances that. Tchaikovsky is always interested in exploring why people become who they are, and how difficult circumstances shape them, and this character study does that brilliantly and is a wonderful addition to the world of the Tyrant Philosophers.
(Rounded from 3.5)
I want to thank the author, the publisher Bloomsbury USA | Head of Zeus, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I re-read this to get myself back into the world of the Tyrant Philosophers in anticipation of the fourth novel coming out soon. I listened to the audiobook this time around, having read the ebook previously. I basically agree with my previous review, but I actually found I enjoyed it more this time. Knowing, going in, that this was a story with a thematic thrust instead of a narrative one, a story of how we become who we are in the world, how we play the hand dealt us, added to my enjoyment. I do love the intricate and tricksy plots that Tchaikovsky can weave across his stories, but when he forgoes that here to focus on this single character’s emotional journey it shows off that he has more than one bag of tricks.
Also, to be frank, the incredible political critique wrapped up in satire and urban fantasy that AT offers in this whole series feel really relevant, at the moment. Authoritarian regimes feel like an unstoppable force, and yet they are never as stable as they seem. Angilly was born into one such regime, and believes/believed in it without question, and instead of portraying her as a villain we learn about her humanity, and as she grows and develops her relationship with the regime does as well. This series doesn’t pretend that authoritarian regimes, wealthy people in power who simply want more power, don’t cause significant pain and destruction, but he also doesn’t pretend they are indestructible, nor are they inevitable.
***
(Original 2025 review)
A character portrait in a world obsessed with Perfection, this novella is an intimate exploration into one character in the epic Tyrant Philosophers world. As usual Tchaikovsky’s writing is wonderful, it is descriptive and flows well, while managing to be full of a snarky wit at the same time. A lot of the humor in this series comes from the way the characters struggle with hypocrisy, and what it means to stand for something when that something is clearly a house of cards. This is certainly the case with Angilly, the wearied but creative and endearing heart of the third novel, Days of Shattered Faith. This novella starts with the loss of her parents as a child and continues to just before the start of the third book, but with frequent time jumps as she moves through her life and career. It captures her heartbreak and resolve beautifully, and gives the reader a lot more insight into just how complicated of a character she is.
With that said, there is not a whole lot of plot in this novella. We get little vignettes, scenes of Angilly through the ages, thought most of her time is spent in Usmai, where we meet her in book three. It is delightful to see her meet the other characters in that novel for the first time and to stare at Usmai with fresh eyes, (as well as cross paths with some other known characters along the way). It is also exciting to see some of the moments that were pivotal in her early life to create her façade, the shell she hides that in effect lets her succeed at her job. So, I loved this book, but it really is a collection of vignettes, without any strong narrative throughline, without any significant plot other than mapping out some of Angilly’s more treacherous internal terrains. This is in strong distinction to the full-length novels in the series, which balance deep character work with strong narrative propulsion. I didn’t expect this to be plot-focused so I wasn’t disappointed, but it is useful to know going in that although the writing style and concern for character is the same, and the expansive and beautiful world-building is the same, this story lacks some of the momentum of the other books in the series. It is more of a look behind the curtain, and I really enjoyed the experience.
If you’re not already invested in the series this may not be for you, given that its pace, focus, and lack of plot. However, even in this brief novella Tchaikovsky has managed to provide enough world-building and history that a new reader will not be confused, will understand the world and have a strong taste of the possibilities in this world. It is very inviting and embracing in that way, and the strong writing and perpetual commitment to character only enhances that. Tchaikovsky is always interested in exploring why people become who they are, and how difficult circumstances shape them, and this character study does that brilliantly and is a wonderful addition to the world of the Tyrant Philosophers.
(Rounded from 3.5)
I want to thank the author, the publisher Bloomsbury USA | Head of Zeus, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 3, 2025
3.5⭐️
“Lives of bitter rain” is a novella set in the world of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s “Tyrant Philosophers” series. It is a prequel to the third volume in this series and tells the story of Angilly starting when she was 12 years old.
This novella is a deep dive into one of Tchaikovsky’s characters that shows the reader how she was shaped. It cannot be read as a standalone and I would say it is not crucial to the whole story. However, it reads a bit like a collection of short stories with its center point focused on one particular character. The reader can see how she developed, what her beginnings looked like and why she appreciates certain values over others.
This is a perfect book for all “Tyrant Philosopher’s” fans that were always eager to know more. As Tchaikovsky tends to introduce more and more characters when his series progresses, it is nice to take a small stop and get to know the history of one of them. However, don’t be surprised, there are a lot of other characters in this one as well, but the majority of them were already introduced and this time we get to know how Angilly’s relations with them developed.
Overall, I find the book a nice addition to the series, which I’m planning on continuing.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
“Lives of bitter rain” is a novella set in the world of Adrian Tchaikovsky’s “Tyrant Philosophers” series. It is a prequel to the third volume in this series and tells the story of Angilly starting when she was 12 years old.
This novella is a deep dive into one of Tchaikovsky’s characters that shows the reader how she was shaped. It cannot be read as a standalone and I would say it is not crucial to the whole story. However, it reads a bit like a collection of short stories with its center point focused on one particular character. The reader can see how she developed, what her beginnings looked like and why she appreciates certain values over others.
This is a perfect book for all “Tyrant Philosopher’s” fans that were always eager to know more. As Tchaikovsky tends to introduce more and more characters when his series progresses, it is nice to take a small stop and get to know the history of one of them. However, don’t be surprised, there are a lot of other characters in this one as well, but the majority of them were already introduced and this time we get to know how Angilly’s relations with them developed.
Overall, I find the book a nice addition to the series, which I’m planning on continuing.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 14, 2025
I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher.
CHARACTERS
🔲 mary-sue party
🔲 mostly 2D
🔲 great main cast, forgettable side characters
🔲 well-written
🔲 complex and fascinating
✅ hard to believe they are fictional
PLOT
🔲 you've already heard this exact story a thousand times
🔲 nothing memorable
🔲 gripping
✅ exceptional
🔲 mind=blown
WORLDBUILDING
🔲 takes place in our world
🔲 incoherent
🔲 OK
🔲 nicely detailed
🔲 meticulous
✅ even the last tree in the forest has its own story
ATMOSPHERE
🔲 nonexistent
🔲 fine
🔲 immersive
✅ you forget you are reading a book
PACING
🔲 dragging
🔲 inconsistent
🔲 picks up with time
✅ page-turner
🔲 impossible to put down
All the best parts from the other novels in this series without the pacing issues.
