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Code and Codex
Not yet published
Expected 25 Feb 27In the stars-spanning Censorate, all languages other than lingua rubra are forbidden. The Censorate’s ruling Peacock, Aurelia, wields the universal language to manipulate reality itself and to command the obedience of all who hear and understand her.
Valentina was sold as a child to Aurelia to serve as her sworn companion, the Swan, responsible for extracting useful knowledge from foreign texts before destroying their languages wholesale. Until she delivers a book of forbidden verse to the Peacock, which proves to be the key to enslaving the Basilisk, a traitor imprisoned for a thousand years, whose gaze is so powerful that he once destroyed the Censorate’s entire fleet…
Valentina was sold as a child to Aurelia to serve as her sworn companion, the Swan, responsible for extracting useful knowledge from foreign texts before destroying their languages wholesale. Until she delivers a book of forbidden verse to the Peacock, which proves to be the key to enslaving the Basilisk, a traitor imprisoned for a thousand years, whose gaze is so powerful that he once destroyed the Censorate’s entire fleet…
ebook
Expected publication October 27, 2026
About the author
Yoon Ha Lee
198 books2,093 followersYoon Ha Lee is an American science fiction writer born on January 26, 1979 in Houston, Texas. His first published story, “The Hundredth Question,” appeared in Fantasy & Science Fiction in 1999; since then, over two dozen further stories have appeared. He lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Want to Read
October 24, 2025'about plans to reach backwards and forwards in time by revising history in this space opera adventure of linguistics magic in the author’s return to adult science fiction' GIMME
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2 maybe 3 stars
This was a difficult book to read. At times, it felt like work and I would have stopped it, if not for my commitment to the publisher/author. The writing is confusing, dense and purposely nonsensical. I could not follow what was going on. In a big picture sense, the plot is interesting and compelling, but the writing gets in the way. If the writing scaled back and let the characters come to the forefront, this would be a better book.
I'll say this though: This book cover is absolutely gorgeous. Flawless.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a difficult book to read. At times, it felt like work and I would have stopped it, if not for my commitment to the publisher/author. The writing is confusing, dense and purposely nonsensical. I could not follow what was going on. In a big picture sense, the plot is interesting and compelling, but the writing gets in the way. If the writing scaled back and let the characters come to the forefront, this would be a better book.
I'll say this though: This book cover is absolutely gorgeous. Flawless.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews