Learn more
These promotions will be applied to this item:
Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.
- Highlight, take notes, and search in the book
- In this edition, page numbers are just like the physical edition
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Empire of Light (Shoal Sequence Book 3) On Demand Edition, Kindle Edition
The nova war spreads across the galaxy, as the Emissaries wage a fierce and reckless campaign. They’ve already reached human-occupied space and forced the alien Shoal into a desperate retreat. And when Dakota leaves to pursue a lead, Corso’s luck turns bad. Now commanding a fleet of human-piloted Magi ships, his authority crumbles before assassination attempts and politically motivated sabotage. Their best hope lies with Ty Whitecloud, currently light years beyond Consortium borders. Only Ty can decipher messages left behind by ancient star travellers – which could be crucial to their cause.
But Whitecloud is imprisoned onboard a dying coreship, awaiting execution for war crimes against Corso’s own people. For humanity’s very survival, Corso must get to Whitecloud and keep him alive. If Dakota doesn’t kill him first.
‘A sharp, distinctive piece of Sci-Fi, and Gibson has certainly proved himself a name to watch out for’
SFX
‘Amazing energy … establishes Gary Gibson as a leading light of modern SF’ FantasyBookCritic blog
- ISBN-13978-0230753723
- EditionOn Demand
- PublisherTor
- Publication dateJuly 24, 2010
- LanguageEnglish
- File size1.1 MB
See all supported devices
Kindle E-Readers
- Kindle Voyage
- Kindle Paperwhite
- Kindle Oasis
- Kindle Oasis (9th Generation)
- Kindle
- Kindle Scribe, 1st generation (2024 release)
- Kindle Paperwhite (10th Generation)
- Kindle Paperwhite (12th Generation)
- Kindle (11th Generation, 2024 Release)
- Kindle Scribe (1st Generation)
- Kindle Paperwhite (11th Generation)
- All New Kindle E-reader (11th Generation)
- Kindle (10th Generation)
- Kindle Oasis (10th Generation)
- All new Kindle paperwhite
- Kindle Touch
- Kindle Paperwhite (5th Generation)
- All New Kindle E-reader
Fire Tablets
- Fire HD 8 (8th Generation)
- Fire 7 (9th Generation)
- Fire HD 10 (9th Generation)
- Fire HD 8 (10th Generation)
- Fire HD 10 (11th Generation)
- Fire HD 10 Plus
- Fire 7 (12th Generation)
- Fire HD 8 (12th Generation)
- Fire HD 8 Plus
Free Kindle Reading Apps
- Kindle for Android Phones
- Kindle for Android Tablets
- Kindle for iPhone
- Kindle for iPad
- Kindle for Web
- Kindle for Mac
- Kindle for PC
Shop this series
See full series- Kindle Price:$31.97By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
- Kindle Price:$40.31By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
Shop this series
This option includes 3 books.
This option includes 4 books.
Customers also bought or read
- We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse Book 1)#3 Most GiftedSpace Fleet Science FictionKindle Edition$4.11$4.11
Customers who bought this item also bought
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B003X27L2W
- Publisher : Tor
- Accessibility : Learn more
- Publication date : July 24, 2010
- Edition : On Demand
- Language : English
- File size : 1.1 MB
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 577 pages
- ISBN-13 : 978-0230753723
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Book 3 of 4 : Shoal Sequence
- Reading age : 16 years and up
- Best Sellers Rank: #885,179 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,684 in Technothrillers (Kindle Store)
- #2,387 in Technothrillers (Books)
- #5,458 in Fantasy Adventure Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Described by The Guardian as "a master of core sf" and "one of our best exponents of hardcore SF adventure" by the Daily Mail, Gary Gibson's career stretches over fifteen years and nearly twenty books.
His work has been translated and published around the world, including Russia, Brazil, Germany, and France. A long-time resident of Glasgow, Scotland, he relocated a few years ago to Taipei in the Far East and splits his time between editing and working on his own material.
His latest book is a collection of previously published and unpublished short stories and novellas, Butterfly Box and Other Stories, released on 15 November 2024 in ebook, paperback and hardback.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book well worth reading. The plot receives mixed reactions, with one customer describing it as fast-paced while another finds it somewhat predictable.
AI Generated from the text of customer reviews
Select to learn more
Customers find the book well worth reading, with one customer noting it's the best in the trilogy.