CHARACTERS
🔲 mary-sue party
🔲 mostly 2D
🔲 great main cast, forgettable side characters
🔲 well-written
🔲 complex and fascinating
✅ hard to believe they are fictional
PLOT
🔲 you've already heard this exact story a thousand times
🔲 nothing memorable
🔲 gripping
✅ exceptional
🔲 mind=blown
WORLDBUILDING
🔲 takes place in our world
🔲 incoherent
🔲 OK
🔲 nicely detailed
🔲 meticulous
✅ even the last tree in the forest has its own story
ATMOSPHERE
🔲 nonexistent
🔲 fine
🔲 immersive
✅ you forget you are reading a book
PACING
🔲 dragging
🔲 inconsistent
🔲 picks up with time
✅ page-turner
🔲 impossible to put down
All the best parts from the other novels in this series without the pacing issues.
July 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for the E-arc!
This is my first ever Tchaikovsky and oh boy did it hit just right. After reading a few works that were not for me, this absolutely was.
We follow one Angilly, a young orphan in the Palleseen Empire. In a world of gods and magic, they are basically fantasy 1984 with a bit of the Culture mixed in for good measure.
Angilly experiences a lot as she climbs the ranks of the Empire, including surprise success, setbacks, heartbreak, and tragedy. The story moves at a brisk pace but covers a lot of ground- it’s hard to believe this is only 144 pages.
The magic, politics, and people of this world feel entirely fleshed out and real. Everyone, even the most stringent of believers, come with human flaws and don’t always make decisions based on the ideology their culture imposes on them.
It appears this series deals with the industrialization of magic. And while many authors would take this down a hard magic route, Tchaikovsky goes for a soft magic that absolutely works in the context of the story.
I basically read this straight through, that’s how good it was. I was worried I would not understand a lot due to it being part of a series, but I found I was not lost at all and was able to follow the plot and understand the world with ease.
I’d like to call attention to Tchaikovsky’s prose as well. It’s very good and descriptive, and he knows when to use a shorter sentence to make a point rather than just blathering on all the time.
I’m now going to dive in to the three Tyrant Philosophers books already out, and I have feeling I will be very, very excited for books 4 and 5. If you like high magic and flawed, relatable characters, this is for you.
This is my first ever Tchaikovsky and oh boy did it hit just right. After reading a few works that were not for me, this absolutely was.
We follow one Angilly, a young orphan in the Palleseen Empire. In a world of gods and magic, they are basically fantasy 1984 with a bit of the Culture mixed in for good measure.
Angilly experiences a lot as she climbs the ranks of the Empire, including surprise success, setbacks, heartbreak, and tragedy. The story moves at a brisk pace but covers a lot of ground- it’s hard to believe this is only 144 pages.
The magic, politics, and people of this world feel entirely fleshed out and real. Everyone, even the most stringent of believers, come with human flaws and don’t always make decisions based on the ideology their culture imposes on them.
It appears this series deals with the industrialization of magic. And while many authors would take this down a hard magic route, Tchaikovsky goes for a soft magic that absolutely works in the context of the story.
I basically read this straight through, that’s how good it was. I was worried I would not understand a lot due to it being part of a series, but I found I was not lost at all and was able to follow the plot and understand the world with ease.
I’d like to call attention to Tchaikovsky’s prose as well. It’s very good and descriptive, and he knows when to use a shorter sentence to make a point rather than just blathering on all the time.
I’m now going to dive in to the three Tyrant Philosophers books already out, and I have feeling I will be very, very excited for books 4 and 5. If you like high magic and flawed, relatable characters, this is for you.
December 1, 2025
I love this world so much, it felt like putting on a comfortable old coat stepping into the world of the Pal. It follows the live of Angilly as she prepares to take up her role in the first book. So many wonderful scenes, and darkly funny moments. I am so glad that he's fleshing out this world. It feels like he enjoyed writing this world more than anyhting else.
July 27, 2025
A clever, impactful little expansion pack of a novella for Tchaikovsky's earlier Days of Shattered Faith. Lives might not be that compelling as a purely standalone tale, but it fits into and fills out its sibling work so well that you hope they'll be printed together in the next edition.
Where Days was a sprawling, ambitious work split over a huge cast of new and old characters, Lives is a short and singularly focused work, its sole mission being to flesh out the closest thing that book had to a single protagonist, the one-time Palleseen ambassador to Usmai, Sage-Invigilator Angilly. This is entirely the right move to my mind — as a sympathetic Pal who embodies imperialism's ambivalence about its own conquests, Angilly was already one of The Tyrant Philosophers' most compelling creations, but Days could never quite decide whether to focus on her, various returning heroes from the last two books, or fun facts about the East India Company, and mostly just split the difference. Angilly's doomed (d)alliance with the Usmai prince Dekamran was written as though it was the beating heart of the story, but its pathos was fizzled by nostalgic asides for previous books.
Lives, by comparison, has no trouble committing. There are a few background crossovers with the other Tyrants stories, but the novella really exists to explain how someone as urbane and liberally-minded as Angilly could also be the loyal product of an authoritarian state like the Palleseen Sway. In so doing, it loops back nearly into one of Days' most interesting themes: the Pals might be trying to remake the outside world in their image, but they are being hybridised just as much as their new subjects. Angilly being literally reshaped by her narrow escape from a rebellion and learning to flout Pal rules through her work in Outreach are obvious examples, but new characters like the half-Allorwen Ballanders and a particularly memorable (and gruesomely corrupt) quartermaster in Jarokir drive the point home, and I really hope it's one Tchaikovsky continues to push at.
