Salute the Dark, by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Book Four in the Shadows of the Apt series.
Tor Books, 2010, 459 pages
Salute the Dark is the fourth book in the critically acclaimed epic fantasy series Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky, winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award. As spymaster Stenwold makes a stand in his home city, others must chose where their loyalties lie.
All must face the end of days....
Uctebri’s long search for the Shadow Box is finally over. Now the vampiric sorcerer can begin his dark ritual. The Wasp-kinden’s emperor believes this will grant him immortality, but Uctebri has his own plans - for the emperor and the empire.
The mighty Wasp armies are on the march. And now war is imminent, spymaster Stenwold can finally separate allies from false friends. For the empire won’t stop until a black and gold flag hangs over Collegium, Stenwold's home city.
Tisamon the weaponsmaster could chose to face the Wasp emperor himself with a blade in his hand. But he’d need to abandon friends and family, embracing degradation and loss. Yet is he driven by Mantis-kinden honour or being manipulated by something far more sinister?
A lot of exposition, a lot of set up for the real plot arc of the series.
Also by Adrian Tchaikovsky: My reviews of Children of Time, Children of Ruin, Children of Memory, Empire in Black and Gold, Dragonfly Falling, Blood of the Mantis, The Expert System's Brother, The Expert System's Champion, and Made Things.
My complete list of book reviews.
Tor Books, 2010, 459 pages
Salute the Dark is the fourth book in the critically acclaimed epic fantasy series Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky, winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award. As spymaster Stenwold makes a stand in his home city, others must chose where their loyalties lie.
All must face the end of days....
Uctebri’s long search for the Shadow Box is finally over. Now the vampiric sorcerer can begin his dark ritual. The Wasp-kinden’s emperor believes this will grant him immortality, but Uctebri has his own plans - for the emperor and the empire.
The mighty Wasp armies are on the march. And now war is imminent, spymaster Stenwold can finally separate allies from false friends. For the empire won’t stop until a black and gold flag hangs over Collegium, Stenwold's home city.
Tisamon the weaponsmaster could chose to face the Wasp emperor himself with a blade in his hand. But he’d need to abandon friends and family, embracing degradation and loss. Yet is he driven by Mantis-kinden honour or being manipulated by something far more sinister?
A lot of exposition, a lot of set up for the real plot arc of the series.
Also by Adrian Tchaikovsky: My reviews of Children of Time, Children of Ruin, Children of Memory, Empire in Black and Gold, Dragonfly Falling, Blood of the Mantis, The Expert System's Brother, The Expert System's Champion, and Made Things.
My complete list of book reviews.