The Shadow of Black Wings

Thank you for taking the time to listen to our podiobook. If you're interested in the rest of the Year of the Dragon saga, volumes two and three – “The Warrior's Soul” and “The Islands in the Mist” - are available on Amazon and Kobo. All three books have been released as e-book and paperback. Volume four, The Rising Tide, will be published in Spring 2013. James Calbraith's other books include a fantasy novella Dragonbone Chest, and a short story collection, Transmission. For more information, please visit jamescalbraith.com

Somewhere in Yamato, an old man descends into an ancient barrow...

Sato's lessons end abruptly as Keinosuke decides to confront her about the stranger seen at Nagomi's house. To forget about her worries for a day, she goes to see the Myriad Year Clock - Master Tanaka's mechanical masterpiece. 

Tokojiro wasted his best years learning a useless language of a country nobody's heard of. Now it's his time to shine, as he is summoned to the great Suwa Shrine.

It is forbidden for Westerners to come to Yamato without permission. Bran's hiding place is discovered, and he has to be moved to a more secure location... but where?

The mysterious boy speaks a language unknown in Yamato. The initial investigation into his arrival seems to bring more questions than answers.

Bran wakes up in a strange place, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. It looks a bit like Qin... but something doesn't feel right.

A beam of light falls from the sky near the harbour. Sato and Nagomi run to the beach to find out what happened.

Sato's father joins the conspiracy against the ruling dynasty. Nagomi learns about the dark prophecy concerning the fate of the Yamato.

In the great harbour city of Kiyo, in the reclusive kingdom of Yamato, live Sato Takashima, the samurai wizardess, and Nagomi Keisuke, a shrine apprentice from the family of physicians.

The Second Dragoons is ordered to sail North, to assist the Qin capital against the encroaching rebels. But war is closer than anyone expected. In the heat of the battle, there is only one way for Bran to survive: to invoke the power of the Llambed Seal...

The Ladon finally reaches its destination - the Western Factories of Fan Yu - and Bran learns that there is always war in Qin.

The Ladon sails towards the great empire of Qin, and Bran has the greatest adventure of his life.

Inspired by his Grandfather's adventures, Bran joins Dylan on board the MFS Ladon, the greatest ship ever built.

Bran discovers his Grandfather's diary and learns the truth behind his blue stone ring.

As the summer heat dries out the marshes and riverbeds, Bran stumbles upon a relic of ancient wars.

Bran celebrates his graduation with a few friends; but not everyone is as happy with the exam results.

It is the sixteenth year of Queen Victoria Alexandrina; Bran ap Dylan o Cantre'r Gwaelod, young student of Applied Dracology prepares for the final exams at the Llambed Academy of Mystic Arts.