There's plenty more to enjoy about the novella, from the seamless way it gathers in some of Days' loose threads to its literally on-point meet-cute between Angilly and Dekamran, but the real value of the book is this: nearly a year after finding out how Angilly's story ends, I finally felt the catharsis that was intended for her. I honestly don't know how I feel about authors patching their books like live-service video games, but if that's what it takes to make Days hurt the way it was clearly meant to, I'll let Tchaikovsky bend the rules just this once.
Where Days was a sprawling, ambitious work split over a huge cast of new and old characters, Lives is a short and singularly focused work, its sole mission being to flesh out the closest thing that book had to a single protagonist, the one-time Palleseen ambassador to Usmai, Sage-Invigilator Angilly. This is entirely the right move to my mind — as a sympathetic Pal who embodies imperialism's ambivalence about its own conquests, Angilly was already one of The Tyrant Philosophers' most compelling creations, but Days could never quite decide whether to focus on her, various returning heroes from the last two books, or fun facts about the East India Company, and mostly just split the difference. Angilly's doomed (d)alliance with the Usmai prince Dekamran was written as though it was the beating heart of the story, but its pathos was fizzled by nostalgic asides for previous books.
Lives, by comparison, has no trouble committing. There are a few background crossovers with the other Tyrants stories, but the novella really exists to explain how someone as urbane and liberally-minded as Angilly could also be the loyal product of an authoritarian state like the Palleseen Sway. In so doing, it loops back nearly into one of Days' most interesting themes: the Pals might be trying to remake the outside world in their image, but they are being hybridised just as much as their new subjects. Angilly being literally reshaped by her narrow escape from a rebellion and learning to flout Pal rules through her work in Outreach are obvious examples, but new characters like the half-Allorwen Ballanders and a particularly memorable (and gruesomely corrupt) quartermaster in Jarokir drive the point home, and I really hope it's one Tchaikovsky continues to push at.
There's plenty more to enjoy about the novella, from the seamless way it gathers in some of Days' loose threads to its literally on-point meet-cute between Angilly and Dekamran, but the real value of the book is this: nearly a year after finding out how Angilly's story ends, I finally felt the catharsis that was intended for her. I honestly don't know how I feel about authors patching their books like live-service video games, but if that's what it takes to make Days hurt the way it was clearly meant to, I'll let Tchaikovsky bend the rules just this once.
October 28, 2025
I love this world so much, but this fun little novella can really only be enjoyed (IMHO) if you have already read all three novels. It tells the life story of the main character of Book #3, Angilly, and what led her to where readers find her at the beginning of Book #3.
It shares all of the strengths of the three core Tyrant Philosopher novels, but as it is less approachable/standalone, I give it 4 Stars.
Tyrant Philosophers is Tchaikovsky's best work, even if it is not his best-selling. Highly recommended for fans of complex Fantasy!
It shares all of the strengths of the three core Tyrant Philosopher novels, but as it is less approachable/standalone, I give it 4 Stars.
Tyrant Philosophers is Tchaikovsky's best work, even if it is not his best-selling. Highly recommended for fans of complex Fantasy!
December 5, 2025
Boring prequels are boring.
November 11, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
Lives of Bitter Rain is a novella in the epic fantasy series The Tyrant Philosophers, written by Adrian Tchaikovsk and published by Head of Zeus. A novella that is set chronologically before Days of Shattered Faith (third novel in the saga), developing more about Sage Invigilator Angilly and her past, how she became the character she is, and more widely asking about when a character starts existing; a character-centrical novella in contraposition with the choral plays that are the bigger novels of the saga.
A novella that starts by showing us the loss of her parents while being stationed on Jarrokir, during their mission for the Pel Empire; a situation that it's used to kickstart a series of scenes following Angilly's life, moving through her life and career, showing how the Pel machinery starts the conquest of other lands in order to spread the perfection. An ambitious task where each one of the citizens is expected to play as a small piece of the big machinery.
What we have here is part character studio, showing how that resolved girl is molded by the Pel machinery, how she slowly absorbs the new world and how she learns to accept that many things just can't be changed, but also we can see Pel's conquest of a territory in its earlier stages, showing how it becomes about power and survival, subverting the own nature of the territory and its inhabitants.
Lives of Bitter Rain is chronologically a prequel to Days of Shattered Faith, but I personally recommend reading it after the novel, as not only fleshes out a central character to it, but also enriches our vision about Usmal with a fresh pair of eyes.
If you like character-focused novellas, this might be a good point of entry into The Tyrant Philosophers series; for the long-time fans of the saga, we get a bite-sized piece that continues developing an already rich world.
Lives of Bitter Rain is a novella in the epic fantasy series The Tyrant Philosophers, written by Adrian Tchaikovsk and published by Head of Zeus. A novella that is set chronologically before Days of Shattered Faith (third novel in the saga), developing more about Sage Invigilator Angilly and her past, how she became the character she is, and more widely asking about when a character starts existing; a character-centrical novella in contraposition with the choral plays that are the bigger novels of the saga.
A novella that starts by showing us the loss of her parents while being stationed on Jarrokir, during their mission for the Pel Empire; a situation that it's used to kickstart a series of scenes following Angilly's life, moving through her life and career, showing how the Pel machinery starts the conquest of other lands in order to spread the perfection. An ambitious task where each one of the citizens is expected to play as a small piece of the big machinery.
What we have here is part character studio, showing how that resolved girl is molded by the Pel machinery, how she slowly absorbs the new world and how she learns to accept that many things just can't be changed, but also we can see Pel's conquest of a territory in its earlier stages, showing how it becomes about power and survival, subverting the own nature of the territory and its inhabitants.
Lives of Bitter Rain is chronologically a prequel to Days of Shattered Faith, but I personally recommend reading it after the novel, as not only fleshes out a central character to it, but also enriches our vision about Usmal with a fresh pair of eyes.
If you like character-focused novellas, this might be a good point of entry into The Tyrant Philosophers series; for the long-time fans of the saga, we get a bite-sized piece that continues developing an already rich world.
September 1, 2025
Read this review and more on my Medium page: Distorted Visions
Score: 4/5
Since this is an ARC, the review aims to be as Spoiler-free as possible.
The War for Perfection rages on in the literary grimdark Tyrant Philosophers series by Adrian Tchaikovsky. The companion novella, Lives of Bitter Rain, describes the events leading to Days of Shattered Faith.
