Blood of the Mantis (Shadows of the Apt, #3)

From Publishers Weekly 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) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From 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 Driven by the ghosts of the Darakyon, Achaeos has tracked the stolen Shadow Box to the marsh-town of Jerez, but he has only days before the magical box is lost to him forever. Meanwhile, the forces of the Empire are mustering over winter for their great offensive, gathering their soldiers and perfecting their new weapons. Stenwold and his followers have only a short time to gather what allies they can before the Wasp armies march again, conquering everything in their path. If they cannot throw back the Wasps this spring then the imperial black-and-gold flag will fly over every city in the Lowlands before the years end. In Jerez begins a fierce struggle over the Shadow Box, as lake creatures, secret police and renegade magicians compete to take possession. If it falls into the hands of the Wasp Emperor, however, then no amount of fighting will suffice to save the world from his relentless ambition. Sequel to Dragonfly Falling. Achaeos the seer has finally tracked down the stolen Shadow Box. But he has only days before this magical artefact will be lost to him forever. Meanwhile, the Empire's dread forces are mustering for their next great offensive. Stenwold and his followers have only a short time to gather allies before the enemy's soldiers march again - to conquer everything in their path. If Stenwold cannot hold them back, the hated black-and-gold flag will fly over every city in the Lowlands before the year's end. Yet a more insidious threat awaits. Should the Shadow Box fall into the hands of the power-mad Emperor, nothing will save the world form his relentless ambition. Third novel in his enthralling Shadows of the Apt' sequence of epic fantasy adventures