Code and Crown (Paperback)

Paperback. The Server is Down. The War is Live. Winter has fallen on Eisenwald. The blockade has choked the valley, the refugees are starving, and the Emperor is broken. But Nia von Eisenwald is done playing defense. Traumatized by a brutal assault in the capital and stripped of her illusions, Nia has deleted the girl she used to be. In her place stands the Iron Baroness-a cold, calculating commander who views human lives as variables and war as a logic puzzle to be solved. While the usurper Cassian rewrites the Empire's laws with dark magic and poison, Nia rewrites the laws of warfare. She isn't just building an army; she is building an industrial machine. From steam engines to mana-railguns, she is dragging a medieval world kicking and screaming into a new age of automated destruction. But as she prepares to launch the ultimate "Logic Bomb" against the throne, Nia faces a terrifying system error: The more she optimizes for survival, the more she loses of her own humanity. In this volume: The Iron Baroness: Witness the birth of a darker, harder protagonist who trades skirts for trousers and mercy for efficiency.Industrial Warfare: Mass production, assembly lines, and physics-based magic clash with traditional chivalry.System Hacking: A heist deep into the Imperial Palace to plant a magical virus in the very seat of power.Warning: This volume marks a shift into Grimdark territory. It contains depictions of PTSD, aftermath of sexual violence, and ruthless pragmatism. It is not a fairytale; it is a war log. "The most technically satisfying and emotionally devastating entry in the series yet." This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.