This novella sits between House of Open Wounds and Days of Shattered Faith. Tchaikovsky weaves a tale to flesh out the protagonist of Days of Shattered Faith, the Palleseen Resident Sage Invigilator Angilly “Gil”. Lives of Bitter Rain highlights key events in the form of quick mini-stories that tie together to give us the veteran mastermind, Angilly, that we see in the full-length novel.
One of the key features of the Tyrant Philosophers series has been that the novels follow an episodic format, with individual stories expanding the overarching narrative. The “hegemony of perfection”, the Palleseen Empire endeavors to spread its reach into neighboring nations, erasing their cultures, traditions, deities, and magicks to “perfect” them. Each of the mainline entries have told separate, but interlinked (with Easter egg connections to the keen reader) stories of Pal colonialism.
In my review for Days of Shattered Faith, I did note the jarring leap of characters and settings, markedly different from City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds, with seemingly little overlap. This companion novella, Lives of Bitter Rain is the perfect response to my (and many other readers’) misgivings. It serves as a bridge to flesh out background events leading to the Pal invasion of the indomitable Usmiat people and the intercession of Angilly into the succession crisis.
Sage Invigilator Angily is part of Outreach, the cultural infiltrator division, part of the elite corps that move into the nation and embed themselves into the cultures, subtly weakening it from within, paving the way of the impending armed invasion, thereby bringing the fallen nation under the Palleseen Sway. Perfectly described in Tchaikovsky’s trademark poignant prose as “Outreach is the gentle rain that softens the ground before the storm”. In this regard, Outreach had similarities, albeit becoming the dark counterpart to Special Circumstances (from Iain M. Banks’ Culture series).
In particular, Lives of Bitter Rain is a character study of Angilly. Forcibly taken into the Sway after yet another “perfecting”, the young Angilly is forced to give up her old ways and is broken into the cult of perfection via her education and childhood experiences. She grows from a fastidious stickler for perfect protocol, the paragon of Pal culture, into a wily, wry, cunning antihero, perfect qualities to be poached by the mysterious “black ops” Outreach division.
This short novella goes a long way to give the readers a far deeper understanding of Angilly’s conflicted motivations, moving far and away from being the model Pal officer, as she is the near-perfect example of balancing the caution of “going native” that plagues many infiltrators. Lives of Bitter Rain also sets up her journey into the Usmiat nation, setting up the precursor events to the succession crisis that would reach its explosive conclusion in Days of Shattered Faith, expertly introducing side characters like her rival Loruthi Infiltrator, Tarcomir, and the “more words than swords” meek “spare” Dekamran, each of which play pivotal roles in the sequel novel.
Tchaikovsky, permanently in my “will read anything with his name” list, continues to wow us with his deft prose, nuanced character sketches, and rewarding progression. In his author’s notes at the end of Lives of Bitter Rain, he states that this novella can be read before or after Days of Shattered Faith, and each will give a different spin to the sequence of events. To craft a character who does not always rely on blades, but statecraft to achieve her ends is not often seen in dark fantasy and grimdark spaces, and Angilly is quickly shooting up in my list of favorite grimdark protagonists. I really wish we see more of her in future Tyrant Philosophers novels.
Lives of Bitter Rain is a must-read novella for anyone who is a fan of the Tyrant Philosophers series. A novella that stands on its own, yet goes a long way to flesh out characters as a companion work, Lives of Bitter Rain is “perfect”ly placed. You know you’re into something great if you wish a novella was stretched out into a full-length novel.
Only a few short months till I can sink my teeth into the next mainline entry, Pretenders to the Throne of God. Till then, let us worship at the altar of grimdark perfection!
Advanced Review Copy provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley.
Score: 4/5
Since this is an ARC, the review aims to be as Spoiler-free as possible.
The War for Perfection rages on in the literary grimdark Tyrant Philosophers series by Adrian Tchaikovsky. The companion novella, Lives of Bitter Rain, describes the events leading to Days of Shattered Faith.
This novella sits between House of Open Wounds and Days of Shattered Faith. Tchaikovsky weaves a tale to flesh out the protagonist of Days of Shattered Faith, the Palleseen Resident Sage Invigilator Angilly “Gil”. Lives of Bitter Rain highlights key events in the form of quick mini-stories that tie together to give us the veteran mastermind, Angilly, that we see in the full-length novel.
One of the key features of the Tyrant Philosophers series has been that the novels follow an episodic format, with individual stories expanding the overarching narrative. The “hegemony of perfection”, the Palleseen Empire endeavors to spread its reach into neighboring nations, erasing their cultures, traditions, deities, and magicks to “perfect” them. Each of the mainline entries have told separate, but interlinked (with Easter egg connections to the keen reader) stories of Pal colonialism.
In my review for Days of Shattered Faith, I did note the jarring leap of characters and settings, markedly different from City of Last Chances and House of Open Wounds, with seemingly little overlap. This companion novella, Lives of Bitter Rain is the perfect response to my (and many other readers’) misgivings. It serves as a bridge to flesh out background events leading to the Pal invasion of the indomitable Usmiat people and the intercession of Angilly into the succession crisis.
Sage Invigilator Angily is part of Outreach, the cultural infiltrator division, part of the elite corps that move into the nation and embed themselves into the cultures, subtly weakening it from within, paving the way of the impending armed invasion, thereby bringing the fallen nation under the Palleseen Sway. Perfectly described in Tchaikovsky’s trademark poignant prose as “Outreach is the gentle rain that softens the ground before the storm”. In this regard, Outreach had similarities, albeit becoming the dark counterpart to Special Circumstances (from Iain M. Banks’ Culture series).
In particular, Lives of Bitter Rain is a character study of Angilly. Forcibly taken into the Sway after yet another “perfecting”, the young Angilly is forced to give up her old ways and is broken into the cult of perfection via her education and childhood experiences. She grows from a fastidious stickler for perfect protocol, the paragon of Pal culture, into a wily, wry, cunning antihero, perfect qualities to be poached by the mysterious “black ops” Outreach division.