"The last book in the Shoal series, and clearly the best...." Read more
"Very intriguing plot and book series, enjoyed it but at times too difficult to follow the motivations of main people..." Read more
"The best of the trilogy, with a very satisfying, if not somewhat cryptic ending...." Read more
"...Well worth a read for the attention grabber that it is." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the plot of the book, with some finding it intriguing and fast-paced, while others note it is somewhat predictable.
"Very intriguing plot and book series, enjoyed it but at times too difficult to follow the motivations of main people..." Read more
"A little predictable. The ending seemed a little hurried. But still not a bad read" Read more
"...Where it lacks creativity it definitely makes up for in an overall fast-paced story that will probably get upcycled into a solid Hollywood franchise..." Read more
"...A few weak points in the storyline, but they were fixed with explanations later in the book." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2014Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseThe last book in the Shoal series, and clearly the best. But you have to read the first two before you can understand the politics and circumstances that lead up to this excellent read. Highly suggested.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2013Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseVery intriguing plot and book series, enjoyed it but at times too difficult to follow the motivations of main people...
- Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2014Format: KindleVerified Purchase3.5 stars. Gibson is clearly influenced by the same SF I read and watch. Basically this trilogy slides right in between Star Wars, Revelation Space, and a bit of the Culture for good measure. Where it lacks creativity it definitely makes up for in an overall fast-paced story that will probably get upcycled into a solid Hollywood franchise, vis-a-vis somewhat generic aliens, galactic problems, anti-hero antics, and obvious next tech. It's fun, but not amazing.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2022
- Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2014Format: KindleVerified PurchaseA little predictable. The ending seemed a little hurried. But still not a bad read
- Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2016Format: KindleVerified PurchaseGreat follow on, a different focus to the previous books. A few weak points in the storyline, but they were fixed with explanations later in the book.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2011Format: KindleI have to say, I was a bit let down by this book after book 2, The Nova War, showed so much promise. This suffered a little bit from what I like to refer to as "The Peter Hamilton Effect". This is whereby when a character gets himself into a situation that there is no obvious way out, something "miraculous" happens. New technology is found. New abilities arise. New plot elements that were not there before suddenly appear and save the day. Frankly, that sucks. I won't go into details, but you'll know the part(s) when you come across them in the book. All in all, a good book, that should have been a great book, but for some sloppy plot points. Easy for me to criticize, but I'm sure that the author worked hard, because otherwise it is an excellent story and well worth a read.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2015Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThe best of the trilogy, with a very satisfying, if not somewhat cryptic ending. The Shoal Sequence firmly cements Gibson with his peers in hard science fiction space opera.
Top reviews from other countries
- Gar Mac LemanReviewed in Australia on October 8, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Another good read from Gary Gibson
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseBook 3 of the series certainly didn't disappoint
- Matthew Carl SchwarzReviewed in Canada on August 7, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseGood book, read the entirety of the series though, I'm not sure how it'd stand as a stand-alone book.
- ACSReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 17, 2012
5.0 out of 5 stars A good read
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThis was one of my first Kindle books. I believe the first one was a free book. Book two was well worth the money. The story continues to widen and bring in new characters and some very interesting civilisations to say the least as well as expanding the story line. Its probably fair to say it is space Opera, with the writing not of the high standard expected by some. But then it is an excellent casual read of science fiction for the money.
- Susan WReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 28, 2011
4.0 out of 5 stars A not-so-good ending to a great series
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI have to say, I was a bit let down by this book after book 2, The Nova War, showed so much promise. This suffered a little bit from what I like to refer to as "The Peter Hamilton Effect". This is whereby when a character gets himself into a situation that there is no obvious way out, something "miraculous" happens. New technology is found. New abilities arise. New plot elements that were not there before suddenly appear and save the day. Frankly, that sucks. I won't go into details, but you'll know the part(s) when you come across them in the book. All in all, a good book, that should have been a great book, but for some sloppy plot points. Easy for me to criticize, but I'm sure that the author worked hard, because otherwise it is an excellent story and well worth a read.
- J HarringtonReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 6, 2012
5.0 out of 5 stars Shoal Trilogy
Having finally finished reading all three books I can happily say that it was well worth the read. Although I found the story line became patchy in places the overall storyline made it a difficult book to put down. The main thing I found annoying was the number of spelling mistakes through out all three books (not that my spelling is any better) but I guess when proof reading 600 page books a few are going to slip the net. Over all a very good read and I'll be looking out for more books written by Gary Gibson in the future