Blood of the Mantis PDF
Preview Blood of the Mantis
Tchaikovsky's third Shadows of the Apt novel (after 2010's Dragonfly Falling) finds his steampunk-flavored sword and sorcery world, once dominated by the magic-wielding inapt, now threatened by the insatiable and technologically apt Wasp Empire. The empire, heretofore the beneficiary of the mutual distrust and disunity among Lowlanders, begins to falter as external threats bring the Lowlands together, diplomatic ruses go horribly awry, and the empire's habitual abuse of its subjects leads to internal discord. Its only hope now lies in a small wooden box that holds the promise of power but may deliver only nightmares. New readers may struggle to keep up as Tchaikovsky puts his large cast through its paces, introduces secretive assassins of a forgotten race, and heaps on plot twists with a generous hand. (May)
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The third Shadows of the Apt volume extends the series' excitement and complexity. New characters crop up, and the inner workings of the Wasp Empire become a greater part of the story. With a war ongoing, technological advances are creating more deadly weapons, and the original motley band of resisters has been scattered. As each splinter group pursues its goals, the series' characters face ever more difficult choices. When is betrayal a good thing? What goals are worth sacrificing lives for, and when, on the other hand, does doing so become “evil”? Is the advancement of technology justified for its own sake? For readers who enjoy delving into the psychology of the characters, this installment fills the bill. The series as a whole continues to be a well-woven tapestry portraying the living world of the insect-kinden. Even as some questions are answered, more emerge, and the intensity of the proceedings pulls the reader deeper into them. --Rebecca Gerber
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