This short novella goes a long way to give the readers a far deeper understanding of Angilly’s conflicted motivations, moving far and away from being the model Pal officer, as she is the near-perfect example of balancing the caution of “going native” that plagues many infiltrators. Lives of Bitter Rain also sets up her journey into the Usmiat nation, setting up the precursor events to the succession crisis that would reach its explosive conclusion in Days of Shattered Faith, expertly introducing side characters like her rival Loruthi Infiltrator, Tarcomir, and the “more words than swords” meek “spare” Dekamran, each of which play pivotal roles in the sequel novel.
Tchaikovsky, permanently in my “will read anything with his name” list, continues to wow us with his deft prose, nuanced character sketches, and rewarding progression. In his author’s notes at the end of Lives of Bitter Rain, he states that this novella can be read before or after Days of Shattered Faith, and each will give a different spin to the sequence of events. To craft a character who does not always rely on blades, but statecraft to achieve her ends is not often seen in dark fantasy and grimdark spaces, and Angilly is quickly shooting up in my list of favorite grimdark protagonists. I really wish we see more of her in future Tyrant Philosophers novels.
Lives of Bitter Rain is a must-read novella for anyone who is a fan of the Tyrant Philosophers series. A novella that stands on its own, yet goes a long way to flesh out characters as a companion work, Lives of Bitter Rain is “perfect”ly placed. You know you’re into something great if you wish a novella was stretched out into a full-length novel.
Only a few short months till I can sink my teeth into the next mainline entry, Pretenders to the Throne of God. Till then, let us worship at the altar of grimdark perfection!
Advanced Review Copy provided in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley.
January 13, 2026
3.5
I have always been a fan of Tchaikovsky's writing and this novella is no exception. It is well written and gives an insight into a character which we will hear more about in the next book.
I have to say that at times I struggled with the jumping from place to place which this novella does. I understand that this is kind of the point as it gives a deeper understanding into the main character throughout her life. However, at times it left be wanting more of each of these places.
Nevertheless, it was great to see a character grow within this world where we know that events from the other books are either happening, have happened or are going to happen in the future.
Overall, a lovely edition to the series and I can't wait to read the next book.
Thank you to Adrian Tchaikovsky.
I have always been a fan of Tchaikovsky's writing and this novella is no exception. It is well written and gives an insight into a character which we will hear more about in the next book.
I have to say that at times I struggled with the jumping from place to place which this novella does. I understand that this is kind of the point as it gives a deeper understanding into the main character throughout her life. However, at times it left be wanting more of each of these places.
Nevertheless, it was great to see a character grow within this world where we know that events from the other books are either happening, have happened or are going to happen in the future.
Overall, a lovely edition to the series and I can't wait to read the next book.
Thank you to Adrian Tchaikovsky.
October 6, 2025
Lives of Bitter Rain by Adrian Tchaikovsky is a novella (sitting at 144 pages) from the Tyrant Phillosophers series, delivering a well-balanced and compelling story centred on the fascinating character Angilly, from the Days of Shattered Faith. The novella follows Angilly’s journey from her beginnings right up to the events leading into the previous novel.
Tchaikovsky maintains a steady, engaging pace while drawing us deeper into Angilly’s backstory. I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to Pretenders to the Throne of God, due out next year.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Tchaikovsky maintains a steady, engaging pace while drawing us deeper into Angilly’s backstory. I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to Pretenders to the Throne of God, due out next year.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
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October 30, 2025And who doesn't have a tragedy in their life, a grief, a loss? Only those so blessed can be unmoved at the cry.
October 21, 2025
A novella you can read before or after Days of Shattered Faith but you follow here how a world shapes a character in a really interesting way. Highly recommend
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
August 28, 2025
Lives of Bitter Rain follows Angilly from her early childhood (as the daughter of soldiers in an occupying force, the Palleseen Sway, who position themselves as bringing ‘correctness’ and ‘perfection’ to the societies they occupy) to her adulthood as a member of the diplomatic branch of this same force (that branch that goes into societies before the soldiers do, attempting to destabilize local power structures and make strategic allies). Angilly is a well developed character and, as always with this series, the world-building and political intrigue are thoughtful and compelling. I read this one in an afternoon, and really enjoyed it.
Tchaikovsky shares that this novella emerged out of an activity he’d set himself: to write some vignettes about the character Angilly’s backstory. It does read a bit like vignettes – short sections stitched together into a larger whole, scenes in a life with years-long gaps in between – but it works here.
Note: This novellas is a part of the Tyrant Philosophers series, and is listed as installment 2.5. In the author’s note Tchaikovsky writes that one can read this novella before Days of Shattered Faith (book 3, for which this novella is a prequel), after Days of Shattered Faith, or as a standalone. I chose to read it before Days, but after having read the first two installments in the series. I do agree with him that this could definitely work as a standalone, but there would be a lot of world-building context that would be missed out on.
The Tyrant Philosophers is a series Tchaikovsky, in his author’s note here, describes as being about “small people being caught in the wheels of history.” It is an excellent series and I definitely recommend it, but would suggest starting at the beginning rather than here. That said, all the books do read fairly differently – if the first doesn’t appeal but this one does, I’d say go for it.
Thank you to Bloomsbury / Head of Zeus, the author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to review.
Content warnings: religious discrimination, colonization, fire/fire injury, death of a parent, grief, murder, mentions of sexism (not a major plot point or societal feature, just mentioned in passing)
Tchaikovsky shares that this novella emerged out of an activity he’d set himself: to write some vignettes about the character Angilly’s backstory. It does read a bit like vignettes – short sections stitched together into a larger whole, scenes in a life with years-long gaps in between – but it works here.
Note: This novellas is a part of the Tyrant Philosophers series, and is listed as installment 2.5. In the author’s note Tchaikovsky writes that one can read this novella before Days of Shattered Faith (book 3, for which this novella is a prequel), after Days of Shattered Faith, or as a standalone. I chose to read it before Days, but after having read the first two installments in the series. I do agree with him that this could definitely work as a standalone, but there would be a lot of world-building context that would be missed out on.
The Tyrant Philosophers is a series Tchaikovsky, in his author’s note here, describes as being about “small people being caught in the wheels of history.” It is an excellent series and I definitely recommend it, but would suggest starting at the beginning rather than here. That said, all the books do read fairly differently – if the first doesn’t appeal but this one does, I’d say go for it.
