REVIEW: Blood of the Mantis Andrian Tchaikovsky

Blood of the Mantis Andrian Tchaikovsky
Publishing Information: ARC; Paperback
Publisher: Pyr; 320pgs
ISBN 10: 1616141999
ISBN 13: 978-1616141998
Series: Book 3 of the Shadow of the Apt series
Copy: Won in a contest
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis: "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 year’s 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."

The third novel in the Shadow's of the Apt series, Blood of the Mantis is not quite as good as The Empire of Blackand Gold or Dragonfly Falling, the first to novels in the series, mainly because it is a novel that is bridging things that are to come. A few questions are answered and resolved but overall this is another book to set up conflicts for later books. With book four, Salute the Dark, finishing up the first story arc. This book look to tie up some loose ends and set things up.

In Blood of the Mantis the magical and mysterious Shadow Box takes front and center. Achaeos is obsessed with obtaining the box and the wasp army is also hot on the boxes trail. Even though Achaeos takes center stage there is still not a lot of forthcoming knowledge about his character brought out. Truth be told there is very little character development for any of the players in the series. We do go to a few new locations and meet a few new kinden but nothing earth shattering or exciting.

The pacing of the novel is slower than what readers are used to from the series. Considering that this is a book that sets things up for things to come it is expected. There is a decent build up for the showdown that should occur in the next book, which I plan to read soon. While I was a bit disappointed with this novel, I also now that from word of mouth that the series is worth continuing and that Thaikovsky has many tricks up his sleeve. This novel is necessary as the things that occur in it are needed to continue the story but one cannot help if some of it could have been edited into some of the previous novels and still kept the action we come to expect moving. That said, it is still a book worth checking out. Recommended.

Plot 7/10
Characters 7/10
Style 7.5/10

Overall 7/10