Thank you to Bloomsbury / Head of Zeus, the author, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to review.
Content warnings: religious discrimination, colonization, fire/fire injury, death of a parent, grief, murder, mentions of sexism (not a major plot point or societal feature, just mentioned in passing)
July 12, 2025
It is very rare that a book can move as quickly as this one does, and through such a multitude of settings, without making the environments in which it takes place feel like simple set dressings. Instead, each memory of our protagonist Angilly stands out and serves to deepen our understanding of her character.
Each section of this book focuses on a pivotal moment in Angilly’s life/career. These moments logically build out her character in such a way that each decision she makes can be clearly traced back to an earlier point of the story. Additionally, Tchaikovsky spends time not only developing our main character, but also the environment around her. The descriptions paint such vivid images in my head, that even with the novella finished, I still have a picture of the otherworldly waterfalls of Usmai in my head.
My only selfish wish, is that instead of certain time skips, we could have spent more time with some of the side characters introduced to us. However, I realize that would quickly turn this novella into a novel and entirely defeat its purpose as the prequel to the final installment of “The Tyrant Philosophers“ series.
With the quick pace of this novella allowing Tchaikovsky to efficiently cover the character development of Angilly, I would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a character driven book that can be enjoyably consumed in one sitting. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
** Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley but all reviews are my own **
Each section of this book focuses on a pivotal moment in Angilly’s life/career. These moments logically build out her character in such a way that each decision she makes can be clearly traced back to an earlier point of the story. Additionally, Tchaikovsky spends time not only developing our main character, but also the environment around her. The descriptions paint such vivid images in my head, that even with the novella finished, I still have a picture of the otherworldly waterfalls of Usmai in my head.
My only selfish wish, is that instead of certain time skips, we could have spent more time with some of the side characters introduced to us. However, I realize that would quickly turn this novella into a novel and entirely defeat its purpose as the prequel to the final installment of “The Tyrant Philosophers“ series.
With the quick pace of this novella allowing Tchaikovsky to efficiently cover the character development of Angilly, I would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a character driven book that can be enjoyably consumed in one sitting. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
** Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley but all reviews are my own **
November 11, 2025
This story relates for us some of the back history of the character Angilly from book 3. This was published after book 3 had been released so a lot of us readers are reading and going "oh so that's why...". If you have not read book 3 yet I would recommend reading this one first. Or not, whatever your pleasure.
October 24, 2025
I really like this series, and it was interesting to find out more about Gil and what lead up to her becoming the Sage-Invigilator we met in Days of Shattered Faith.
October 16, 2025
Well now I have to re-read Days of Shattered Faith with all this background information!
September 15, 2025
Lives of Bitter Rain is a short, 144-page novella in which Adrian Tchaikovsky uses Angilly as a viewpoint character to reshape our understanding of the Palleseen empire. Angilly was always intriguing in Days of Shattered Faith, but here he gives her a past full of awkward turns, compromises, and regrets and it works beautifully.
When we first meet Angilly as a twelve-year-old in occupied Jarokir, there’s an immediate tension: the pull of her upbringing in the imperial machine set against the moral cost of serving it. This conflict is handled excellently. There are moments of idealism, but they are always shadowed by choice, loss, and the slow erosion of innocence.
Tchaikovsky also deepens the world-building, taking us through every location Angilly visits—Jarokir, Bracinta, Carzarkand, Lemas, Stouk, and Usmai—each adding another piece to her identity, doubts, and loyalties. Despite this wide scope, the prose remains tight and nothing feels superfluous. Small moments in a negotiation, a betrayal, a lost friendship carry real weight.
If the novella has a weakness, it’s that some of the side characters never quite come fully to life. Their backgrounds are sketched rather than fully detailed. For new readers to the Tyrant Philosophers series, that might make some of the transitions feel a bit abrupt. For me, though, the trade-off is worth it, as this story enriches Angilly’s arc in a way that makes Days of Shattered Faith land even harder.
Ultimately, Lives of Bitter Rain is a meditation on how a person is shaped not just by grand events but by the accumulation of choices some noble, others less so. It is more than just a prequel; it refracts the entire series through a more emotionally complex lens. If you’ve enjoyed the previous books in the Tyrant Philosophers series, this novella is a worthy addition and one to savour, especially if you appreciate morally complex fantasy.
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher's Head of Zeus, for a free ebook and an honest opinion.
When we first meet Angilly as a twelve-year-old in occupied Jarokir, there’s an immediate tension: the pull of her upbringing in the imperial machine set against the moral cost of serving it. This conflict is handled excellently. There are moments of idealism, but they are always shadowed by choice, loss, and the slow erosion of innocence.
Tchaikovsky also deepens the world-building, taking us through every location Angilly visits—Jarokir, Bracinta, Carzarkand, Lemas, Stouk, and Usmai—each adding another piece to her identity, doubts, and loyalties. Despite this wide scope, the prose remains tight and nothing feels superfluous. Small moments in a negotiation, a betrayal, a lost friendship carry real weight.
If the novella has a weakness, it’s that some of the side characters never quite come fully to life. Their backgrounds are sketched rather than fully detailed. For new readers to the Tyrant Philosophers series, that might make some of the transitions feel a bit abrupt. For me, though, the trade-off is worth it, as this story enriches Angilly’s arc in a way that makes Days of Shattered Faith land even harder.
Ultimately, Lives of Bitter Rain is a meditation on how a person is shaped not just by grand events but by the accumulation of choices some noble, others less so. It is more than just a prequel; it refracts the entire series through a more emotionally complex lens. If you’ve enjoyed the previous books in the Tyrant Philosophers series, this novella is a worthy addition and one to savour, especially if you appreciate morally complex fantasy.
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher's Head of Zeus, for a free ebook and an honest opinion.
September 25, 2025
Well, the weirdest part is that i didn't understand a thing about how this world is built but i still loved every part of it (i give this lover rating as i feel cause i want to come back and rate it higher when i will get through the first 2 books of the series. I feel that then i will love this a lot more).
Yes, i was unaware that this is a part of series but the whole world building put aside - the writing of Mr Tchaikovsky is just wonderful, the depth for this one character who apparently will be a major one in next part of the series is just amazing and even with all the confusion i did enjoy her journey through this complex world.
I recommend it for all the fantasy geeks (but start with the first book of the series, i am sure they all are great) cause here was magic, demons, warriors, angry gods, cult like followers and still even love and friendship.
Can't wait to dive into The Tyrant Phylosophers universe!
thank you Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
Yes, i was unaware that this is a part of series but the whole world building put aside - the writing of Mr Tchaikovsky is just wonderful, the depth for this one character who apparently will be a major one in next part of the series is just amazing and even with all the confusion i did enjoy her journey through this complex world.
I recommend it for all the fantasy geeks (but start with the first book of the series, i am sure they all are great) cause here was magic, demons, warriors, angry gods, cult like followers and still even love and friendship.
Can't wait to dive into The Tyrant Phylosophers universe!
thank you Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2026
I was visiting Porto, Portugal back in November and picked this book up at Livraria Bertrand, the oldest bookstore in the world. I highly recommend the visit, even know its the only bookstore I ever made reservations to visit, and paid an entrance fee.
Lives of Bitter Rain is a compact, character-driven return to The Tyrant Philosophers that does exactly what a good novella should do: it sharpens the stakes, deepens the moral weather, and leaves you a little annoyed that it ended when it did. It is positioned as a bridge piece in the sequence and reads like a deliberate close-up rather than a wide campaign map.
The center of gravity here is a single life under pressure, shaped by institutions that prize “Perfection” as a governing principle. That obsession is not just background texture. It operates like an administrative system, a kind of social filter, and a personal trap-of course. The book’s best work is in how it shows the costs of that kind of world without turning into a lecture. It stays attentive to motives, incentives, and the subtle bargains people make when they are trying to survive tough moments with their dignity still intact.
Structurally, it moves quickly, often by selecting pivotal moments rather than walking you through every connecting hallway. That approach gives it momentum and keeps the focus tight, but it also creates the one frustration for me... some transitions are so brisk that you can feel the outline of a larger novel behind the pages. For many readers, that is part of the pleasure. For me, it was also the missing star.
Where Adrian Tchaikovsky consistently earns my trust is in the blend of readability and complexity. The politics feel like politics. The personal consequences feel personal. The prose does not demand that you admire it, but it does not cut corners either. The result is a story that can be read fast, then thought about slowly afterward.
A practical note: if you are already reading the series, this is easy to recommend because it adds depth and context without feeling like optional homework. If you are not, you can still read it, but you will get more from it if you have at least one of the main novels in your system first.
Four stars. Strong character focus, clean execution, and a setting whose moral logic is both coherent and unsettling. I wanted a little more room for certain relationships and consequences to breathe, but I finished it satisfied and slightly irritated in the best possible way. The book did its job, and it left me looking at the next installment with intent.
Lives of Bitter Rain is a compact, character-driven return to The Tyrant Philosophers that does exactly what a good novella should do: it sharpens the stakes, deepens the moral weather, and leaves you a little annoyed that it ended when it did. It is positioned as a bridge piece in the sequence and reads like a deliberate close-up rather than a wide campaign map.
The center of gravity here is a single life under pressure, shaped by institutions that prize “Perfection” as a governing principle. That obsession is not just background texture. It operates like an administrative system, a kind of social filter, and a personal trap-of course. The book’s best work is in how it shows the costs of that kind of world without turning into a lecture. It stays attentive to motives, incentives, and the subtle bargains people make when they are trying to survive tough moments with their dignity still intact.
Structurally, it moves quickly, often by selecting pivotal moments rather than walking you through every connecting hallway. That approach gives it momentum and keeps the focus tight, but it also creates the one frustration for me... some transitions are so brisk that you can feel the outline of a larger novel behind the pages. For many readers, that is part of the pleasure. For me, it was also the missing star.
Where Adrian Tchaikovsky consistently earns my trust is in the blend of readability and complexity. The politics feel like politics. The personal consequences feel personal. The prose does not demand that you admire it, but it does not cut corners either. The result is a story that can be read fast, then thought about slowly afterward.
A practical note: if you are already reading the series, this is easy to recommend because it adds depth and context without feeling like optional homework. If you are not, you can still read it, but you will get more from it if you have at least one of the main novels in your system first.
Four stars. Strong character focus, clean execution, and a setting whose moral logic is both coherent and unsettling. I wanted a little more room for certain relationships and consequences to breathe, but I finished it satisfied and slightly irritated in the best possible way. The book did its job, and it left me looking at the next installment with intent.
August 22, 2025
Excellent world building and development of Angilly’s backstory.
I have not yet read the Tyrant Philosopher books immediately before or after, but had no trouble following the story herein. It covers her childhood and being sent away, then picks up when she is now at one of her initial Outreach postings. She finds a mentor (or lover?), then is promoted to other lands to represent the Palliverse.
Her acumen is impressive as she manages a triumphant feat at the end. I will definitely read more in this series, even though I usually prefer speculative science fiction over fantasy. I imagine that anyone well-steeped in the Tyrant Philosopher series will rate this gem 5 stars….but as I’ve not yet read the rest I can only give it 4 as a standalone novella.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for early access to the ebook of #LivesofBitterRain for review purposes. Publication date: 14 October 2025.
I have not yet read the Tyrant Philosopher books immediately before or after, but had no trouble following the story herein. It covers her childhood and being sent away, then picks up when she is now at one of her initial Outreach postings. She finds a mentor (or lover?), then is promoted to other lands to represent the Palliverse.
Her acumen is impressive as she manages a triumphant feat at the end. I will definitely read more in this series, even though I usually prefer speculative science fiction over fantasy. I imagine that anyone well-steeped in the Tyrant Philosopher series will rate this gem 5 stars….but as I’ve not yet read the rest I can only give it 4 as a standalone novella.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for early access to the ebook of #LivesofBitterRain for review purposes. Publication date: 14 October 2025.
August 2, 2025
Tchaikovsky is my favourite writer, and Tyrant Philosophers my favourite series. Even so, I always pick up novellas with low expectations; so often they're tacked on, made up of extra tidbits the author recognises as decent-enough to throw out to those who want another piece of their world.
Not so here. Less than 150 pages, but it packs a punch that puts 'Days of Shattered Faith' in a new light. We get insights into several characters and plot lines, but the strength of this bonus story is that it reminds us again what it costs to balance a societal moral code with your own.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. I can't wait for what this series has to offer next.
Not so here. Less than 150 pages, but it packs a punch that puts 'Days of Shattered Faith' in a new light. We get insights into several characters and plot lines, but the strength of this bonus story is that it reminds us again what it costs to balance a societal moral code with your own.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. I can't wait for what this series has to offer next.
November 17, 2025
Lives Of Bitter Rain is a fascinating diversion of a novella for the frighteningly prolific Adrian Tchaikovsky, a companion novella to the third book in the Tyrant Philosphers sequence. which tells the back story of the lead character of that novel: Angilly. In Dats Of Shattered Faith, Angilly was a representative of the Pallaseen Empire, working for the euphemistically named Outreach department. Part ambassador, part trade representative and part spy, Angilly in the third book is a cynical operator who is somewhat disillusioned by her own empire and not convinced by the ability of any other nation to resist them. Lives Of Bitter Rain shows how she got that way, and was initially written as an exercise by Tchaikovsky to get a hang on the character. But a bit more flesh on its bones, it becomes quite a different addition to the series. For one, Angilly is our first proper Pallaseen protagonist, the anti-magic and religion empire has broadly been set up as the antagonists of this series so it is interesting to see it from the inside. The timescale of the Tyrant Philosophers novels has also been quite compressed, a few years at most, so it is interesting to see a novella that spans thirty years of the empire's expansion, and the flaws in its own rigid system (there are some good lessons to be learnt about how authoritarian organisations rot from the inside). The key thing is that Angilly was a fascinating and multifaceted character in Days Of Shattered Faith, and can stand up to an origin story that also shines a light into the heart of the Pallaseen Empire. And whilst the continuity of characters and action has been quite loose in the sequence, there is a central storyline (and a sort of central character), so it bodes well not just that Tchaikovsky wants to flesh out other parts of the world outside his core story, but also that the world he has built stands up to this kind of side novella.
January 5, 2026
My first book of 2026! Lives of Bitter Rain makes for a splendid addition to The Tyrant Philosophers series, which itself is easily some of my favourite fantasy material from the last few years.
Whilst this novella was published after book #3, it's set beforehand, and can be read perfectly fine either way. Tchaikovsky has crafted it in such a way that it changes the experience of each depending on what way round you choose to approach it, with either way being mightily satisfying in my opinion.
The story here focuses entirely around Angilly, a key player in Pel business in this little corner of the world. We see snapshots of formative events and key moments of her life, from childhood to just prior to where we start in book #3.
Angilly, or Gil, is a character I was desperate to understand better throughout Days of Shattered Faith, as I could tell she had a depth and history to her, but I was (happily) resigned to that being a chunk of the literary iceberg hidden beneath the waves. A year later, having a novella fleshing out her past was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.
So yes, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Due to its length it didn't quite offer the same oomph that the main series has so far, all of which have gotten 5 stars from me, but this is still a great piece of the whole and well worth reading.
It makes me so happy that I only have to wait a couple of months until the next full-length novel in the series hits the shelves; "Pretenders to the Throne of God". I am very eager to get my hands on it, and I'm glad I had this shorter story to bridge the already admittedly short wait between books.
Adrian, if you ever see this, thank you for everything. This series really is something special.
Whilst this novella was published after book #3, it's set beforehand, and can be read perfectly fine either way. Tchaikovsky has crafted it in such a way that it changes the experience of each depending on what way round you choose to approach it, with either way being mightily satisfying in my opinion.
The story here focuses entirely around Angilly, a key player in Pel business in this little corner of the world. We see snapshots of formative events and key moments of her life, from childhood to just prior to where we start in book #3.
Angilly, or Gil, is a character I was desperate to understand better throughout Days of Shattered Faith, as I could tell she had a depth and history to her, but I was (happily) resigned to that being a chunk of the literary iceberg hidden beneath the waves. A year later, having a novella fleshing out her past was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.
So yes, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Due to its length it didn't quite offer the same oomph that the main series has so far, all of which have gotten 5 stars from me, but this is still a great piece of the whole and well worth reading.
It makes me so happy that I only have to wait a couple of months until the next full-length novel in the series hits the shelves; "Pretenders to the Throne of God". I am very eager to get my hands on it, and I'm glad I had this shorter story to bridge the already admittedly short wait between books.
Adrian, if you ever see this, thank you for everything. This series really is something special.
October 9, 2025
A thoroughly enjoyable novella addition to The Tyrant Philosophers series. It's a very quick read, especially as I'm now two books into this series and familiar with this world. This is very much a character driven story, and is more a series of short one-shots following Angilly's childhood and career. It's great to see a character explored so deeply in this series, we haven't had this with anyone apart from Jack really so far. I also absolutely loved all the mentions and nods to other characters and events in this series. Not only is it fun to spot them but it adds so much depth to this world to see how events are connected to each other.
I'm looking forward to starting Days of Shattered Faith with the added insight into Angilly, there's a lot of depth to this character and it's going to be interesting to see how the context of this novella affects how that story hits.
I couldn't say this is a 'must read' but for anyone who is a fan of this series and is having as much as I am reading it, I would say this is definitely a very highly recommended read! This can be read either before or after Days of Shattered Faith but I wouldn't recommend it as a starter to the series overall, better to start with either City of Last Chances or House of Open Wounds.
Thank you NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
I'm looking forward to starting Days of Shattered Faith with the added insight into Angilly, there's a lot of depth to this character and it's going to be interesting to see how the context of this novella affects how that story hits.
I couldn't say this is a 'must read' but for anyone who is a fan of this series and is having as much as I am reading it, I would say this is definitely a very highly recommended read! This can be read either before or after Days of Shattered Faith but I wouldn't recommend it as a starter to the series overall, better to start with either City of Last Chances or House of Open Wounds.
Thank you NetGalley and Head of Zeus for providing a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.
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